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-
-
- MKSFFBBS (Make SFFILES.BBS)
- Version 1.2
- Written by
- Mike Woltz
- Buffalo Creek Software
- 913 - 39th Street
- West Des Moines, Iowa 50265
- All Rights Reserved
-
-
- PURPOSE OF MKSFFBBS.EXE
- -----------------------
-
- MKSFFBBS (Make SFFILES.BBS) is a program developed to
- facilitate sysops in the creation of their SFFILES.BBS necessary
- when running SPITFIRE Bulletin Board System. SFFILES.BBS is
- used to provide a file listing of a bulletin board's individual
- file areas. SFFILES.BBS is displayed to the user to show what
- files are available for download on the BBS.
-
-
- USE OF MKSFFBBS.EXE
- -------------------
-
- MKSFFBBS can be executed by typing MKSFFBBS at the DOS
- prompt from any directory. When first executed the Buffalo
- Creek Software logo appears at the top center of the screen
- displaying the program name. Directly beneath the logo a prompt
- appears which asks the user for the directory in which the
- SFFILES.BBS file is to be created. You will then need to
- respond by inputting the drive and subdirectory for which
- you are creating your SFFILES.BBS. In the event an invalid
- path is entered, MKSFFBBS will display a message that the "Path
- does not exist", terminate execution and return to the DOS
- prompt. Once the path has been entered correctly, you will
- then be prompted as to whether you wish the program, MKSFFBBS,
- to use the current date or the existing file date. Simply enter
- <T> if you prefer to use today's date or <F> for the file date.
-
- MKSFFBBS will individually display each file within the specified
- directory (one at a time), along with the preferred date format you
- selected earlier and the file size. As each file is displayed, MKSFFBBS
- will prompt you by asking "Do you wish to add FILENAME.EXT? [y/n]".
-
-
-
- FILENAME.EXT 123,456 08-15-90 Do you wish to add FILENAME.EXE? [y/n]?
-
-
- If you respond with a "Y", the filename, file size, and file date
- continues to be displayed and to the right of this display, a
- forty-five character input space is provided for you to supply a brief
- description of the file.
-
-
-
- 1---|---10---|---20---|---30---|---40---|
- FILENAME.EXT 123,456 10-01-88
-
-
- Insert (In)Active ESC to abort to DOS
-
-
- At the bottom of the screen, a message is displayed which notifies you
- if the insert mode is active or inactive and also informs you that you
- may abort the program and return to DOS by hitting the ESC key.
-
- If you respond with a "N" the file is not included in the SFFILES.BBS.
- This will continue until all files in the directory have been reviewed.
-
-
-
- However, if an SFFILES.BBS file already exists, a message will
- be displayed notifying you that:
-
- SFFILES.BBS already exists.
- <A>... Append Present SFILES.BBS
- <C>... Create New SFFILES.BBS
- <Q>... Quit
- Enter Command:
-
- If you respond with a <Q>... Quit MKSFFBBS.EXE is terminated and you
- are returned to the DOS prompt.
-
- If you select to <C>...Create New SFFILES.BBS, you will progress through
- the same steps as if you were setting up the SFFILES.BBS for the first
- time and follow the same procedure described previously. Please note,
- however, if you choose <C>... Create New SFFILES.BBS, all the existing
- file descriptions will be overwritten!
-
- Most often, you will want to <A>ppend Present SFFILES.BBS file. If
- a SFFILES.BBS exists and you choose to append the existing file, then
- only the files from the specified directory which do not already exist
- in SFFILES.BBS will be displayed so a brief description can be entered.
-
-
- EXITING MKSFFBBS
- ----------------
-
- After MKSFFBBS has displayed all the files in the directory and
- you have entered your file descriptions, MKSFFBBS will display the
- message "Finished with C:\PATH" (C:\PATH will be the drive and the
- directory you specified). You are then prompted with the following:
- "Would you like to check files against listing? [y/n]?" This provides
- an opportunity to check that all files listed in the SFFILES.BBS do,
- in fact, exist in the directory. If you respond with a "Y" and
- MKSFFBBS encounters a file listed in the SFFILES.BBS which does not
- exist in the directory, you will be prompted with "Filename.ext not
- found! Purge from list? [y/n]". This is a quick way to make sure if
- a file has been erased from the directory, that it has also been
- removed from the SFFILES.BBS list. If you respond with a "N" the
- file will remain listed in the SFFILES.BBS and if you respond with
- a "Y" the file will be removed from the SFFILES.BBS listings.
-
- If you respond with a "N" to the "Would you like to check files
- against listing?" or once you have completed the purge file option,
- you are then prompted with "Do another? [y/n]". This will allow you
- to execute the MKSFFBBS on a new drive and/or directory. If "Y" is
- selected you are once again prompted for the path and the program
- will continue as described above. If you select "N" the program is
- terminated and you are returned to the DOS prompt.
-
-
-
- CURSOR CONTROL
- ---------------
-
- As you move through each of the indiviual file listing for the
- previously specified drive and subdirectory, you will may use any of
- the following cursor movements while entering you descriptions:
-
-
- Left arrow key -- This will move the cursor left 1 character position.
-
- Right arrow key -- This will move the cursor right 1 character
- position.
-
- Home key -- This will move cursor to the beginning of the current
- line.
-
- End key -- This will move cursor to the end of the current line.
-
-
- Del key -- This will delete the character in the current cursor
- posistion.
-
- Backspace key -- This will delete the character to the left of the
- current cursor position.
-
- Escape key -- Will abort the program and return you to the DOS
- prompt.
-
-
- When entering your file descriptions, MKSFFBBS provides forty-five
- character spaces for your remarks. If you attempt to enter more
- than the forty-five characters allowed the cursor will stop at the
- last space and a beep is issued to signal that no other input
- can be entered.
-
-
- INSERT MODE
- ------------
-
- The insert key can be used to activate and deactivate the insert
- mode. The present mode is always displayed in the lower left hand
- portion of the screen. It will display either as Insert Active or
- Insert Inactive.
-
-
- ADDITIONAL FUNCTION
- -------------------
-
- Although MKSFFBBS was primarily written for sysops creating
- SFFILES.BBS when setting up their SPITFIRE Bulletin Board Systems,
- the program also has an additional purpose. The program may be
- used to keep a text file listing of any files in a subdirectory of a
- hard drive and also diskettes. You may then want to rename the
- SFFILES.BBS to possibly match the directory name with a common
- extension. For instance, if you had a directory named UTIL and
- created a SFFILES.BBS listing of all the files in the directory
- including a brief description, you may want to rename it UTIL.LST
- to imply it is a listing of the files in your utility directory.
- You can then use the DOS TYPE command or any text editor to view
- the file created.
-
-
- FILE SHARING
- ------------
- MKSFFBBS utilizes file sharing capabilities, therefore, there
- should be no confliction using MKSFFBBS with the multi-node versions
- of SPITFIRE.
-
- MKSFFBBS.EXE DISCLAIMER
- -----------------------
-
- MKSFFBBS.EXE is offered freely as a public domain program
- for your use. However, Mike Woltz and/or Buffalo Creek Software
- shall not be held responsible for any damage incurred by the user
- to hardware, software, or peripheral devices while running
- MKSFFBBS.EXE. All responsibility lies with the user of the
- software.
-
- MKSFFBBS.DOC is contributed by Jacque Shipley and The Mother
- Board BBS. SPITFIRE and SPITFIRE utilities are available for download
- on:
-
- Buffalo Creek's BBS The Mother Board BBS
- Sysop - Mike Woltz Sysop - Jacque Shipley
- 19200/9600/2400/1200 9600/2400/1200
- (515) 225-8496 (515) 986-3445
-