ftp.wwiv.com/ftp.wwiv.com.zip/ftp.wwiv.com/pub/UTILITY/LOCKER14.ARJ/LOCKER.DOC

Text File | 1990-12-17 | 9KB | 331 lines

                                   LOCKER
                                Version 1.4

                   Copyright (c) 1990 By Mark D. Goodwin





































     In order to get the  most out of a high speed modem,  most sysops
     lock their  serial ports at  either 19,200 or 38,400  baud.  This
     allows for maximum data transfer rates with HST 14,400 baud, MNP,
     and  V.42  connections.   Unfortunately,  most older  doors can't
     handle locked serial ports.   Problems arise whenever the  actual
     connect  baud rate  differs from  the locked  serial port's  baud
     rate.   So the  sysop has three choices,  stop locking his serial
     port, get rid  of any offending  doors, or unlock and  relock the
     serial port when opening and closing  doors.  Obviously, the last
     choice is  the most  desirable, but  you need  a special  utility
     program to  perform the  unlocking and  relocking chores.   Enter
     LOCKER.

     When properly used, LOCKER can successfully unlock and relock the
     serial port  for just about any  door.  Although  there are other
     utilities like LOCKER,  LOCKER is  much smaller  and faster  than
     other utilities of  its type.   Whereas the competition can  take
     from 15 to 20 seconds to unlock or lock a serial port, LOCKER can
     unlock or  lock a  serial port  in about  3 to  5 seconds.  Also,
     LOCKER  supports baud rates as high as 115,200 baud, comm ports 1
     to  8,  and  thanks  to  the  power of  C++  and  object-oriented
     programming it will work with  PCBoard (PCBOARD.SYS or DOOR.SYS),
     Spitfire (SFDOORS.DAT (etc.) or DOOR.SYS), GAP (DOOR.SYS), or any
     other  BBS software  that supports  the DOOR.SYS  door data  file
     format.   Best  of all,  you  can register  LOCKER for  only $10.
     That's a  lot less than the unreasonable fees others charge for a
     similar utility.


                                USING LOCKER

     Using LOCKER couldn't be simpler.  LOCKER is run from the command
     line using the following format:

     LOCKER DOORFILE BBS FLAG S2

     Where:

     DOORFILE       is the pathname for the door data file.

     BBS            is P for PCBoard, S for Spitfire, or G for  GAP or
                    any other BBS software that  uses a DOOR.SYS file.
                    You should use G for both  PCBoard and Spitfire if
                    you intend to use DOOR.SYS instead of their normal
                    door data file types.

     FLAG           is either U  for unlock the  serial port or L  for
                    lock the serial port.

     S2             is an  optional parameter that specifies the value
                    your  modem's  S2  register  is   set  to.    Most
                    communications programs  use a  value of  43 ('+')
                    for the S2 register.   The S2 value is  the escape
                    character  and can be used to force the modem into












                    the  command  mode  once  a  connection  has  been
                    established.  LOCKER expects this  value to be set
                    to 43.  If  your NRAM setting for the  S2 register
                    isn't  equal  to  43,  you  must  specify  the  S2
                    register's  numeric  value.   You  must  also  pay
                    particular attention to your  BBS's initialization
                    string.    Many  BBS's   (most  notably  Spitfire)
                    require  the  S2  register be  set  to  a specific
                    value.   If your BBS software requires a change in
                    the S2 register in  the initialization string, you
                    should  specify that  value  as LOCKER's  optional
                    fourth parameter.

     Here's a few examples of LOCKER command lines:

     locker pcboard.sys p u        (Unlocks a PCBoard door with a door
                                   data filename of "pcboard.sys".)

     locker c:\doors\door.sys g l  (Locks a GAP door  with a door data
                                   filename of "c:\doors\door.sys".)

     locker sfdoors.dat s u 1      (Unlocks  a  Spitfire  door with  a
                                   door      data     filename      of
                                   "sfdoors.dat".      Note   how   an
                                   optional  S2   register  value   is
                                   specified.  This will  force LOCKER
                                   to  use  the smiley  face character
                                   Spitfire   uses   as   the   escape
                                   character.)

     To put LOCKER to practical use,  you are going to want to  use it
     in a batch  file.  The  following is an  example of a  door batch
     file that would use LOCKER:

     locker pcboard.sys p u        <- Unlocks the serial port
     if errorlevel 1 goto end      <- Abort if the LOCKER failed
     cd \doors\superg              <- Change to the door directory
     superg superg.cfg             <- Run the door
     cd \pcb                       <- Return to the LOCKER directory
     locker pcboard.sys p l        <- Relock the serial port
     :end
     board                         <- Restart the BBS

     Note from the  above example,  that LOCKER will  return an  error
     code of 1 if  it should fail.  If LOCKER should  fail, you should
     not  run  the door.   Instead,  return  to the  BBS as  the above
     example would do.


                             SETTING YOUR MODEM


     HST owners  must also set DIP switch 9 to on.  Setting DIP switch
     9 is  necessary to  enable the modem  to return the  Command Mode












     instead of dropping carrier.


                           THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW

     LOCKER  has  been  thoroughly  tested   with  a  USRobotics  Dual
     Standard,  PCBoard,  and Spitfire.    The DOOR.SYS  interface was
     tested using  the DOOR.SYS file  generated by  Spitfire.   LOCKER
     will not work for 300 baud callers and an HST!  It will appear to
     work correctly, but the door will not function properly.  Whether
     or not LOCKER will work with  non-HST modems, I can't really say.
     The only way to know for sure is to give LOCKER a try.  If you do
     use LOCKER  with a non-HST  modem, please let me  know whether it
     succeeds or  fails.  I see  no reason why it won't  work, but who
     knows?


                                REGISTRATION

     LOCKER is a copyrighted program and distributed as shareware.  If
     you find LOCKER  useful, you are obligated to register it after a
     30 day trial period.  Because LOCKER didn't take me all that long
     to develop,  I'm only  charging $10.00  for registration.   As  a
     fellow sysop, I know a BBS can nickel and dime you to death.  But
     if your BBS  has heavy door use,  LOCKER will be run  hundreds of
     times a  day.  So $10.00  isn't all that  unreasonable a request.
     Registered owners will  be sent a  key file, LOCKER.KEY, and  the
     most recent version of  LOCKER.  Simply place LOCKER.KEY  in your
     LOCKER.EXE subdirectory and voila!  Instant registered version of
     LOCKER.EXE.    Not  only  will LOCKER.KEY  work  for  the current
     version  of  LOCKER, it  will  automatically register  all future
     shareware  versions  of  LOCKER too.    This  makes  it easy  for
     registered  owners to  upgrade  to the  newest  version.   Simply
     download the latest shareware version off  either my board or any
     other board that  has LOCKER and  you instantly have the  lastest
     registered version of  LOCKER.  Registration fees should  be sent
     to me at the following address:

     Mark Goodwin
     P.O. Box 187
     Orland, ME 04472

     I'll send you your registered copy  by either mailing it on  disk
     or  uploading it to  your board.   If you want me  to upload your
     registered copy to your board, you  must preregister me under the
     name MARK GOODWIN.  Be sure to  let me know the password you have
     assigned  to me  or  I'll have  no  choice but  to  mail you  the
     registered  copy.  If  you don't want  me to upload  your copy to
     your board, please let  me know if you  require a 3 1/2"  disk or
     not.  Unless  I'm instructed to do  otherwise, I will use  5 1/4"
     disks for all copies sent through the mail.















                                  SUPPORT

     If  you have a  question about LOCKER,  you can call  my BBS, The
     Lobster Buoy, at 207-469-7319 and leave me a message.  Registered
     owners  will be  given my voice  number and  are free to  call me
     anytime.