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Text File | 1995-12-09 | 18KB | 438 lines

════════════════════════════════════════ SFNET File System v1.0 *FREEWARE* By: Ross Cassell Of Cornerware Utilities (C) Copyright 1995, All Rights Reserved ════════════════════════════════════════ *NOTE* This doc file will be long winded, but should explain everything to you? Introduction ------------ SFNET File System is a tool to assist the SFNET Area Code Hub in insuring that they pass onward to their downlinks any files which may be sent down from the SFNET International Hub. Normally the SPITFIRE newsletter, SFNET listings and an occasional update to the SHILOH software are commonly sent down. It is of course the Area Code Hubs responsibility to see to it that these files make it past them and on to their downlinks. In one of the more recent versions of the SHILOH software, Mike Woltz added into the SHILOIMP module the ability for it to search the incoming mail bundle for a *.ZIP file and subsequently extract it. This allows the hubs to include within the QWK's any ZIP files, so that the downlink gets them. The most basic way to do this was in a batch file, to put the file you want to send somewhere, then use a 'IF EXIST' statement, if so, then you would simply make a call to PKZIP to add the ZIP to the downlinks QWK file. The problem is that a presumption is made that every downlink will call in at that time, but there are those who dont, be it phone costs, not being able to get on, and a myriad of other legit excuses. This causes some problems, because the Hub Sysop has to do some manual intervening, s/he cant leave the ZIP file in there forever, you would be sending the same file over and over again to some downlinks and when the ZIP got removed, some downlinks would never receive them when they did call, Some Area Code Hubs only put the ZIP file in place for one night and then remove it the next, murphys law sez that someone is bound to miss out? In Comes SFNET File System, it will help you distribute the files, keep track of who got the files and more!! SFNET File System, does a lot of the work for you but not all of it. Conventions And Limitations =========================== This utility is meant to automate some of the duties you have as an SFNET area code hub, but is not meant to absolve you of those responsibilities. It is hoped that you will still pursue your duties as a hub with complete diligence <sp> even if you have just one downlink or 100.. SFNET File system is a tool not a slave. This utility is designed solely around SFNET and the concept and structure used by SFNET. The 3 utilities that comprise this program, must be located in the same directory as the SHILOH software or they will refuse to run. The main configuration program will read in your SHILOH.CFG file, it will look at the 5th line of that file to obtain you SFNET address, if it finds that the last 3 characters of that address is not '000' then it will refuse to run. If you are not a SFNET area code hub, then this software will have no application for you. What It Does And Usage ====================== SFNET File System comes as 3 separate utilities: SFNFSCFG.EXE Main configuration Program and Node Editor. FROMINTL.EXE Utility that is run after you import your QWK packet from the International Hub. TONODES.EXE Utility that is run after the QWK packet is created for the Downlink but before it gets sent. Well Lets get Started!! First off, locate these 3 EXE's in the same exact directory that contains, the SHILOH software, which would be SHILOIMP.COM, SHILOEXP.COM and SHILOH.CFG. (Remember if they cant find SHILOH.CFG, then they wont run) First thing to do is to run SFNSCFG.EXE, this utility will test to make sure SHILOH.CFG exists and then check if you are a HUB based on your SFNET address, once those tests have been passed you are at the primary menu. During this process, SFNFSCFG will have created two subdirectories for you (if they did not previously exist). If your SHILOH directory is: C:\SHILOH Then NODEFILE and HUBFILE directories are created underneath SHILOH. C:\SHILOH\NODEFILE\ C:\SHILOH\HUBFILE\ Step [1] Select Option <A> Add A Node To Your DataBase You will note that the command prompt will automatically add in the first 5 characters of their SFNET address as it would pertain to your Area Code. (This INFO is obtained from your SHILOH.CFG file.) Simply input the last 3 characters of the nodes address and press Enter, simply continue to do so, until all of the addresses are entered into the database that comprise all of your downlinks. Remember to not ENTER in your own address as there is no need to. When you are done simply press ENTER without making an ENTRY and you will be returned to the Main Menu. *NOTE* A new entry will replace the first vacant entry encountered. If the Database file (DOWNLINK.DAT) does not exist, it will be created with a VACANT entry as the first record. If you delete a node from the database, that nodes record will be converted to VACANT. You will not be able to add a node if they already exist in the database. Each new entry is obviously started out with a File Status of FALSE. There is more to SFNFSCFG, but will be discussed later. For Now Press <Q> to quit and return to the DOS prompt. Step [2] It is assumed that you have PKZIP in your Path, if not correct it. <g> To complete installation you will need to edit your batch files used to fetch mail frim the International hub and send mail to the nodes, this is where FROMINTL.EXE and TONODES.EXE come in. In the batch file that you use to fetch mail from the International Hub place FROMINTL.EXE in after the SHILOIMP statement, like so: SHILOIMP A0000000.QWK FROMINTL In the batch file you use to let the nodes come in to get their mail, place TONODES.EXE after their packet is created, but before you have DSZ send it, like so: SHILOEXP A0???000.QWK TONODES DSZ sz A0???000.QWK Wham Bam Thank You maam, Installation is Complete!! How It Works And How To Work It? ================================ SFNFSCFG: The main configuration program is used to create the needed subdirectories, create a database file (DOWNLINK.DAT) in which your downlinks may be added to it, deleted from it or file status altered? The configuration program may also be used to delete the database. DOWNLINK.DAT is a simple binary data file that would contain individual records of your downlinks. Each record contains only two items, their node id and a True/False string that denotes their file status. (TRUE means they got the latest files, FALSE means they did not) DOWNLINK.DAT is initially created by the main Configuration program but is also relied on and written to, by the FROMINTL.EXE and TONODES.EXE utilities. Below is the main menu for SFNFSCFG: ╓───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╖ ║ SFNET File System v1.0 ║ ║ (C) Copyright 1995 by Ross Cassell ║ ║ The Dark Corner BBS (864)573-7069 SupraFax 28.8 ║ ╙───────────────────[DESQview Detected]─────────────────────╜ - [Configuration Menu For SFNET Hub A0803000] - <A> Add Node To Your Database <V> View Nodes In Your Database <T> Toggle A Nodes File Status <D> Delete A Node From Your DataBase <R> Remove Your DownLink DataBase File (Start Over) <Q> Quit Enter Selection [ A V T D R Q ]? Commands Explained: <A> Add Node To Your Database This is used to ADD nodes to the database file, here is what the prompt will look like: ╓───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╖ ║ SFNET File System v1.0 ║ ║ (C) Copyright 1995 by Ross Cassell ║ ║ The Dark Corner BBS (864)573-7069 SupraFax 28.8 ║ ╙───────────────────[DESQview Detected]─────────────────────╜ Entries: 1 # Downlink File Status ═══════════════════════════ 1) A0803003 TRUE Enter Downlink Node ID To Add [Enter Quits]: A0803 Note how the command prompt adds in the first 5 characters for you? Simply input the last 3 characters of the downlinks node ID and press ENTER and continue to do so, until all links are entered, then Press ENTER without making an entry to return to the main menu. You will not be able to enter in a existing link, nor should you enter in your own address. When adding in an entry, the first VACANT record will be used for the new entry. When Entries total 10 or more, it will scroll to the next screen until presented with a command prompt. <V> View Nodes In Your Database This is simply a way for you to go in and spot check your node entries to insure correctness or verify file status? When Entries total 10 or more, it will scroll to the next screen until presented with a command prompt. Below is what the View feature looks like: ╓───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╖ ║ SFNET File System v1.0 ║ ║ (C) Copyright 1995 by Ross Cassell ║ ║ The Dark Corner BBS (864)573-7069 SupraFax 28.8 ║ ╙───────────────────[DESQview Detected]─────────────────────╜ Entries: 1 # Downlink File Status ═══════════════════════════ 1) A0803003 TRUE <ENTER> <T> Toggle A Nodes File Status This feature allows you to toggle a nodes file status back and forth from TRUE or FALSE, this would allow you to resend ZIP files to a node who may have had a failed transfer.. Below is what the TOGGLE screen looks like: ╓───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╖ ║ SFNET File System v1.0 ║ ║ (C) Copyright 1995 by Ross Cassell ║ ║ The Dark Corner BBS (864)573-7069 SupraFax 28.8 ║ ╙───────────────────[DESQview Detected]─────────────────────╜ Entries: 1 # Downlink File Status ═══════════════════════════ 1) A0803003 TRUE Enter Node ID To Toggle: [Enter Quits] A0803 When Entries total 10 or more, it will scroll to the next screen until presented with a command prompt. <D> Delete A Node From Your DataBase This is used to remove a node from the DATABASE, such as when a node quits SFNET or for whatever reason? When removed the NODES record is replaced with VACANT and file Status is set to TRUE: Here is what the screen looks like: ╓───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╖ ║ SFNET File System v1.0 ║ ║ (C) Copyright 1995 by Ross Cassell ║ ║ The Dark Corner BBS (864)573-7069 SupraFax 28.8 ║ ╙───────────────────[DESQview Detected]─────────────────────╜ Entries: 1 # Downlink File Status ═══════════════════════════ 1) A0803003 TRUE Enter Node ID To Remove: [Enter Quits] A0803 When Entries total 10 or more, it will scroll to the next screen until presented with a command prompt. <R> Remove Your DownLink DataBase File (Start Over) Use this function to remove the whole database file, usually you would do so if you messed up on entering the info, or if you changed area codes etc.. Here is what that screen looks like: ╓───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╖ ║ SFNET File System v1.0 ║ ║ (C) Copyright 1995 by Ross Cassell ║ ║ The Dark Corner BBS (864)573-7069 SupraFax 28.8 ║ ╙───────────────────[DESQview Detected]─────────────────────╜ **CAUTION** By Removing The Existing DataBase, Means You Will Have To Start Over!! Are You Sure You Want To Remove Your Existing Database [Y/n]?: FROMINTL: **SPECIAL NOTE** As mentioned earlier, SFNFSCFG will create the needed directories for SFNET File System to do its thing. No need to worry, FROMINTL has the same ability should you accidentally remove them. This utility first looks to see if it can find SHILOH.CFG, then it looks for DOWNLINK.DAT, if both or either are not found, it will halt, With a 5 second delay. If both of the above files are found it will proceed to look for *.ZIP in its current directory, if no ZIP files were found it halts and takes no action. If ZIP files were found it does the following: FROMINTL makes a call to PKZIP and creates 2 ZIP files of the same name, one ZIP file is created in the NODEFILE directory, the other in the HUBFILE directory. (The HUBFILE directory is usefull for insuring that you the HUB SYSOP has backup copies of the incoming ZIPS) The ZIP files will be named according to the current date as reported by your system, otherwards if the current date is 12-09-95 then the ZIP file will be named DEC0995.ZIP, If the date was 01-05-96 then the file would be named JAN0596.ZIP and so on. The Source ZIPS would be zipped up into the two new ZIP files and then the SOURCE ZIP files will be deleted. After ZIPPING and deleting has been accomplished, then FROMINTL will rewrite DOWNLINK.DAT to change all your Downlinks File status flags to FALSE. and so it goes..:) TONODES: This utility like FROMINTL, looks for SHILOH.CFG and DOWNLINK.DAT and checks to see if they exist, if not it will halt with a 5 second delay. TONODES also relies on SFDOORS.DAT to obtain the calling Nodes ID.. If SFDOORS.DAT is not found, TONODES then will see if you specified a NODE ID on its command line (For those hubs who prescan), if this fails TONODES will halt with a 5 second delay. After the above tests have passed TONODES will do the following: It will check the NODEFILE directory for the existence of any of the ZIP files that FROMINTL created, if none are found, TONODES halts and takes no action. If a ZIP file is found, it will match up the NODE ID of the NODE as presented via SFDOORS.DAT or Command line with that in the DOWNLINK.DAT file, if that NODES file status should already be true, then TONODES will halt and take no action, should the nodes File status be FALSE, then a call is made to PKZIP to add the ZIP file to the QWK created by SHILOEXP. (The QWK name is determined by your NODE ID in your SHILOH.CFG file, if you are prescanning then the QWK name would be the NODE ID + .QWK of the affected node, see prescan section) After the ZIP file has been added to the QWK, then the NODES file status is switched to TRUE. And So it Goes :) *Prescanning* If you are pre-scanning the mail packets for your nodes usage is as follows: SHILOEXP /PRE=A0803020 REN A0803000.QWK A0803020.QWK TONODES A0803020 The /PRE= command for SHILOEXP tells SHILOEXP to create A0803000.QWK for node A0803020 without the benifit of SFDOORS.DAT. Since I prescan mail packets for several people myself in SFNET, I rename their QWK packet to match their NODE ID, and this is how I have it coded for prescan consideration in TONODES.EXE. You then RENAME the mail packet to match the node id of that node, then run TONODES with that NODE ID as the command line. This will have the same effect and function as it does if the node was calling in via the standard scripted method. Keep in mind that when I prescan, it is under the assumption that the node is going to poll for the packet, therefore if a existing QWK packet is still present from a previous prescan run, I dont create another QWK. I have things setup to delete successfully sent QWK's. This practice insures that the downlinks do receive all that they possibly can. Other Considerations? ===================== As emphasized earlier, this utility will not absolve you of your duties as an Area Code Hub. This program does not remove the ZIP files it creates, so you will have to manually go in and be aware of any ZIP files in the NODEFILE directory, making sure all NODES have received it by viewing their status, then after a period of time determined by you, remove any older ZIPS, because you could end up resending older ZIPS.. Like for example: DEC1095.ZIP could still be there when a JAN1096.ZIP gets created, then in this case both would get sent, even though DEC1095.ZIP was sent earlier. So hold yourself and your downlinks accountable for their respective responsibilities, by expecting them to call daily if they want mail and yourself by staying up to date. SFNET FIle System is designed to automate some of your duties, but not replace them. Credits ======= Turbo Pascal Is (C) Copyright Of Borland International. Spitfire, Shiloh and SFNET are Copyrighted Trademarks By Mike Woltz of Buffalo Creek Software. (Thanks Mike) Special Thanks Go Out To: Kevin Cummins for providing some programming code for which SFNET File System Is based on. Brian Leiter who endured many of my phone calls to provide help in the creation of this utility and for providing code SNIPPETS in helping me develop new file manipulation routines. Jacque Shipley for input and Testing!! Warranty ======== No Warranty is expressed or implied in this utility, usage is at your own risk. The program should function properly if correctly installed. Support ======= Ross Cassell (Programmer) The Dark Corner BBS (864) 573-7069 FIDONET: 1:3652/1 SFNET: A0803000 (Our Area Code Just Changed, am retaining 803 for the time being.)