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Night Owl 19
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Night Owl (The Best of Shareware)(NOPV 19)(1996).ISO
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BFNEWS.DOC
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1995-12-10
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┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ "THE BLUE FORCE NEWSLETTER MAKER - VERSION 2.4 (SHAREWARE)" │
│ │
│ │
│(C) 1995 Leiter Enterprises Developed By: Brian Leiter│
│ │
│Compiled: 12-11-95 Sysop of The Blue Force BBS│
│Turbo Pascal (864) 599-1936 │
└────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
This file may be shared with all, in it's unmodified shareware format.
** THIS ZIP/ARJ MAY NOT BE DISTRIBUTED IF CHANGED IN ANY WAY **
┌────────────┐
│ DISCLAIMER │
└────────────┘
Use this software at your own risk. Many hours of BETA testing was spent
testing this software, and as far as we know it's safe and stable. Even
so, we cannot be responsible for any weird thing it does!
Hello Spitfire Sysop!
Included with this package are the following:
BFNEWS.DOC : This is what you're reading.
REGISTER.DOC : The registration form.
SUPPORT.DOC : A list of support BBS' for the Blue Force Series.
HISTORY.DOC : Program revision history
BFNEWS.EXE : Program executable
CONFIG.DOC : Doc file for the config file!
SAMPLE.CFG : Sample Config File (Works Only When Registered)
BFNEWS.KEY : Program Key File
BUGREP.TXT : BUG REPORT TEXT!
┌──────────┐
│ CONTENTS │
└──────────┘
Part One...................................... BFNEWS Introduction
Part Two...................................... Running BFNEWS
Part Three.................................... Information On Registration
Part Four..................................... How To Reach Brian Leiter
Part Five..................................... Credits
┌─────────────────────────┐
│ PART ONE - INTRODUCTION │
└─────────────────────────┘
BFNEWS is a simple yet another newsletter maker program for Spitfire BBS'
with many other features not found in other newsletter programs. The
program is SIMPLE to use and everyone enjoys it! BFNEWS uses an internal
Editor and features Overwrite, Append, View and Edit modes. When
Registered, The SysOp will be able to configure the newsletter colors using
a simple config file. (See Config.DOC For Details)
Here are some conditions the program will run under:
** MS-DOS 3.1 and greater
** QEMM, Memmaker, and Most Other Memory Managers
** DesqView, Windows and OS2
** STACKER 4.0!
┌───────────────────────────┐
│ PART TWO - RUNNING BFNEWS │
└───────────────────────────┘
1. Unarchive the contents of this zip or arj file into the directory of
your choice. (BFNEWS now will read your Enviroment!) Make sure that you
have this in you Autoexec.bat... SET SFPATH = [The Path To Your SF Dir]
Example: SET SFPATH=C:\SF
a) If you have REGISTERED this program, you can create a config file
that will allow you to SET the colors of the Newsletter. Please
see the encolosed file CONFIG.DOC. When you create this config file,
it must be named BFNEWS.CFG and must reside in the SAME directory as
BFNEWS.EXE!
2. Change to the directory where you put the BFNEWS program files and at the
DOS prompt, enter BFNEWS.EXE! This will default the program and
newsletter to SFNWSLTR.BBS/.CLR. If you wish to make another screen
enter the following:
BFNEWS [SCREEN NAME] Example: BFNEWS WELCOME5
NOTICE: NO EXTENTIONS AT THE END!
Program Paramaters: /H <--- Displays Help Screen
Everything is very automated and instuctions are given on the screen.
(Make sure that whatever directory that you put the BFNEWS.EXE that you
also have BFNEWS.KEY there also! BFNEWS will not run without the
keyfile included.)
3. After executing the EXE file, you will be prompted to enter the SUBJECT
of your newsletter. This must be no longer than 30 characters... And no
Shorter than 1 Character. If you receive an ERROR, this means your
Subject is incorrect. Either it was too short or too long.
IE: "NEW CD-ROM DISK ONLINE!"
4. Now it's time to enter your text! YOU MUST ENTER at least one line,
line number 1. When entering your text, the program will word wrap to
the next available line. In the upper right hand corner of your screen,
you will see the LINE NUMBER that you are currently on and the CHAR #
that will be entered next. If you wish to enter a BLANK line, then just
press ENTER! To EXIT from entering your text, just press the ESC KEY!
5. NOTES ON ENTEREING THE TEXT:
a) To enter a BLANK LINE, just press the ENTER key.
b) To EXIT the text entry, just press the ESC key.
c) To erase text, use the BACKSPACE key. This will allow you to
backspace over text to correct spotted errors.
d) You only have a 14 line limit! So, when you get to the end, if
you're not careful, you may cut off some text! Watch the line
numbers at the upper right of your screen. (SEE BELOW EXAMPLE)
6. The EDITOR: This editor features the following commands:
/D : This will completely ERASE A LINE!
After you have entered your text, and have pressed ESC to exit text
entry, you will prompted with a prompt... Similar to this:
"IS THIS CORRECT? (Y/N)"
First... You have the chance to EDIT your SUBJECT! Each time you enter
the edit mode, you will receive a prompt... Similar to this:
Current Subject Is: Test
Do You Want To Change This? (Y/N)
By selecting 'Y' you can change your newsletter subject. Just remember
this this must be at least one char and no more than 30 chars. By
selecting 'N', no changes will be made.
Second... Now You can edit your TEXT! Just enter the LINE NUMBER that
the text is on that needs to be edited. When you EDIT a line, you can
REPLACE TEXT! Just enter the portion of the line that you want deleted,
press enter, and then type in your NEW portion of text! When you are
done editing or no editing is necessary, press 'Y' to save the text.
** The Text Editor Will Replace The FIRST OCCURANCE Of The Specified
Replacement Text And Is CASE SENSITIVE!
Listed below is an example:
1: Hello Users:
2:
3: I just wanted everyone to know that we are going to be having a
4: cook out on 07-11-1995. All users are invited! This is FREE!
5:
ESC... Exit... Is this correct? (Y/N)...'N'... Prompt...
Edit which line? 5... Edit...
5: Please bring your family. We will be having this cook out at the
6: Police Club. For more information, Contact the Sysop!
7:
8:
9: Have a good time online!
10:
11: Brian Leiter, Sysop
NOTICE: You can ADD MORE TEXT! Just remember that you have a total of
14 lines to work with. If you look up at the RIGHT TOP... you
will notice a STATUS line that tells you which line number you
are currently at.
To add additional text, when you are prompted: Replace What? Just press
enter... Then when you are prompted: With What? Just enter your text!
It is as simple as that!
7. Now you have the option to APPEND to the previous newsletter, OVERWRITE
the previous newsletter, VIEW the newsletter, EDIT the working newsletter
again, or QUIT! If you overwrite, you are creating a NEW NEWSLETTER! If
you append, you are ADDING to the TOP of your current newsletter. This
great program has NO LIMITS to the length of the newsletter! In other
words... you can have a one page newsletter or keep appending and have
100 pages of news. The option is yours! When you Select to View the
newsletter, you can see what you just entered and what the colors will be
like. If you Quit... nothing is saved and you MUST start over! The ESC
key may be used at certain points to ESCAPE and quick exit! You will be
prompted before the program is aborted. When you select EDIT, you are
taken back the the edit feature of the program.
8. Well, thats it! I have tried to furnish you with all the information
needed to run this program. If you have a problem, please contact the
author for assistance. You have just created the following files in your
Spitfire display file area, by default.
SFNWSLTR.BBS and SFNWSLTR.CLR (RIP currently NOT AVAILABLE)
┌───────────────────────────┐
│ PART THREE - REGISTRATION │
└───────────────────────────┘
** Is this product crippled or what?
Yes. This is shareware. This allows you, the consumer to try out this
product, and see if it's really worth buying before you do.
BUT, this program is fully functional to the Sysop as is. When REGISTERED
your BBS NAME, SYSOP NAME and REG NUMBER will be code fixed into a special
key file for you. The no registration messages are removed and replaced
with a REGISTERED or THANK YOU! After you REGISTER, you will be able to
use the APPEND and COLOR-CONFIG Features.
** If I send the $10.00, what do I get?
A complete REGISTERED version on a diskette of your choice or a KEY FILE!
The NO REGISTRATION messages will be removed and your REGISTRATION CODE
will be locked into the program. Also, a nice THANK YOU!
** By supporting quality shareware such as this, you are HELPING the author
produce bigger and better programs for SPITFIRE!
** Free upgrades. (Getting the files will be up to you tho!)
** Wow! I love this program! How do I register?
First, remember - The wonderful thing about shareware like this is you
get to use the software before paying for it - These means YOU
know exactly what you are getting BEFORE you pay.
If you are unhappy with ANY part of the operation, do NOT send cash
expecting it to work better. Registering simply lets gives you the
rights to use the software!
If you are having problems, call us for tech support BEFORE registering,
we give tech support to anyone.
Print the REGISTER.DOC file. It's ok to edit REGISTER.DOC and fill it out
with your info first if thats faster for you, or just fill it out in pen
after it's printed. (You can print REGISTER.DOC with ANY program you want.)
If you DON'T own a printer, try to basically send us the same information,
and if we can find a return address we will send you a REGISTERED program.
** How can I get my program the absolute quickest?
Well, average mail time for us to recieve your check is 7 days. We
usually mail within 7 - 10 days of recieving it.
┌─────────────────────────────────────┐
│ PART FOUR - HOW TO REACH THE AUTHOR │
└─────────────────────────────────────┘
You can send me U.S. mail: (same address as registrations)
Brian Leiter
213 Burnley Court
Spartanburg, SC 29303
MY BBS:
The Blue Force BBS
(803) 599-1936
The Blue Force BBS is now on FIDOnet! Our address is 1:3652/9, I'm on
the node list under Blue Force!
┌─────────────────────────┐
│ PART FIVE - THE CREDITS │
└─────────────────────────┘
This program would not have been possible without the following help:
(BETA Testing) <-- A Lot Of Help!
David Chambers
Mike Robinson
Mike Noftzger
Norman Kennedy
Eric Lofgren
Chad Shipman
Ross Cassell
Frank Sexton <-- Co-Sysop of the BBS
Brian Leiter <-- Genius!
--------------------------------------------------
Acknowledgments:
Spitfire is a registered trademark of Buffalo Creek Software
Turbo Pascal is a registered trademark of Borland International
Blue Force Series is a registered trademark of Brian Leiter
OS/2 is a registered trademark of IBM Corporation
MS-DOS is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation
All other programs are copyright and/or trademarked by their
respective author unless otherwise noted.
========== END OF THE DOCS ===========