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- ==============================================================================
-
- Fax-Door Release 1.04
-
- Fax ASCII Text file on the spot!
-
- Door Registration is only $10.00!
-
- Written by: Gerry Freymann
- R.R.#1
- Baltimore, Ontario Canada
- K0K 1C0
-
- The Phantom BBS (416) 342-3734 USR HST Dual Standard
- (416) 342-3766 19200 USR HST
- (416) 342-5573 19200 Hayes Ultra
- ==============================================================================
-
-
-
-
-
- Brief Update History
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Please view the file CHANGES.DOC for a complete history.
-
-
- Overview of Fax-Door
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Fax-Door was written to provide users of my BBS the chance to Fax
- ASCII Text files to other fax machines in the area. I originally bought
- the Fax Card for my personal benefit, and once I saw how simple it was to
- use the BitFax software, I figured it would be a fairly simple job to
- create a door to take advantage of the Fax card and BitFax software.
-
- A simple door? Well, that's a matter of opinion I'm sure, but this is
- far from being "just a simple door" as you will soon see.
-
- My Fax-Door will display information to NewUsers, create a personal ten
- number dialing directory, offer a variety of transfer protocols, place
- comments in your caller log, as well as a separate door log file, allow
- long distance faxing for pre-approved users (you define the number
- of credits or available pages), fax on-the-spot, report the fax status,
- update user accounts, delete all temporary files....
-
- I have the door set up to allow FREE local faxing. What the hay? It's
- a great service that is fairly cheap to add to your system so why bother
- the users and have them pay per fax?
-
- All in all, I think you'll be quite pleased.
-
-
- Fax-Door Requirements
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
- First of all, Fax-Door may not be for everybody. There are a few
- requirements you should be aware of, that may make this door unsuitable for
- some Bulletin Board Systems:
-
- - You'll need room in your computer for an internal Fax-Card. That not only
- means phsyical space, but also free interupts and com ports.
-
- - You need an extra phone line, in ADDITION to the BBS Line, as the door
- faxes with the caller online.
-
- - You need a Fax board that uses the BitFax software (C) 1989 BIT Software,
- Inc. All Rights Reserved. I have used BitFax v.2.061 and 2.062
- successfully. Version 3.0 has also been reported to work fine.
-
- - This only works on the node where the Fax card is inserted. On a multi
- node system, this means the fax service will only be available on one of
- your nodes.
-
- - You must have a copy of DSZ in your Path
-
- - You'll need lots of free RAM! The door exits to DOS and runs a BATCH
- file to run BitFax but shells out to DSZ to accept the uploaded file to fax. Bulletin
- Boards operating under DoubleDos or Desqview must be sure they have
- enough RAM leftover for proper door operation.
-
- - The door assumes a local call is 7 or 5 digits in length (minus brackets &
- dashes). If you are in a location where a local call is more, than you'll
- need a customized version. Please contact me and provide details and we
- can get you set up. Example local call: 3425544 or 25544
-
- - The door also assumes that a long distance call is 8 or 11 digits in length
- (minus brackets and dashes). Again, if this a problem in your location
- please contact me and we can get you set up with a customized version.
- Example long distance call: 14163425544 or 13425544
-
- - The door will ignore any phone number 4 digits or less, 6, 9 or 10 digits
- or 12 and great and report these as invalid numbers. If this is a problem
- for you please contact me.
-
- - Only 999 users may use the door with all of its bells and whistles. The
- 1000th user and above will have access, but will not have a personal
- dialing directory and therefore have no access to the Long Distance
- option.
-
- With all that said, if you still feel this door is for you, then by all
- means read on!
-
-
- Files needed for Fax-Door Operation
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
- If you have any doubt about the integrity of the files contained in this
- ARCHive, feel free to call my BBS in Baltimore, Ontario Canada and download
- the latest version.
-
-
- DOOR BAT * | Used when returning from a Fax, explained later
- FAXDOOR CFG * | Your Configuration file, explained later
- FAXDOOR EXE | The main Fax-Door executible
- FAXEDIT EXE | User File Editor, explained later
- FAXDOOR PGE * | OPTIONAL, explained later.
- FAXDOOR REG | Provided when you Register your copy, explained later
- FAXDOOR PRE * | OPTIONAL list of local prefixes, explained later
- FAXING TXT * | Displayed just as the door exits and goes to send the fax
- HELLO2 TXT * | Displayed when a user returns from sending a fax
- MENU TXT * | The Main Menu
- MINUS TXT * | Displayed when attempting to fax LD with a deficit balance
- NEWUSER TXT * | Displayed once, to every new user of the Door
- PLUS TXT * | Displayed before a Long Distance fax if credits remain
- XM1KG BAT * | Xmodem-G transfer batch file (set to use Com1)
- XMD1K BAT * | Xmodem-1K transfer batch file (set to use Com1)
- XMDCRC BAT * | Xmodem-CRC transfer batch file (set to use Com1)
- YMD BAT * | Ymodem transfer batch file (set to use Com1)
- YMD1KG BAT * | Ymodem-1KG transfer batch file (set to use Com1)
- ZERO TXT * | Displayed when attempting to fax LD with no credits left
- ZMD BAT * | Zmodem transfer batch file (set to use Com1)
- FAX * | Sample Batch file to activate the Door, explained later
- FAXDOR14 DOC | This documentation
- CHANGES DOC | History file listing changes in each version
- FAXDV DOC * | Jon's brain storm on a DV Receive Fax window!
- FLYER DOC | List of other programs available from me
- LICENSE DOC | Please read, understand and agree with
- SYSOP DOC | DoorPatch 3.5 setup instructions
- REGISTER FRM | Print out, complete and mail with register fee
- QUICKGO DOC | Quick, no muss, no fuss installation & set up
- ECHOFAX DOC | Information on a message base fax utility now available!
-
- Files created by the door
-
- FAX BAT | Temporary batch file, explained later
- DOFAX YES | Temporary batch file, explained later
- FAXDOR## LOG | Log file in the door subdirectory of user actions
- FAXDOOR ### | User Data files, 001-999, explained later
- FAXDOOR DTA | Master list of User names and their Data File Name
-
- Files marked with an asterisk (*) mean you should go over and edit these
- files as you see fit. Be sure to check the transfer batch files so they
- are set for the correct com port that the door will be using.
-
- All of the above files should be in the same subdirectory as your BitFax
- program. Explainations of their purposes follow.
-
-
- DOOR.BAT --> Keep in your Door/BitFax Subdirectory
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ECHO OFF
- FAXDOOR FAXDOOR.CFG
- IF EXIST DOFAX.YES FAX
- C:
- CD\PCB
- BOARD
-
- You will need to edit this file, if your PCB subdirectory is not located
- on Drive C: subdirectory \PCB. This file is called by the door after
- sending a fax and is used to allow the Fax-Door to recycle.
- YOU MUST HAVE THIS FILE IN THE DOOR/BITFAX SUBDIRECTORY AND IT MUST HAVE
- CORRECT DRIVE LETTERS AND PATHS.
-
-
- FAXDOOR.CFG --> Keep in your Door/BitFax Subdirectory
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
- C:\PCB\PCBOARD.SYS | Location of your PCBoard.Sys file
- The Phantom BBS | Your BBS Name
- Gerry | Sysop First Name
- Freymann | Sysop Last Name
-
- It's the standard DoorPatch configuration file, so if you have a "generic"
- configuration file for DoorPatch doors, you can use that one.
-
-
- FAXDOOR.PGE --> Place in your Door/BitFax Subdirectory
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
- This OPTIONAL file allows you to customize the appearance of your Fax
- service. This file can be up to 51 lines long and will be combined with
- the existing covering letter.
-
-
- FAXDOOR.REG --> Place in your Door/BitFax Subdirectory
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Our new registration process will create this file for you. When you
- register, you are given a small utility program that you run from within
- the door subdirectory. Once you have a valid REG file, the door which
- you are already running will magically say Registered to you.
-
-
- FAXEDIT.EXE --> Place in your Door/BitFax Subdirectory
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
- This is a very nice user file editor for use with the door. An easy way
- to add credits to a user account, or edit somebody's dialing directory,
- or just plain be nosy! One catch.... this only works when you Register
- your copy of the Door. To load the door, pass on the name of one of your
- Faxdoor configuration files. For example: FAXEDIT FAXDOOR.CFG
-
-
- FAXDOOR.PRE --> Place in your Door/BitFax Subdirectory
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
- 342
- 349
- 352
- 372
- 373
- 797
- 885
-
- This file gives you the chance to ensure that when a user enters a "local"
- number, it is indeed a valid local number. Simply place all valid local
- dialing prefixes, one per line in this file. THIS FILE IS OPTIONAL! If
- you do not create a FaxDoor.Pre file, no validity checks will take place.
- As you can see, I don't have a whole heck of a lot of local exchanges, so
- it was a piece of cake for me, but in Metropolitan areas, you might spend
- a day typing in all the exchanges and might be better off to leave it out!
-
-
- *.TXT --> Place in your Door/BitFax Subdirectory
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
- These text files are displayed to the user at various points throughout
- the door. You will need to edit some of them, depending on how you wish
- to run the door. I grant free local faxing and the text files provided
- display that to the users. I charge for Long Distance faxing, on a prepaid,
- preapproved basis and the text files display that. You may change and/or
- edit any or all of these files as you see fit.
-
-
- *.BAT --> Place in your Door/BitFax Subdirectory
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
- These are all of your Upload Protocol transfer batch files. You should
- edit these if you aren't using Com1 to run the Fax-Door.
-
-
- FAX --> Place in your \PCB Subdirectory
- FAX.BAT --> Created and maintained by the Door
- DOFAX.YES --> Created and maintained by the Door
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ECHO OFF | Turn Echo OFF
- T: | Log to Drive T:
- CD\BITFAX | Change Directory to the BitFax/Door area
- FAXDOOR FAXDOOR.CFG | Load the door and using the .cfg file
- IF EXIST DOFAX.YES FAX | Key file maintained by the door
- C: | Log back to starting drive
- CD\PCB | Change back to main \PCB area
- BOARD | Reload the BBS
-
- This is my door batch file that calls up the FaxDoor. Using the name "FAX"
- a user can simply type FAX at the PCBoard 14.5 prompt and be taken into
- the Fax door. The If Exist line is the key to calling up the BitFax
- software. The door will automatically create a FAX.BAT file which will
- instruct BitFax on what file to send and what number to dial. The end of
- FAX.BAT calls DOOR.BAT (Door.Bat is provided and was discussed earlier)
- and allows the Fax-Door to reload and gather stats etc. The file DOFAX.YES
- is also created by the door and holds some data which the door reads after
- sending the fax to complete the statistic gathering. Both of these files
- are deleted automatically by the door.
-
-
- FAXDOOR.### --> Created and maintained by the Door
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
- "PHANTOM BBS","342-5544"
- "**","**"
- "**","**"
- "**","**"
- "**","**"
- "**","**"
- "**","**"
- "**","**"
- "**","**"
- "**","**"
- " 0","N"
-
- These files are the User Files created by the door. They are numbered
- 001 to 999. The format is very simple. It's an ASCII file with two
- fields per line, separated by a comma with each field surrounded by
- quotation marks. The first field is a description of the number and
- the second field is the actual fax number. There are ten lines providing
- each user with their very own personal ten number dialing directory. A
- user may enter a number manually or dial a number contained in their
- directory.
-
- The last line is rather unique. The first field of the eleventh line
- will start at zero. If you wish to grant Long Distance faxing to a user
- you need to read FAXDOOR.DTA to get their filename, then edit this line
- in their file and insert the number of "credits" or pages you wish them
- to have. Try to remember to leave a leading space before the number?
- The door will only allow a person to fax to a long distance number if they
- have a postive value. If they have 0 or a negative number, no long distance
- faxing will be allowed (local faxes remain available). The door will
- maintain the number of credits for you and displays certain TXT files
- after a successful fax based on the value in this field.
-
- The second field is not in use at this time and has been left in for
- future uses. Both fields, as with the rest of the datafile, should be
- surrounded by quotes and separated by a comma.
-
- If you register your copy of Fax-Door the FAXEDIT program will magically
- start to work and you won't really have to bother with all this stuff.
-
- Only 999 users may use the door with all of its bells and whistles. The
- 1000th user and above will have access, but will not have a personal
- dialing directory and therefore have no access to the Long Distance
- option.
-
-
- FAXDOOR.DTA --> Created and maintained by the Door
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
- "USER ONE","FAXDOOR.001"
- "USER TWO","FAXDOOR.002"
- "USER THREE","FAXDOOR.003"
- "USER FOUR","FAXDOOR.004"
-
- This is only a sample of the Data file created by the door. It is a simple
- ASCII file with two fields per line, surrounded by quotation marks and
- separated by a comma. The first field is the User Name and the second
- field is the name of their personal data file (explained above). You are
- limited to 1000 users!
-
-
- FAXDOR## LOG --> Created and maintained by the Door
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
- **************************************************************
- GERRY FREYMANN entered FAX-DOOR 02-13-1991 22:58:28
- Uploaded TEST.FAX using Zmodem
- Dial (A)borted!
- **************************************************************
- GERRY FREYMANN entered FAX-DOOR 02-13-1991 23:50:38
- Uploaded TEST.FAX using Zmodem
- Faxing TEST.FAX to 3425544
- CFMX.FAX 1 00:25 OK
- Uploaded TEST.DOC using Zmodem
- File transfer was UNSUCCESSFUL.
-
- This is a log file that the door appends to, giving you a history of
- activity in the door. If you are running on a multinode system you will
- see the node number appended to the end of the prefix. Since this file
- appends, you may wish to delete or archive it periodically.
-
-
- FAXDV.DOC --> Created by Jon Anderson, used by permission
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Information and complete batch file to open a window in Desqview for a
- receive fax option using BitFax 3.0 - take a peek!
-
-
- Setting up BitFax
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
- I followed the instructions for BitFax when installing the software and
- suggest you do the same. Make a subdirectory called BITFAX on your drive,
- change to the subdirectory, and copy the contents of the BitFax/SR Program
- disk into the subdirectory. You should place the Fax-Door files in this
- same directory, as the Fax-Door will read the Log file created by BitFax.
- You should set the BITFAX=\BITFAX environment variable in your autoexec.bat
- file, and include the BITFAX subdirectory in your PATH= statement.
-
- Be sure to set your com port correctly on the fax card. I run a Hayes
- Ultra on Com1 and have the fax card set to use Com3/IRQ 4. I elected
- to have the Modem Speaker OFF at all times... it is rather loud!
-
- Once your card is installed and your software is loaded onto the hard
- drive you should type BITFAX and set up the BitFax parameters. Please
- follow the BitFax manual. Their manual contains step by step instructions.
-
-
- Future Plans
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
- I'm currently working on an event utility that will scan a message base
- for outgoing faxes. Some SysOps have already expressed a desire for an
- event based/message based fax system rather than the door. When I get
- this program released, I will make it available to all registered Fax-Door
- users for another $15.00. The event utility will be based around the
- BitFax software, but does not need the door to work. If you only want
- the event utility, it will cost $20.00. The door, all by itself is only
- $10.00. Both programs together will cost $25.00.
-
-
- Registration Cost
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
- The DOOR only costs $10.00!! It is a full working version and is not
- crippled in anyway.
-
-
- Support the Shareware concept...
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
- To Register, please print out and return the REGISTER.FRM in the Zip file.
- Now, when you register, you will be given a small program which you run in
- your door subdirectory. This program will create a *.REG which will
- instantly register your existing copy of the door program, and any and all
- future versions as well. This means that any future releases you find will
- automatically continue to say registered to you, without the need to come
- back to me. I hope you'll appreciate this new system. You should be able
- to call The Phantom BBS and make your initial call, wait until I receive
- your payment, and download this small utility without spending alot of time
- on the phone. Or, for an additional $5.00 per order, I can send you the
- whole package on disk using the postal service. The choice is yours.
- There is an Update Door which grants access to all Registered Users, and
- allows you to download your register utilities for the programs you have
- registered.
-
-
- Thanks for your support!
-
-