ProfitPress Mega CDROM2 …eeware (MSDOS)(1992)(Eng)/ProfitPress-MegaCDROM2.B6I/BBS/RBBS_PC/FMSUTL2C.ZIP/FMSUTL.DOC

Text File | 1990-12-09 | 14.2 KB | 367 lines

                       FMSUTL version 2.0c
                                by
                         John F. Richards







         A utility to make the SysOp's job just much easier.





























     Copyright (C) 1990 by John F. Richards, All Rights Reserved



     FMSUTL 2.0c                                                   Page 1


   Disclaimers

        This utility is designed to assist in the initial setup of a
   Remote Bulletin Board System whose SysOp has chosen to use the File
   Management System style of file directories. It is not meant to be a
   replacement for any other utility which may be distributed as part of
   the RBBS distribution package. It is simply meant as an alternative to
   what is currently available.

        The author disclaims any warranties either expressed or implied,
   including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantabil-
   ity or fitness for a particular purpose. All liability for any possible
   damage which may incurred from the use, or mis-use, of this product is
   solely with the user

   Purpose

        This utility is designed to read information about any RBBS setup,
   as it is given via a configuration file, and build a listing of files
   designated for download using the File Management System format outlined
   in the RBBS documentation. It will also scan existing FMS directory lists
   and prompt you if the file is already listed and whether it is listed in
   the FMS directory or the upload directory.

   Credits

        This utility has been in the works for about 2 years. The length of
   time spent writing it was only about 2 months. The other 22 months were
   spent learning QuickBASIC and exactly how the RBBS FMS system worked. Now
   that it is written I need to give credit where credit is due.


   QuickBASIC, Microsoft, and MS-DOS are registered trademarks of Microsoft
   Corporation.

   ADVBAS is copyright 1985-1989 by Thomas Hanlin III

   RBBS is copyright 1983-1990 by D. Thomas Mack

        I would also like to give my thanks to Curt Akin for his patience
   in explaining RBBS and the RBBS File Management System to me in quite
   a few online sessions.

        Thanks also to all the RBBS sysops who have contributed to the RBBS
   community past and present. Without their excellent work we would still
   be looking for the best Bulletin Board software.


















     FMSUTL 2.0c                                                  Page 2

   Getting Started

        Before you can run FMSUTL you will need to gather some infor-
   mation about your RBBS setup. This information includes the full
   path to your upload and download directories, the name of your FMS
   master file listing, and other related info. Provided below is a
   checklist to make this task easier.

   1. Maximum number of characters allowed in file descriptions:______

   2. Path/Filename of your FMS directory file:_______________________

   3. Path/Filename of your Upload file:______________________________

   4. 0 = Batch mode, 1 = Manual mode (no batch this release):________

   5. Path/Filename of category definition file:______________________

   6. Path (+ trailing "\") to download directory:____________________

   7. Path (and "\") to upload directory:_____________________________

   8. Description for Batch mode:_____________________________________

   9. Category code for Batch mode:___________________________________

  10. Default file extension to scan for:_____________________________

        This information will be entered by you when you start up for the
   first time and specify the configuration file to use. In a future release
   the configuration file will be specified in the command line and batch
   mode will be supported. Also manual mode will have an option to specify
   different file extension to scan for without needing to build multiple
   configuration files.

        The description length is the same as entered in the RBBS CONFIG
   module parameter number 219. This will allow FMSUTL to automatically
   alter the description length to fit your setup.

        The FMS master file is the same as specified in CONFIG parameter
   214.

        The uploaded file list will be scanned in a future version and
   verified against the upload directory. Once all files are confirmed as
   being present the info in the upload list will be appended to the mas-
   ter list and the files moved if the move flag is set. Currently, both the
   master FMS listing and the uploaded files listing is scanned for any
   existing description and if present the user is prompted if they wish
   to use the existing description or replace it with a new one.

        The mode flag is another plan for future expansion. This will allow
   the sysop to use FMSUTL in a nightly drop to DOS and automatically add
   the days uploads to his download listing. This utility has no way of
   testing the file for validity or the presence of a virus. Maybe I'll add
   that in a future version also.

        The category description file needed is the same as in the CONFIG
   parameter 217. FMSUTL will display the contents of this file on the
   monitor in 3 columns: the category name, the 3 character code to use and
   the category description. You must enter the actual code (center column)
   at the prompt.


     FMSUTL 2.0c                                                  Page 3

        The next two lines are the paths to the download and upload dir-
   ectories. You must enter a trailing backslash "\". FMSUTL uses this
   to get the file information. The upload directory is not accessed in
   this release, but will be in a future release.

        The description entered on the next line will be used in the future
   as a place holder if no entry for the file was found in the uploaded
   files listing. It is used currently in manual mode when you can't recall
   what the proper description is and you hit enter at the prompt.

        The last line is the default extension you want to scan for. In a
   future version I plan to allow multiple extension searches per config
   file. Currently to scan for different extensions you will need to have
   multiple configuration files.

   Using FMSUTL

        Using FMSUTL is relatively easy. It has to be as the author isn't
   really that bright and likes the easy stuff. Just enter FMSUTL at the
   DOS prompt and it will ask you for what it needs.

        The first prompt you will see is the one asking for the name of the
   configuration file to use. This file can have any name you desire. This
   feature will allow you to use multiple configuration files, each with its
   own specified file extension to scan for. In a future release you will be
   able to specify up to nine file extensions to scan for. To bypass the
   prompt asking for a configuration file you may specify the filename and
   extension of the configuration file you wish to use.

        If the named configuration file was found you will go directly into
   scanning for files and description entry. If the configuration file was
   not found FMSUTL jumps to a routine to automatically build the file in
   the correct format. This eliminates the need for you to try making the
   file in a trial and error effort. I've made it all automatic.

        After the configuration file is made and all needed information is
   read you will be placed in the scan function and the first file name, the
   file size, and date will be displayed on screen along with a ruler and
   a description entry prompt. The ruler and prompt will appear as follows:

    ---------1---------2---------3---------4-----<
   :_

        The above is an example of the ruler and prompt when you allow 46
   character description lengths. With lower length descriptions the prompt
   will be displayed shorter. The less than symbol (<) is the last character
   marker. Entering characters after this marker will make your final FMS
   file of the incorrect format, so be careful in entering your descriptions.

        After entering the description for each file you will be asked what
   category to use for that file and the codes you have specified for RBBS
   to use will be displayed along with the category name and description. I
   currently have not included a way to display more than 19 categories on
   the screen at a time.If you have more than 19 categories they will all be
   written to the screen and the screen will begin to scroll after 20 listed
   categories. Also, after displaying all the categories, the prompt will be
   written onto line 25. This will be corrected in the next release also. I
   plan to have it display the category code only in multiple column format
   to allow approximately 114 categories. Personally, I can't think of 114
   different categories that files would fall into.



     FMSUTL 2.0c                                                  Page 4

        After answering the category code prompt FMSUTL will write all the
   information entered into the specified file and then begin gathering the
   data for the next file. The process will continue in this manner until
   it can find no more files with the given extension.

   Bug Reports

        I have not included any error trapping routines in this utility in
   order to keep the code size as small as possible. It has been extensively
   tested on the author's XT clone and has proven to run very cleanly. If it
   does prove to cause problems, or it just won't run on your system, please,
   annotate the sysmptoms of the problem, give a brief description of your
   RBBS setup and any other information you feel may be helpful and send it
   to me at:

                         John Richards
                         4311 Grove Street
                         Pascagoula, MS 39567

        I will address the problems as I receive reports and as my schedule
   permits. Any suggestions for improving the utility can also be sent to the
   above address and will be considered for inclusion in a future release.

        Any bugs reported that are determined to be due to not reading the
   accompanying documentation will be disregarded. The author will not waste
   his time rehashing instructions he has already given in the docs.

   Registration

        Now for the commercial type stuff.

        This is a full featured utility. The only difference between the
   shareware version and the registered version is the removal of the delay
   at the beginning of the program.

        You are hereby given permission to use this product for a reasonable
   period of time on a trial basis. Reasonable by definition of this author
   is determined to be that period of time necessary to make a determination
   of the product's usefulness to the user. Normally this period of time can
   vary from 2 weeks to 2 months, dependant upon many factors. If you board
   is very busy then you may be using this almost daily, if not you may find
   that you are not using it that often. Also, the user may find that his
   funds available for registering are not enough at present. These are just
   some factors that can determine reasonable. Just register when you can
   once you have decided to continue using FMSUTL.

        This utility was written to be used to maintain the FMS directories
   of public service BBSes. It was not written to assist in the maintenance
   of a BBS which is the sole source of income for an individual or a major
   source of income for any company or corporation.

        To register print and fill out the form included in the distribution
   package as REGISTER.FRM and send it to the address on the form along with
   a personal, registered or cashiers check, or money order. If registering
   with a personal check your registered version will be sent once your check
   has cleared. All other forms of registration will allow disks to be sent
   immediately upon receipt.




     FMSUTL 2.0c                                                  Page 5

   What's New

        As of release 2.0b changes to the program have been listed in the
   included file RELEASE.INF. All new changes are covered there. This file
   was only changed to reflect the new version number.

        Version 2.0a of FMSUTL incorporates a few changes. First it allows the
   naming of the configuration file on the command line. Next, version 2.0a
   loads the uploaded files listing and the master FMS listing into arrays
   in memory and checks files found in the specified directories against the
   filenames in both arrays. If a match is found it will ask you if you wish
   to keep the existing info or replace it with new info. In most cases the
   existing description will be good enough.

       Versions 1.8 and 1.9 were inoperable attempts at adding a batch mode to
   the utility. Inclusion of a batch mode has been suspended until a later
   release.

       Version 1.7a is the initial shareware release of FMSUTL. Earlier vers.
   were simple attempts at programming the utility and were very limited in
   capabilities.

   What's Planned

       I plan to add the ability to move files from the upload directory to the
   download directory. The version that includes this capability will also be
   the first version to include batch mode to allow this to be run in a night-
   ly event batch file.

        I hope to be able to add the capability to scan files for viruses some
   time in the future. This, however, is not very high on the inclusion list as
   I still need to learn a lot about writing code.

        If you have suggestions about how I could make this utility better or
   if there are some features you would like to see, feel free to write me and
   explain your idea. I'm open to all suggestions.