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1994-04-16
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372 lines
SCANWIZ Version 3.00
April 1994 by MOUNTAIN GOAT SOFTWARE
**********************************************************************
We have mailed a donation to Jim Shelton, and you should too. Do it
immediately if you use Autoroll!
First of all, you must place the following files in the same
directory to run this version: SCANWIZ.EXE, SCANWIZ.INI, MAKLOAD.EXE
and CF.COM. These are the same MAKLOAD and CF programs used in the
past, but the SCANWIZ.INI is new and different. Old .INI files
WILL NOT WORK with Version 3.00.
SCANWIZ can now be of assistance to you in uploading codes to the
VC Ram or in downloading your VC Ram into a Now/Next code list. It's
really up to the user how to best make use of this program. The
development of this program has been user guided. We would ask that
you read the docs on Version 3.00, since there have been MANY
changes!
This version is in response to the remarkable bit of programming done
on the Autoroll series. Version 5.3 of Autoroll brings the ability to
upload/download wizard codes to and from a VC2 and a PC. This version
has been designed to facilitate the automatic file creation that the
new VC-PC link allows. No longer will it be necessary to key in any
codes whatsoever to the file list (if you have seeds, that is). You
can configure your Autoroll and software to read all codes into your
PC and then execute Scanwiz Version 3.00 to produce a NOW/NEXT sorted
wiz file that will correctly list every code in your VC2 RAM.
One quick point. If you download codes from your RAM and then create
a wiz file, you should get rid of the old codes in your ram first.
Let's say you have codes for G1-07 in your RAM but they are old and
you have no newer ones. Change them to 0000 0000 0000 00 in RAM and
they won't show up to clutter up your wiz file. Either that or add
G1-07 to the [BLOCK CHANNELS] section of SCANWIZ.INI.
You can operate this new version automatically from the DOS prompt.
This version will allow wiz lists to be selected from the command line.
No longer will you have to key in the file name after the program is
running. Additionally, you may enter an output file name on the
command line and instruct SCANWIZ to ignore any channels it does not
recognize in a code list (that shouldn't happen if you're reading
LOAD.TXT). The default input file name is now LOAD.TXT, rather than
TESTFILE as in the past.
Of course, this version can be run in the normal fashion and it will
attempt to sort Even/Odd codes into Now/Next for the first time. We
don't guarantee 100% accuracy, but it seems to work most of the time.
It is nice to enter the file names while you are looking at them on
the screen in front of you. No more going on memory or writing them
down. By the way, we don't GUARANTEE anything!!!
If you have the ability to write simple DOS batch files, you can
automate the entire process. Fire up the batch file and your PC
will collect codes from your VC2 and write a very accurate code
list in NOW/NEXT format while you twiddle your thumbs. It couldn't
be easier. It couldn't be more accurate.
*****************
THE COMMAND LINE.
*****************
The DOS command line is where you call on a program to run. Normally,
you would enter the name of the executable file: C:> SCANWIZ [ENTER].
Scanwiz V3.00 will run normally if you do that. You may now add
parameters to the command line. You may specify which of the three
lists of C.I.D.'s in SCANWIZ.INI to use (most just use #1). The default
is list #1. You may enter up to five wizard file names (the default is
LOAD.TXT). You may enter the output file name by placing = directly
before the name (no space in between). You may also instruct Scanwiz
to ignore any channels it does not recognize. It will still beep, but
it will carry on and not stop.
To select CID list #2, add: /2 or \2
To select CID list #3, add: /3 or \3
To select Ignore unknown channels: /I
To bypass Opening Screens and use default file names: /B
To enter input file names: Leave a space on both sides of the
file name. Do not put a / or \ in
front of it.
To enter the output file name: Place = directly in front of the
name (no space).
To work in silence: /S will disable the sound feature.
You may combine commands. If you are reading a LOAD.TXT file and wish
to call your output file WIZ0401.TXT, you might enter:
SCANWIZ /B =WIZ0401.TXT
This will use the default file name of LOAD.TXT for the input file and
then output to a file named WIZ0401.TXT.
If anything odd is found in the command line, Scanwiz should stop, but
this is unpredictable.
****************
C.I.D. OPTIONS
****************
Older versions of Scanwiz gave the user three Channel I.D. output
choices: you could use the channel I.D.'s in the three database
lists in SCANWIZ.INI, you could write 86 to them all (or another
value if you changed it in .INI), or you could overwrite all C.I.D.'s
with whatever values were found on the scanned lists.
This approach is now obsolete. Most users simply want to dictate
exactly which Channel I.D.'s will be sent to the output file. The
write 86 to all and overwrite options have been eliminated. You
simply choose the database list (usually #1) that you wish to use.
******************
LOAD.TXT PROBLEMS.
******************
Some have expressed a problem in reading LOAD.TXT, because SCANWIZ writes
a new LOAD.TXT file over their old one. This is unavoidable because
SCANWIZ uses it's newly written LOAD.TXT file to write AUTO.LDR.
[Well, it is AVOIDABLE. See Output Options to eliminate the overwrite.]
The simple solution to this is to write a batch file something like this:
ERASE DOWNLOAD.TXT
RENAME LOAD.TXT DOWNLOAD.TXT
SCANWIZ DOWNLOAD.TXT =WIZDATE.TXT
Call it WIZ.BAT. Then type WIZ [ENTER] and the problem is solved.
You need the ERASE line because newer versions of DOS will not rename
a file to a name already in use.
Ideally, you may combine the instructions for AUTOROLL with the above
technique to produce a batch file that will do it ALL. Just add
the line VCHOST at the top. (VCHOST comes in the file AUTORL53.ZIP)
WIZ.BAT
VCHOST
ERASE DOWNLOAD.TXT
RENAME LOAD.TXT DOWNLOAD.TXT
SCANWIZ DOWNLOAD.TXT =WIZDATE.TXT
If you are really fancy, you can set up the batch file to read command
line parameters to determine the output file name.
VCHOST
ERASE DOWNLOAD.TXT
RENAME LOAD.TXT DOWNLOAD.TXT
SCANWIZ DOWNLOAD.TXT =%1
Then at the command line, enter something like this:
C:\> WIZ WIZDATE.TXT
and stand back! The VC should download data to your LOAD.TXT file.
Then the batch file will rename LOAD.TXT to DOWNLOAD.TXT, process
that file and write both a new LOAD.TXT file and a text file in
NOW/NEXT format called whatever you specified on the command line
that started the batch file.
Note that VCHOST defaults to COM1. If you use COM2, you must
enter VCHOST 2 on the first line.
Play with it. Find your own best solution. The command line
approach makes it all possible from a batch file.
***********************
OTHER LOAD.TXT CONCERNS
***********************
Some have the ability to secure codes for both the A0 and 7B service
I.D.'s for some channels. If you configure your Autoroll correctly,
this is no problem. If you can collect both for G5-01 for example,
choose which pair you wish to print out first and load the seeds for
that one first in Autoroll. Make sure your list in [AUTOROLL CHANNELS]
in SCANWIZ.INI exactly matches your Autoroll configuration. It's OK
to enter G5-01 in two different locations. Use A0 seeds for the first
one and 7B seeds for the second one. Both sets of codes for G5-01
should download to LOAD.TXT through the serial connection. Scanwiz
will do the rest. The LOAD.TXT file that is written by Scanwiz WILL
NOT CONTAIN both sets of codes, however. That's why some may wish to
rename LOAD.TXT in order to preserve the full list.
*********************
BLOCK CHANNEL WRITING
*********************
There is a new section called [BLOCK CHANNEL WRITING] in the revised
SCANWIZ.INI file. There may be some channels that you would like
Scanwiz to recognize, but not print out. If a channel moves, for
example, many lists will be slow to make the change. Let's say
the idiots move Disney-W from G1-07 to G1-13. You may find G1-07
in lists for another week or more. You can now add G1-13 to the
[SCANWIZ CHANNELS] section, but LEAVE G1-07 there! If Scanwiz finds
a code for G1-07, you can force it to move it to G1-13 by adding
G1-13=G1-07 to the [EQUIVALENCY] section. Then, add G1-07 to the
[BLOCK CHANNEL WRITING] section. Another example of the Block
Channel function relates to sports codes. You may wish to limit
or eliminate some or all of the sports channels running on the sports
code from your list. INFO SOCIETY does this. It's up to you. BUT,
it is best to leave the sports channels in [SCANWIZ CHANNELS] so
that Scanwiz has a better chance to find the sports code!
Another consideration concerning blocking the writing of all of the
sports channels is that if F1-10 is not printed to your output file,
it will not be placed in LOAD.TXT, or AUTO.LDR at all. The simple
solution to this is to change "F1-10" in [AUTOROLL CHANNELS] to
"SPORT". That will carry the code to the loader.
*************************
PLACEHOLDERS FOR UPDATING
*************************
If you do not have seeds or are missing seeds for some channels, it
is still helpful to use Scanwiz to update your code list. Let's
take a TUESDAY for example. The following codes update on a Tuesday:
G1-07, F3-01, F3-04, F3-13, F3-16, F3-18, F3-21, G5-01, G5-12, E1-28,
S3-05, S3-09, S3-15 and F2-16.
1. Copy Monday night's list to a new file name for Tuesday.
2. Blank out a chunk (maybe 4 bytes) of the current code for
all channels that are changing on Tuesday. Use a text editor.
3. If you have no seeds for a channel that rolls and you don't
even know the next code, you may wish to enter the following
code into the Now position:
0001 0000 0000 00MM SS
Don't actually use M's and S's. These simply indicate that
M=Month I.D. and S=Service I.D. This will hold a place for
the new current code should you get it. This might apply to
ACTION (which only sends the current code) or E1-28, which
some cannot receive at all. You have to do this because
Scanwiz has been taught two things. It will ignore an all-
zero code and it will not print to the file any channel with
no codes found. If you just wish to print blank lines for
a channel like ACTION, you may add it to the [FORCE PRINT]
section of SCANWIZ.INI. You will lose the month and channel
I.D.'s this way but a place will be retained for the channel.
4. Run Scanwiz. Let's say you named your new file TUESDAY.
C:> SCANWIZ TUESDAY =TUESDAY will read the file and move
the next codes for Tuesday to the current position for the
channels that will roll.
5. Key in the new next codes for the rolling channels.
**************
OUTPUT OPTIONS
**************
If you examine SCANWIZ.INI you will find the first parameter in
it is now entitled [OUTPUT OPTIONS]. This value should be 1 or
2 or 3. It comes configured with it set to 3. Here's what the
values will output:
1 - Print out the text file only.
2 - Print out the text file, SCAN.OUT and the
LOAD.TXT file (Requires MAKLOAD.EXE)
3 - Print out the text file, SCAN.OUT, the
LOAD.TXT file and AUTO.LDR. (Requires CF.COM)
With all of the different users out there, you each have your own
needs. If you use the VC-PC link by Jim Shelton, you don't need
AUTO.LDR at all. If you just want the text file, you have that
option. Be sure the value is 1, 2 or 3.
You might note that Option 1 will operate without writing a new
LOAD.TXT file at all. Therefore, if you are preparing a code list
after downloading from AUTOROLL, this option will do the trick
without overwriting your LOAD.TXT file.
*************
OTHER NOTES
*************
The only new file format we've seen recently was a VMS text file.
This version of Scanwiz will now read such a text file. Thanks to
those that leave messages on NASAT!
SCANWIZ.INI can be edited to suit your needs. It comes configured
to work with a stock AUTORL53.RUN setup. If you change the order
or position of channels in RUN, you should change them in SCANWIZ.INI.
Jim Shelton lists the Canadian Family Channel as E2-30, while the
INFO SOCIETY BBS now uses E1-28. Scanwiz will convert E2-30 to E1-28
anyway. Let's say you want it to be E1-30. What should you do?
Put E1-30 in the [SCANWIZ CHANNELS] section. Add E1-30=E1-28 to the
[EQUIVALENCY] section. Then add E1-28 to the [BLOCK CHANNEL WRITING]
section. This will allow E2-30 to be eventually converted to E1-30 ...
This technique may be handy when the next channel move occurs.
A dummy LOAD.TXT file is provided. It too is configured like the
AUTORL53.RUN file. To produce such a dummy file, set the output
option to 2 or 3 in the .INI file and scan a file with no codes in it!
The dummy file will not show the old C.I.D.'s unless you add each
channel that is in [AUTOROLL CHANNELS] to [FORCE PRINT]. This is
because the LOAD.TXT file is produced from the text file you
create. If the channels are listed in the created file WITH their
C.I.D.'s, those I.D.'s will write to LOAD.TXT. Not a big deal.
The dummy LOAD.TXT file is called LOAD.TX1 so that it won't be
overwritten by the first use of SCANWIZ.
The files that you scan to and from need not be in the same directory
as the Scanwiz files. Let's say your downloads are in C:\DOWNLOAD.
You can enter the following:
SCANWIZ C:\DOWNLOAD\WIZFILE.TXT =D:OUTPUT
This will read WIZFILE.TXT in the directory C:\DOWNLOAD and output
the file OUTPUT in the directory D:\. Just thought we'd tell you
that in case you missed it in the 20 previous versions and docs.
*****************
SPEED ENHANCEMENT
*****************
Some of the scanning and analysis routines have been rewritten to
improve the speed of the program. Our tests show that this version
will run typically 25% faster than Version 2.20. This may be 10
seconds to those of you with a 486, but it can mean minutes if you
are running it on an XT.
**********************
BUGS .. BUGS .. BUGS
**********************
We hope you will agree that this version has been worth waiting for.
It probably has some bugs, but we are testing it much longer that we
have tested any other version. The major rewrite makes this necessary.
After two days of testing in February, we uploaded V2.00 and it was
buggy. We have tried to avoid repeating history.
**********************
THE HEIGHT OF LAZINESS
**********************
The author of Scanwiz hopes this Autoroll-Scanwiz solution will make
code collection and distribution deadly accurate and easy. The author
of Scanwiz owns the sky over his head and everything that's in it. And
that's the way God meant things to be ...
We have found satellite BBS people to be great friends. That is reward
enough. We may solicit a little help from time to time. And thanks
to all of you for your support, suggestions, comments and praise.
MOUNTAIN GOAT SOFTWARE
---------------------------------
CALL GROUND CONTROL SATELLITE BBS
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