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GTCTL Release 4.1 GT PowerComm Sysop Control Program 26 May 1987 Copyright (1987) James R. Davis All rights reserved This program and its documentation are a companion to the software and documentation created by P&M Software Co. known as GT PowerComm. Collectively these programs (along with GTLOG) provide the user an extremely powerful yet relatively easy to use communication system for use on an IBM or compatible micro-computer system. All of these products by P&M Software and James R. Davis are provided in the form of Shareware and made available through electronic Bulletin Boards located all over the country. As such, you have the right to use these products and to freely copy and distribute them, provided only that the copies include both code and documentation, unmodified, and that only the authoring company may sell the programs and documentation for a profit. It is not necessary to register for GTCTL or GTLOG separately from GT PowerComm. Further, there is not a separate registration fee for them. It is strongly suggested, however, if you find the set of programs to be useful, that you register your copy of GT with P&M Software Co. and that you accompany your registration with the $40 registration fee requested. This is the only way to insure the continued availability and support of such quality software. A registration form is included as the last page of this documentation. The authors of GT PowerComm and the companion series of support programs sincerely hope you will find these programs to be the finest examples of communications capabilities available anywhere and that you will benefit from their use. Please note, the authors advise you that they have no responsiblity for consequential damages, whatever. James R. Davis 2010 Woodland Springs Houston, Texas 77077 (713) 497-2306 Data (713) 558-5015 Voice 1 GTCTL - brief summary This program provides the user of GT PowerComm with support functions that facilitate the maintenance of the Host mode of that fine program. In the Host mode of GT PowerComm you are able to provide unattended access to your system to a controlled set of remote users. You are able to specify what functions those users are able to perform, the amount of time each is allowed to access the system, which users are NOT allowed access, and to maintain a complete log of system activity as well as a complete general and private message data base for the user community. Obviously, with the flexibility the Host mode provides, you, as the System Operator (Sysop), must assume some new responsibilities. For example, the message data base could grow without end if you did not have a way to control its size. Certain callers of your system may call only once and never call back. In that case you may want to purge that user's name from those who are currently active and authorized. Certain callers into your system will be undesirable for various reasons and you may want to preemptively prevent them from logging on to the system. After a period of time you may want to renumber the messages in the data base. And, you may simply wish to determine which of your callers are currently using that message data base or which currently have unreceived mail waiting for them in that data base. These are the kinds of functions that GTCTL was written to support. The other companion program to GT PowerComm is called GTLOG which is used to determine who has sent you files, who has received certain files from your system, the performance of your system's file transfer functions, telephone expense estimates, the reading of Sysop private messages or file Upload descriptions, and several other file activity analyses functions. GTCTL is a stand alone program that assumes only that you have installed the ANSI.SYS driver (or equivalent) in your system. It finds all files automatically by searching your environment for the GTPATH name and, if it finds that name, allows you to run the program from any directory on your disk. If you have not specified the GTPATH name in your environment then GTCTL must be run from within the directory which contains the GT PowerComm files (Typically C:\COMM). Naturally, GTCTL must be located within your systems' PATH or in the directory which contains the other GT files. Release 3.3+ is a major enhancement to GTCTL in that it has been changed to support as many as 30 different message or conference areas and the implimentation of personal passwords, and telephone numbers in the User's file. Another major enhancement is the ability of the program to transfer files from one directory to others and to update the receiving directory's FILES.BBS file (maintaining sort sequence). 2 Change History Release 4.1 05/26/87 Adds ability to exit FILES/WHATS.NEW function, Shows available file directories (GTDIR.BBS), increases max pathname to 30 characters, and corrects problem found while trying to move second message from base to base. Release 4.0 05/23/87 Corrects a problem with message renumbering following selection of backup. Also corrects delete aged message problem. Release 3.9 05/18/87 Includes Add User and Move message functions. Release 3.8 04/21/87 Minor bug fixes plus status chart added access level to short forn user list. Release 3.7 04/06/87 Corrected remaining renumber msgs bug. Added user address to User Scan edit. Release 3.6 04/04/87 Corrected GTMDIR parser bug, DOC changes, improved Status charts, short form user list. This version NO LONGER automatically deletes killed message header control blocks except during renumbering of msgs. Now may have embedded comment lines in GTMDIR. SYSOP may now Globally change user ACCESS levels. Release 3.5 03/27/87 Added sample reports to DOC, fixed two bugs were 'transparent' during test, but real to users of FILES.BBS and WHATS.NEW creators. Release 3.4 03/26/87 Major functional enhancements: WHATS.NEW file creation, better error reporting, new Calls by hour Month-to-date chart, aligns FILES.BBS entries properly, excludes BAK files from FILES.BBS, will not allow you to specify directories not in GTDIR.BBS, better RAM utilization. Release 3.3 03/17/87 Complete rewrite to support multiple message data bases, retention of telephone numbers and personal passwords in the user's file, much more complete BACKUP/ARC/PKARC functions, abilty to update user records by user name, report layout changes and the creation or updating of FILES.BBS file contents, and a new scan and scroll mode of updating CTL files. Release 3.0,1,2 3/16/87 Beta versions of 3.3 released prematurely. Release 2.9 03/04/87 Better error messages, ability to show as many as 50 messages/user in summary report, minor bug fix. 3 GTCTL - Operations When you start GTCTL (by simply typing: GTCTL) it will present you with four or five options. Four provide the ability to exit the program or to direct program output to your printer, display device or a file. You will be presented with this same screen after each function you select has completed. The default, shown in brackets, is to direct output to the display device. You should know that the display will always pause after each screen has filled in order to allow you to read what is displayed. In the case of printed output, if a report extends beyond a page there will be a form feed issued after a message is printed at the bottom of the page indicating that the report is continued on the next page. The report does not pause if printed. The fifth option, if present, allows you to select a different message data base as the default for all subsequent operations. Once an output device is selected you are presented with a menu that allows you the following choices: 0 - Exit to Output selection Menu 1 - Message Summary Report 2 - Message Control File Report 3 - User/Mail Control File Report 4 - Scan,Delete,Ban and Update User(s) 5 - Renumber messages 6 - Sort User/Mail Control file 7 - Delete inactive users 8 - Delete specified messages 9 - Scan/Update/Add nessage header(s) B - Backup/Archive critical files F - Create/Update FILES.BBS or WHATS.NEW file S - Host mode Status Charts The default is 0; to return to the Main Menu. Option 1 provides a Summary of the contents of your Message Data Base. For every user of the system that has either a currently active message that he has sent or which is addressed to him, there will be a listing which includes his name and a list of the messages numbers that relate to him that are in the file. The numbers that are enclosed in brackets are addressed to him while the others are messages he has sent. Option 2 prepares a complete report of the message control file and the message data base. Each entry on the report consists of the message number, the sender and receiver names, the time and date it was sent, the topic of the message, and flags that show whether the message was private and/or received, up to the first three reply numbers for that message, and the message number that this message is a reply to, if any. Finally, the actual message is displayed, if found, or a warning that that particular message could not be found in the data base. 4 Option 3 prepares a report that includes the contents of the User/Mail control file. This file contains the names of all users who have logged onto the system while it has been in Host mode. Besides the user's name, the file contains information such as the message number he has last read, the date and time of his last call, the number of calls he has made to your system, whether he has elected 'Expert' mode, whether he has been Banned from accessing your system, and whether he wants the More? display control function. Additional information may be expected to reside in this control file in the future. Option 4 is used to specify a list of users that are to be deleted or banned from the system. Banning a user retains the user name in the User/Mail control file and disallows the use of that user name to gain access to your system. NOTE: this obviously does not prevent him from adopting another name and using the same password to log on with! It is used primarily to prevent the use of a set of names or handles on your system that you might find offensive and to discourage a casual but undesirable user from getting into the system. Similarly, deleting a user name merely forces the system to recognize that user's next call to be his FIRST one. It results in the NEWUSER bulletin being presented the next time that user name is employed. Sub function 3 allows you to reverse the prior deletion or banning of a user thus you will no longer have to delete it if you want to un-ban that name. You are asked if you want to delete or ban the list you next enter. The format of input is simply to type the user names with a blank between (it is not case sensitive) and, if there are more than one such name, to put a comma between names. Option 5 will do two things at once. First, it will eliminate all deleted records from the file and second, it will renumber all active messages starting with the number one. Obviously, all control file references to message numbers are also renumbered so that, for example, the last message read for each user will remain consistent with the resulting message numbers in the file. Option 6 will sort the User/Mail file in order to get it into user name order. As each new user calls into the system his name is appended to the file. The sort function allows you to sequence the file alphabetically by either the user's first or last name or numerically in descending order of date last called. Option 7 allows you to delete inactive users of your system. 'Inactive' means that the caller has not called your board within a specified time period (for example, within two months). You specify the time period at the time you select this option. Option 8 provides you the ability to eliminate messages from the message data base and GTMESSAG.CTL header file. You may do so by selecting either: All Private received mail, All Public received mail, All mail that has been in the file longer than a certain specified number of days, or via a specified of message numbers. 5 Option 9 provides you the tools necessary to edit your Message Control file. With this option you may edit existing entries, delete such an entry and create new entries. Option S provides the user the ability to print or display charts showing the Host Mode Status of GT PowerComm during the current month. There are currently three charts available: Telephone Usage Hours by Day - Shows the time your telephone has been 'Off-hook' in either Answer or Originate mode. Calls-per-hour by Time and Day - Shows the number of calls received or placed for every hour of every day of the month. Calls per hour month-to-date - Shows relative activity of your board by hour of the day and average calls received during that hour M-T-D. Option B provides the user with a convenient way to backup or archive all critical Host mode files (GTMAIL.CTL, GTMESSAG.CTL, GTMDIR.BBS, GTDIR.BBS, GT.LOG and all messages). It assumes the existence in your system of either a standard BACKUP program or ARC or PKARC and that these are available via the PATH by DOS. You may send the output to floppy disk or to your GT directory whether you choose the BACKUP or ARC methods. The author strongly suggests that you employ this function at least once a day! A word about naming conventions used should you elect to use the ARC method provided. GTCTL will send all critical files found in the GT directory to an ARC file with the name of mm-dd-yy.ARC. If that file already exists it will be updated. Then, using the GTMDIR.BBS file (if it exists), the program will create seperate ARC files for each message directory found listed in that file and will use the folling name: mmddyynn.ARC where nn is the relative sequence number of the directory as listed in GTMDIR.BBS. In other words, if you have a message directory listed in your GTMDIR.BBS file called C:\GAMES and it is the third directory listed in that file, then GTCTL will create an ARC file called mmddyy03.ARC and will put that directories control files and all messages from its GTMSGS sub-directory into that ARC file. Option F (Create/Update FILES.BBS or WHATS.NEW file) allows you to specify a source directory from which files are to be moved (not just copied), and to add file descriptors and a formatted entry into a designated directory's FILES.BBS (in sort sequence). The only directories that may be specified as targets for these moves are those listed in the GTDIR.BBS file. There is also the facility to simply update the contents of an existing FILES.BBS (without moving files). If using one of the two 'move' options, you may specify that only ARC files are considered. 5.1 The WHATS.NEW option allows you to specify a date of interest as well as the source (target) directory. It will create a new WHATS.NEW file containing just those files added or changed since the specified date. The option has one sub-option: you may elect to move only those files with an extension of ARC or all files. 5.2 GTCTL - Additional notes GTCTL will (without announcing it) begin by looking for your GTDIR.BBS file. It then will look into each of the directories specified in that file and insure that there is a FILES.BBS file. If not, it will create that file for you and the contents of the created file will be a single text line that says: "No descriptions currently available." Finally, and without notification to the user, Option 3 will shrink the GTMAIL.CTL file if it is possible to do so (because of deleted users at the beginning of the file). The GTMESSAGE.CTL file is shrunk automatically only at the time of renumbering of messages because of deletions found therein. The program is non-interruptable because of the many control file updates that take place with it. Care has been taken to minimize the risk of corrupting these files by keeping them 'closed' until the last possible moment before they are updated, and then they are immediately closed again. * N O T I C E * Given the care and design of this program towards protecting the integrity of your messages and control files, it would be reasonable to presume that these files are important to the operation of your Host system. They are. Therefore, it cannot be overemphasized that a daily backup (or complete ARCing) is essential to minimize the effect of any corruption of those files resulting from any cause or reason. That is why the function has been created for you, but the author cannot force you to use it. Be advised that there is always the possibility of file corruption; from power outages, to errors in the logic of programs such as this one. Your use of this program is evidence of your agreement to assume the entirety of that risk and that you will not hold the author or his associates or distributors liable in any way should there be a loss of data from its use. * N O T I C E * 6 Telephone Usage Hours by Day For the month of March as of 3/27/87 @ 9:21 24| 23| 22| 21| 20|-------------------------------------------------------------- 19| 18| A 17| A 16| A A A H 15|-----------------------------A-----A---A-A---A---------------- O 14| A A A A A A U 13| A A A A A A A A A A A R 12| A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A S 11| A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A 10|-----A---A---A-A-A-A-A-A---A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A---------- 9| A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A 8| A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A 7| A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A 6| A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A 5|-A-A-A-A-O-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-------- 4| A A A A O A A A A A A A O A A A A A A A O A A A O A A 3| A O A O O A O A A A O A O A O A A A O A O O A O O O A 2| O O O O O A O A O A O A O A O O O A O A O O A O O O A 1| O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O ============================================================== -|-|-|-|05-|-|-|-|10-|-|-|-|15-|-|-|-|20-|-|-|-|25-|-|-|-|30-| O = Originate A = Answer For the month of March as of 3/27/87 @ 9:22 00:00|---- 3 2 2 1---- 1---------- 2---- 2 2 2 1 2 1 1 2-- 3-------- 27 01:00| 1 1 3 1 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 3 1 2 30 02:00| 1 1 2 1 1 2 3 2 1 1 1 5 2 1 1 1 26 03:00| 1 1 3 1 1 1 2 1 4 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 22 04:00| 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 13 05:00| 5 1 2 1 3---- 1 1-- 2 1 1------ 1 1 1 1 1 1-- 1---- 1-------- 26 06:00| 1 1 1 2 1 1 3 1 1 1 2 1 1 2 1 1 3 2 1 27 07:00| 1 3 2 1 1 2 2 1 3 2 3 1 1 2 2 2 3 2 2 1 2 39 08:00| 1 1 1 3 3 1 5 1 1 2 2 3 1 1 3 3 2 2 1 1 2 2 1 1 1 45 09:00| 1 1 3 2 3 2 1 1 1 1 3 1 1 1 3 4 1 1 3 3 1 38 10:00| 1 2 1 1 1-- 1---- 2-- 2 1 1 2 2 2 3 1 3 3 5 3 3-- 1---------- 41 T 11:00| 4 5 1 1 3 1 2 1 1 2 1 1 2 1 1 4 4 2 2 2 4 45 C I 12:00| 2 1 1 1 2 1 2 1 4 1 3 3 3 2 3 3 4 3 3 2 1 46 A M 13:00| 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 3 2 1 1 2 2 3 1 4 3 1 3 2 1 39 L E 14:00| 2 2 1 1 2 4 1 1 1 1 2 4 2 1 2 3 3 1 1 3 3 41 L 15:00| 3 2-- 1 1 1-- 1 3-- 1 2 1 1-- 2 2 2 1 4 2 1 4 1 1 1---------- 38 S 16:00| 1 1 1 1 1 4 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 4 3 1 1 2 1 3 1 1 34 17:00| 4 1 5 1 2 2 1 2 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 3 3 2 2 4 2 43 18:00| 1 4 4 1 2 3 4 3 5 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 2 1 2 1 2 44 19:00| 5 3 2 2 4 2 1 4 3 1 1 1 1 1 4 1 2 3 1 3 2 2 49 20:00| 1 1 1 2 3 1---- 3-- 2-- 2 2 1 5 1 3 3 2 1-- 1 3 3 1---------- 42 21:00| 2 1 1 3 1 2 2 2 1 2 1 2 3 5 8 3 3 1 3 4 2 3 1 2 58 22:00| 2 1 2 2 1 1 1 3 2 1 2 1 3 3 4 3 2 1 3 1 39 23:00| 1 3 3 2 1 2 2 1 3 2 2 1 3 2 2 1 2 2 35 ==================================================================== -|-|-|-|05-|-|-|-|10-|-|-|-|15-|-|-|-|20-|-|-|-|25-|-|-|-|30-| 887 3 3 2 2 4 2 1 3 3 2 3 2 2 2 3 3 4 4 3 4 4 3 3 4 4 2 1 2 5 8 6 1 5 9 5 9 1 0 6 6 5 2 9 1 1 9 4 7 7 7 1 1 9 1 0 0 0 0 CALLS For the month of March as of 3/27/87 @ 9:23 00:00|************* | 27 01:00|*************** | 30 02:00|************* | 26 03:00|*********** | 22 04:00|****** | 13 05:00|************* | 26 06:00|************* | 27 07:00|******************* 39 08:00|********************** 45 09:00|******************* 38 10:00|******************** 41 T 11:00|********************** 45 C I 12:00|*********************** 46 A M 13:00|******************* 39 L E 14:00|******************** 41 L 15:00|******************* 38 S 16:00|***************** | 34 17:00|********************* 43 18:00|********************** 44 19:00|************************ 49 20:00|********************* 42 21:00|***************************** 58 22:00|******************* 39 23:00|***************** | 35 ==================================================================== -|-|-|-|20-|-|-|-|40-|-|-|-|60-|-|-|-|80-|-|-|-|00-|-|-|-|20 Avg= 38 [ ] [ REGISTRATION FORM ] [ ] [ ] [ DATE:__________ TO: P & M Software Co. ] [ 9350 Country Creek #30 ] [ Houston, Tx 77036 ] [ ] [ ] [ FROM: NAME:________________________________________ ] [ ] [ ADDRESS:________________________________________ ] [ ] [ ________________________________________ ] [ ] [ ________________________________________ ] [ ] [ ] [ CHECK 1 ITEM: ] [ ] [ 1. ___ INITIAL REGISTRATION OF "GT PowerComm" (SUGGEST $40). ] [ NOTE: INITIAL REGISTRATION INCLUDES AN AUTOMATIC UPGRADE. ] [ ] [ 2. ___ UPGRADE TO NEW VERSION OF "GT PowerComm" (SUGGEST $10). ] [ IF YOU ARE ALREADY A REGISTERED USER, YOU CAN USE THIS ] [ OPTION TO OBTAIN AN OFFICIALLY REGISTERED COPY. ] [ ] [ PLEASE SUPPLY THE SERIAL NUMBER AND VERSION FROM THE ] [ COPY OF THE PROGRAM YOU ARE CURRENTLY USING. USE THE ] [ ALT-J COMMAND TO OBTAIN THIS INFORMATION. ] [ ] [ SERIAL # _________ VERSION # ___________ ] [ ] [ ] [ PLEASE INDICATE AMOUNT ENCLOSED ] [ -------------------------------------- ] [ ] [ Contribution Amount: __________ ] [ ] [ TX residents add sales tax: __________ ] [ ] [ TOTAL ENCLOSED: __________ ] [ ] [ Sales Tax Note ] [ -------------- ] [ To compute the proper sales tax you should include 5.25% for the ] [ TX state tax, Houston residents should add 1% for the city sales ] [ tax, and MTA residents should add an amount equal to their local ] [ MTA rate. In Houston and Dallas, the MTA rate is 1%. ] [ ] [ PLEASE DO NOT SEND CASH, SEND CHECK OR MONEY ORDER. YOUR REQUEST ] [ WILL BE FILLED PROMPTLY UPON RECEIPT. ] ------------------------------------------------------------------------