ProfitPress Mega CDROM2 …eeware (MSDOS)(1992)(Eng)/ProfitPress-MegaCDROM2.B6I/BBS/RA/FXBULL10.ZIP/FXBULL.DOC

Text File | 1991-06-01 | 11.0 KB | 339 lines

                             FXBULL Version 1.00
                             ═══════════════════

The Definitive "FLEXIBULL" Bulletins Generator for RA/QBBS Compatible Systems.


Features :-
-----------
                o   Generates FIFTEEN Different Bulletins
                o   Multi-Line Compatible
                o   RA/QBBS Compatible
                o   Extremely Configurable
                o   Can Blacklist specified users
                o   Can Blacklist specified Message Boards
                o   Generates ANSI and ASCII Bulletins
                o   Can Generate SYSOP Message Base Report

History :-
----------

I was tired of my previous bulletin generator failing to work on my multi-
line system due to lock-out problems. I also wanted to choose the way the
bulletins appeared. Therefore I designed and programmed this bulletin
generator.


Credits :-
----------

Author : Mark Alexander


Beta Testers :-
---------------

Keith Wassell  (2:440/2)  Networked Multi-Line testing.
Myself         (2:440/52) Desqview Multi-Line testing.
Paul Bonifacio            General thrashing and (can I break it)




Getting Started :-
------------------

Choose a directory for FXBULL.EXE and FXBULL.CFG to "live" in.

Modify the configuration file to suit your needs (pay special attention to
the "path" parameters).

Change Directory to the directory containing BOTH FXBULL.EXE and FXBULL.CFG

Run FXBULL.

Now examine the generated bulletins. Impressive huh!. So impressive that
I am sure you will feel an overwhelming urge to register this program with
the author (which will entitle you to the Multi-Line Usage Bulletin)


Take a peek in FXBULL.TIP which contains user usage hints.



The Configuration File :-
-------------------------

The supplied configuration file contains a brief summary of the following
parameter statements.

Anything in the Configuration file starting with ; is a comment line and
will be ignored by the program.

The Smallest workable configuration file would be :-
----
BBSPATH c:\ra
BULL 1
---
Which would generate the last callers bulletins in the current directory.
Everything else is optional!


────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
BBSNAME (String of CHR$. Max Length 29)

This String will appear on every bulletin. Useful for reminding your users
exactly which system they are currently using!

Default : FXBULL V1.00

Example : BBSNAME MegaPower Multi-Line Bbs

N.B. After the 30 day evalution period this defaults to "Evaluation Copy"
────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
BBSPATH (Filepath)

The path to "USERS.BBS"

Default : This is a REQUIRED parameter.

Example : BBSPATH C:\RA\MSGBASE
────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
BBSTYPE (RA or QBBS)

The type of BBS system (or compatible) in use.
This parameter is only required when generating Message Base Bulletins.
If QBBS is selected then CONFIG.BBS is used.
If RA is selected then MESSAGES.RA is used.

Default : RA

Example : BBSTYPE RA
────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
CONPATH (Filepath)

The path to "MESSAGES.RA" or "CONFIG.BBS" (see BBSTYPE Parameter above)

Default : This is a REQUIRED parameter (if generating Message Base Bulletins)

Example : CONPATH C:\RA
────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
MSGPATH (Filepath)

The path to "MSGIDX.BBS"

Default : This is a REQUIRED parameter (if generating Message Base Bulletins)

Example : MSGPATH C:\RA\MSGBASE
────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
BULL (Number) (Filepath and Name)

This parameter is used to enable bulletin generation.
(Number) is the number of the bulletin to generate (1 to 15)
 1 - Last Callers Bulletin (up to 10 Entries) Sorted DATE and TIME
 2 - Selected Users (by security level) Sorted DATE and TIME
 3 - Top Uploaders Sorted by Kilobytes Uploaded
 4 - Top Uploaders Sorted by Times Uploaded
 5 - Top Troffers  Sorted by Kilobytes Downloaded
 6 - Top Troffers  Sorted by Times Downloaded
 7 - Top UL/DL Ratio (Kilobytes) Sorted by Ratio
 8 - Top UL/DL Ratio (Times)     Sorted by Ratio
 9 - Low UL/DL Ratio (Kilobytes) Sorted by Ratio
10 - Low UL/DL Ratio (Times)     Sorted by Ratio
11 - Top Message Writers
12 - Most Frequent Callers
13 - New Users Bulletin
14 - 15 Busiest Message Areas
15 - 15 Quietest Message Areas


(Filepath and Name) is the Full path and name of the generated bulletin.
There is no need to add .ANS or .ASC to the filename as this will be done
by the program.

If Bulletin 14 or 15 is requested an additinal file which contains useful
system information is generated in the current directory. This file is
called FXSYSOP.BUL.


Default : Number is REQUIRED
          Path and Name will default to Current Directory + Bnn (eg. B1.ans)

Example : BULL 1 C:\RA\TEXT\BULLET1
          Would generate the Last 10 Callers Bulletin and create two files
          c:\ra\text\bullet1.ans AND c:\ra\text\bullet1.asc
────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
DATEFMT (DDMMYY)

This parameter defines how dates are displayed in the bulletins.
Three values are possible :- DDMMYY, MMDDYY, YYMMDD.

Default : MMDDYY

Example : DATEFMT DDMMYY    For dates in UK format.
────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
SECLEVEL (number)

This parameter specifies the security level of users to be included in bulletin
number two. Bulletin number 2 has a wide range of uses. :-
 o Twit List (System Abusers)  (SECLEVEL 1 on my system)
 o Co-Sysops List              (SECLEVEL 1000 on my system)
 o Users Pending Verification  (SECLEVEL 18 on my system)
 o Privileged Users            (SECLEVEL 31 on my system)

The "Users pending verification" is very useful to me as a sysop.

Default : 1

Example : SECLEVEL 10   ;First time unverified callers
────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
BULLHEAD (number) (string of CHR$ [Max 30])

The Default heading for any bulletin can be changed with this parameter.

Default : (Depends on bulletin)

Example : BULLHEAD 2 Users Pending Verification
          (Used in conjunction with SECLEVEL parameter)
────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
BULLTERM (string of CHR$)

This parameter causes the string of CHR$ to be included as the last line
of all generated bulletins. Typical use of this is to add the "CTRL A"
character which will cause RA or QBBS to wait for [ENTER].

Default : None.

Example : Press [S] to stop or [ENTER] for next bulletin. ^A
          note that ^A would not work. It MUST be the one byte ctrl a value
          (character 1) to be effective.
────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
BLACKLIST (user name)

The BLACKLIST parameter causes the program to ignore the named user.
Useful for excluding the SYSOP from the bulletins.

Up to 3 BLACKLIST parameters are supported in this release.

Default : None

Example : BLACKLIST John Doe
────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
BLACKMESS (board number)

The BLACKMESS parameter is similar in operation to the BLACKLIST parameter.
It is only effective when generating the message base bulletins (14 or 15)
and will cause the selected message board to be ignored when creating the
bulletin. Very useful for removing those sex and contacts private message
areas that you don't want your users knowing about ;->

Default : None

Example : BLACKMESS 170
          On My system this "blacklists" message board RA_SUPPORT.
────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
COLOR[a] (number)

The COLOR parameter is used to define the colours used in the ANSI bulletin.
The first character following the COLOR parameter selects which of the 7
selectable elements are changed. The number selects the colour (0 to 7)

See the example configuration file for a full explanation.

Default : None

Example : COLORT 6
          Title text (bbsname and bullname) in CYAN.
────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
CLS (number)

This parameter causes the ANSI bulletin to clear the screen before displaying
the bulletin. In addition the Background colour of the cleared screen will
be set to the value (number).

Default : None

Example : CLS 0
          Clear the screen with a black background colour.
────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
FLAGS

Inclusion of this parameter in the config file causes FXBULL to generate a
marker file "FXBULL.$$$" in the current directory.

NOTE that this file WILL NOT BE DELETED by FXBULL. You will have to delete
it in the controlling batch file if you want to use this feature.

Purpose : To let other multi-line nodes know that FXBULL is already processing

Example : FLAGS  (Make this statement the very first one in the config file
          to be effective.

Batch File:
cd\ra\msgbase
if exist fxbull.$$$ goto skipbull
fxbull
del fxbull.$$$
:skipbull
rem Last 10 Callers already being generated.

NOTE. In Multi-Line environments it is not a good move to copy the generated
bulletin(s) to other files that may be locked because DOS will report a
SHARE VIOLATION.  FXBULL is network compatible and will not suffer from these
problems.

────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Warranty :-
-----------

No warranty of any kind (expressed or implied) is offered with this program.
The author will not be responsible for any loss or damage caused through
use of this program. You use this program at your own risk.


Copyright :-
------------

Copyright Mark Alexander 1991. All Rights Reserved.


Shareware :-
------------

This product is released under the Shareware principle. You may try this
product for 30 days after which time you must register it.
I'm not going to waste disk space telling you what shareware is. If you
want to rip me off then go ahead. And may the fleas of a thousand camels
infest your armpits!


Registration :-
---------------

I'm glad you've decided to support this package. Your registration fee will
make me feel a whole lot better about writing more goodies for the BBS
community.

Send me your name and address with either :-
A Five Pound Note (UK)
A Ten Bucks Bill  (USA)
Any Paper Money to the nearest equivalent value of Ten U.S. Dollars.

Registered users will receive the multi-line usage bulletin generator
(see the example enclosed) free of charge. AND the program will stop
making all those annoying noises!


And now i'm going to have a nice cool beer!
Greetings from Sunny London!

Mark Alexander.
31 Surlingham Close
Thamesmead
LONDON
SE28 8NE
ENGLAND

Fido: 2:440/52  ([phone])