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░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░ ░░ ░░ ░░ ░░ ░░ ░░ ░░ ░░ ░░ ░░ ░░ ░░ ░░ ░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░ ░░ ░░ ░░ ░░ ░░ ░░ ░░ ░░ ░░ ░░ ░░ ░░ ░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░ BBSee User's Manual And Reference Copyright (C) 1991,1992 Martin Vallevand Table of Contents Chapter 1 General Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1.1 What does BBSee do? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1.2 License . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1.3 BBSee Files. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 1.4 On-Line Help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 1.5 System requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 1.6 Background . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 1.7 Credits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Chapter 2 Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 2.1 BBSEE.CFG . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 2.2 Database Filenames . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 2.3 General directory and files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 2.4 Tag Files Facility. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 2.5 Output Directory files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 2.6 Single word exclusions, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 2.7 Source / BBS Board Selection . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 2.8 Area/Conference Support. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 2.9 Catalog Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 2.10 Fill Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 2.11 Function Keys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 2.12 Volume Templates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 2.13 Analyze Directory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 2.14 Hardware Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 2.14.1 Video Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 2.14.2 EMS Support. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 2.14.3 Mouse Support. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 2.14.4 Sound . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 2.15 Miscellaneous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 2.16 Print Order Form. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Chapter 3 File Function . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 3.1 File importation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 3.2 File Duplication . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 3.3 Uncompress and Import NEWFILES.DAT . . . . . . . . . . 20 3.4 Modify Import Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 3.5 Create Record . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 3.6 File Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 3.6.1 List file . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 3.7 Floppy Directory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 3.8 BBSee Shell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 3.9 DOS Shell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Chapter 4 Search Function . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 4.1 Word Search . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 4.2 Filename Search . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 4.3 Output Search List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 4.4 Show All/Show Catalog/Show Uncat'd . . . . . . . . . . 25 4.5 Local BBS Searching . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Chapter 5 Catalog Function . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 5.1 Catalog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 5.2 Uncatalog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 5.3 Pseudonym Cataloging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 5.4 Label floppy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 5.4.1 Label Templates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 5.5 Make Catalog Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 5.6 Fill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 5.7 View Catalog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 5.7.1 Volume Categories. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 5.8 Show Catalog Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 5.9 Show Archive Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 5.10 Modify Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 5.11 Catalog eXtract, Copy and View. . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 5.11.1 eXtract . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 5.11.2 Copy File . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 5.11.3 View File . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Chapter 6 Tag Function . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 6.1 Delete tagged file . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 6.2 Create download file . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 6.3 Remove tags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 6.4 Create upload files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 6.5 Output tags to disk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 6.6 View tags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 6.7 Edit Tags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 6.8 Load Tags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Chapter 7 Describe Function . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 7.1 Input File List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 7.2 4DOS Description. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 7.3 Describe Floppy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 7.4 Cross Reference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 7.5 Report Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 7.6 Analyze directory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Chapter 8 Using the program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Chapter 9 Command line arguments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Appendix A Registration Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Appendix B Program Return Codes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Appendix C Cursor Movement and Editing Keys . . . . . . . . . 43 Appendix D Mouse Support. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Appendix E Import Usage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 Appendix F Database Packing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Appendix G Deleted File List Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . 49 Appendix H Robocomm download support. . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 BBSee Version 2.2 Chapter 1 General Information 1.1 What does BBSee do? BBSee is a program designed to help people who accumulate lots of files, easily find the files they have access to, in their catalogs or on BBS's or other source. The heart of the program are two databases, the database of the filelists obtained from the BBS's and online services you use, and the database of your cataloged floppies. Using these databases, BBSee will provides various advanced options to help manage these files. The principle functions in BBSee are; The file import function which allows you to bring file list and description files into the database from most popular BBS'es. This database file will normally be smaller than your original BBS list and can be configured to meet personal database preferences. The fast and powerful search function which enables you to locate files from up to 16 BBS lists, and your own floppies in one search. This search can be an instantaneous filename search, or a complex but quick multi-word search. The floppy catalog function with capabilities designed to help manage your files, with a minimum amount of time and effort. The fill floppy function which provides a method of optimizing floppy disk use. An interface to many automated BBS programs and scripts (eg. QMM, Liberator, CatCalls, Telix Square, Intellicomm, Boyan, and Robocomm), allowing you to tag files for up/and download, and create the files required by these excellent programs. 1.2 License BBSee is a commercial package, that is being distributed as shareware for evaluation purposes only. This is not public domain, or free software. After a one month period of evaluation, if you decide not to purchase a registered version of BBSee, you must delete all copies of BBSee, in uncompressed form, that you have in your possession. You are permitted, and encouraged, to distribute the shareware package freely, to potential users and on-line BBS's, as long as you do not charge for this service, beyond the material cost of distribution, and you provide a complete set of programs as specified in section 1.3 of this document. Page 1 BBSee Version 2.2 BBSee has been subject to thorough testing, and every reasonable effort has been made to make BBSee a safe, fast, and easy to use package. However the databases that BBSee makes, can easily be the largest databases that many people will ever see on their computers. With such large systems, there are many ways to corrupt the database, including rebooting the computer or powering down during use of BBSee, so care is advised. Also, it is impossible to test this program on the many combinations of computer software and hardware available in the PC marketplace, and to anticipate all uses for software. Therefore all copies of BBSee, and any program distributed with the package, shareware, or registered, are purchased AS IS, and Martin Vallevand will not be held responsible for any damage, to your computer, programs, data, or anything else for that matter, that may result from its use. By using BBSee you consent to do so at your own risk. If you find that this is unsatisfactory, DO NOT run BBSee. See Appendix A for further information on registering BBSee. 1.3 BBSee Files. Files on the 'Program' archive #1 BBSEE21A.ZIP BBSEE.EXE Program File BBSETUP.EXE Modifies BBSEE.CFG README.2ND Latest file information. QUICKST.ART Start using BBSee now. BBSEE.HLP On-Line Help File WHATS.NEW Information on new features in this release. FILE_ID.DIZ Description File Files on the 'Program' archive #2 BBSEE21B.ZIP BBSEE.DOC Documentation IMPORT.EXE General BBS file listing conversion utility. 2ROBO.EXE Interface to Robocomm. SAMPLE A file for use as a test import. REGISTER.FRM Form used to register BBSee. GO.BAT The first thing most people do. BBSEE1.ICO Microsoft Windows Icon BBSEE2.ICO " " " HISTORY Revision history for BBSee. FILE_ID.DIZ Description File These two archive files make up the files required for standard distribution of the BBSee program. Page 2 BBSee Version 2.2 Files on the 'Extras' archive BBSEE21X.ZIP READDEL.EXE Delete file reader. WRITEDEL.EXE Delete file writer. PACBBSEE.EXE Database 'pack' utility. REBOBBS.EXE Utility to re-structure the BBS information. BBC2PCB.EXE Utility to create a PCBoard-like list of the entire master database. 4DLS.EXE Utility to create a file which could be used by the program DLS.EXE to print labels for cataloged floppies. FILE_ID.DIZ Description File The files in the extras archives are not essential to run BBSee, but they certainly will make its use more versatile. Depending on file import needs other utilities may be added to this list. Check the README file for the latest information. Files in the 'Conversion' archive BBSEE21C.ZIP CATCON.EXE Conversion from various other program to BBSee catalog format. These are CatDisk, CUDM, DiskTrak, InteliCat, and Wssindex. CATCON.DOC Documentation for above. CONVERT.EXE Conversion from BBSee version 1.0 to version 2.0 format. CONVERT.DOC Documentation for above. FILE_ID.DIZ Description File These are various files used to convert catalog databases from other programs to BBSee format. 1.4 On-Line Help The file BBSEE.HLP provides on-line help for BBSee. To run properly BBSEE.HLP should be located in the same subdirectory as BBSEE.EXE. This will allow BBSee to run from a path and still access the help file. BBSee will run without the help file, but it will display an error message when the help function is called. Online help is not meant as a substitute for reading this documentation, but as a quick reference to most of BBSee's functions. The help is available by pressing <F1> from any menu or sub-menu option. 1.5 System requirements 100% IBM compatible computer. MS-DOS 3.30 or higher. (lower versions were not tested) Page 3 BBSee Version 2.2 A minimum 500K free RAM, or 440K and use of 100K of EMS. 12 file handles and open DOS files (from CONFIG.SYS). You must have a line of FILES=20 or more in your CONFIG.SYS file. Hard disk strongly recommended. BBSee will use as much disk space as you would like to devote to BBS file listings. The faster the disk transfer rate the better. The addition of disk caching, even as small as 128K, will significantly improve performance. 1.6 Background This program is written in the large model of Borland C++ , CXL 5.2 and the MIX C/database toolchest. I believe these to all be excellent, inexpensive, packages although the database package can be slow on adding records to a large database. A fast string search algorithm, the Boyer-Moore algorithm, is used to find words. To me this is to brute force searching, what qsort is to a bubble sort. Most of the overhead is in the disk read. CXL has been superseded by TCXL however I found too many bugs in version 5.51 to use it, and have not yet tried the later versions. BBSee and BBSetup have been compressed with LZEXE, and further processed to disable UNLZEXEing as a very limited means of protecting the programs from alteration. The registered version can be ordered in uncompressed format if you specify this on the order form. All the file writes in the BBSee program use standard Borland C calls, with the exception of the routines that manipulate the label on the floppy, which use extended FCBs and DOS interrupts. Other than directly writing to the floppy disk sectors, I don't believe there is another method to write the volume label. I have read, that everyone should use the DOS label program to label diskettes, for technical reasons, so I will mirror that recommendation. Regardless of whether you use BBSee or not, I strongly recommend that all users of DOS 4.0, always run the DOS SHARE.EXE command, to protect themselves from deficiencies in the FCB structures in their version of DOS. As well, if your drives support disk change indication, you will be provided with better protection for your valuable archive floppy disks. Upgrading to DOS 5 is highly recommended. Page 4 BBSee Version 2.2 1.7 Credits I would like to thank the following people for assisting me in the development of this software. The diligent work of this team of beta testers and proof readers has helped me so much, and I believe their many suggestions have greatly enhanced the functionality of BBSee. Bernard "The Exterminator" Desruisseaux for finding bugs big and small, and for providing many good (and sound) ideas. Paul "The Cosmetician" Loshuk for keeping the documentation and help clean, and for prompting me to take BBSee beyond the simple program I first intended. John Zaharychuk for providing good ideas, 'different' hardware platforms and putting up with 2400 baud file transfers. Daniel Verreault for having the knack of identifying database problems. Also his help with help and the documentation for version are appreciated. Michel Tordion, Phil Lachance, Gordon Haff, Tony Dibenedetto, John Lindeyer, Dominique Plante, Dan Wood, Serge Cote and others for taking the time to help with the beta testing. All the people who have registered so far, they propel me to keep on. Angela Tweeddale for putting up with me through all of this Daniel Coulombe for allowing SYNAPSE to be used as the basis for the beta testing, and the 'home' of BBSee. Page 5 BBSee Version 2.2 Chapter 2 Configuration Because of the many options available in BBSee, the most complicated aspect of using BBSee, is in configuring it to your needs. BBSee needs to know the location of many files and programs, if you intend to use all its options. If you don't install BBSee correctly then these options may not function properly, and/or BBSee may exit with an error code. Also BBSee will overwrite certain files if they exist (although BBSee's 'filenames' should not conflict with files you have), so some care should be used in reviewing default filenames. BBSee configuration is performed in a program, BBSETUP.EXE that handles all aspects of BBSee configuration. Although this program MUST be run initially, it also can be used to reconfigure options at any time. As you become proficient in the use of BBSee, you will probably go into BBSetup, many times, to change the inclusion and exclusion word lists, and to fine-tune things to your liking. Note as a general rule whenever user input is required in BBSEE.EXE or BBSETUP.EXE, selecting <Esc> will cancel the operation, <F1> will get help (in BBSee), <Enter> will select the option or move to the next option and <Ctrl Enter> will process an entire set of choices. See Appendix C for further information. 2.1 BBSEE.CFG All configuration information is contained in the file BBSEE.CFG. BBSee searches for the file BBSEE.CFG in the default directory, and if not found BBSee searches in the same directory that BBSEE.EXE was run from. If BBSEE.CFG is not found in the above steps BBSee will abort indicating that BBSETUP.EXE must be run first. To create BBSEE.CFG it is necessary to run the program BBSETUP.EXE first. Do not create this file manually. The rest of this section deals with using this program. You can opt to install BBSee with only default information however some more advanced features will not be available, or work properly. BBSetup. BBSetup is a DOS program that runs from the DOS prompt. It creates the file described above, BBSEE.CFG, in the default directory. You can create as many BBSEE.CFG files as you wish. The main purpose for doing this would be to maintain separate database files, exclusion lists and floppy catalogs. Page 6 BBSee Version 2.2 The main menu for BBSETUP.EXE is as follows: ╒═════ BBSee Configuration ═════╕ │ Database Filenames │ │ General directories and files │ │ Output directory files │ │ ───────────────────────────── │ │ Single word exclusions │ │ Paired word exclusions │ │ File Extension exclusions │ │ Required words │ │ BBS/Source names │ │ Local BBS's │ │ Area/Conferences │ │ ───────────────────────────── │ │ Catalog Options │ │ Function Keys │ │ Volume Template │ │ Analyze Directory │ │ Hardware Installation │ │ Miscellaneous │ │ Print Order Form │ │ Quit │ ╘═══════════════════════════════╛ The directories and filenames for all files used by BBSee are outlined in this section. Note that the sub-directory mentioned should be of the form drive:\subdirectory with no trailing backslash. If you must use the root directory, which I don't recommend, DO NOT include the backslash. These fields are checked for the existence of drives or directories, however you should ensure that they are correct. PLEASE BE CAREFUL. Also note that if you re-organize your hard disk, you will have to make corresponding changes to BBSEE.CFG. 2.2 Database Filenames The first step in configuration is to enter the name of the master database and the catalog database. The reason that the database filenames are not fixed is to allow multiple BBS list databases and disk catalogs, in separate sub-directories, if desired. BBSee creates in total ten permanent database files, 1. the master database file and index, (mastername.DB and .IDX), 2. the index of deleted files, ( mastername.DEL ), 3. the catalog file and index, (catalogname.DB and .IDX), Page 7 BBSee Version 2.2 4. the catalog volume database file and index (volumes.DB and .IDX), 5. the archive content database file and index (archives.DB and .IDX). It is possible to have different combinations of catalog and description databases. If you have multiple catalogs please note that the volume and archive content files are related, and their names should be changed as a pair. If you do not catalog within archives or in only one catalog this is not a consideration. 2.3 General directory and files The BBS description directory is the sub-directory where most of your file description lists will be located. This can be modified during the import function of BBSee. The Download File directory is the sub-directory where your telecommunication program places downloaded files. This is used in the Analyze Directory option of Catalog. As well this directory is searched before download files lists are created. Archive Files directory is the sub-directory where files could be moved after being downloaded, but before being moved to floppy disk. This is used in the Analyze Directory option. As well this directory is searched before download files lists are created. Qmail File directory is the sub-directory where your .QWK files are kept. NEWFILES.DAT files in the .QWK files, can be extracted from these files and imported into the master database. Other .QWK files in other sub-directories on the same drive can be selected by navigating through the disk using the cursor. This directory is used in the Unarc/Import Newfiles option. Uncompress Program Directory is the sub-directory where your file archivers exist. This is used in the Unarc/Import Newfiles option, and in the eXtract function. The BBSee Output directory is the working directory BBSee for storing temporary files including those created by the Search Word function, and possibly by DOS Shells. These files can be large so the drive where this directory is located should have at least .5MB free. Also, many BBSee output file are created in this directory. See Section on the output directory files for further information. The Virus Scan Directory is the directory where the program SCAN.EXE resides. This is used if you enable the eXtract Scan option. Page 8 BBSee Version 2.2 The Upload Files Directory is the directory from where you usually upload files. The General Directory is any directory that you would like to pop up in the File Manager. The Archive Viewer Directory is the directory where your archive viewer is located. The Viewer name is configured below this. The Viewer could be a program like FV which writes to the screen or it could be a stand-alone program like SHEZ, Arc Master, ZRAY, or VPIC. If you wish to use a stand-alone program enter Y in the Shell program field. 2.4 Tag Files Facility. The Tag files directory is where BBSee places the download and upload files from the tagged file option. The extension field should contain the extension that will be appended to the output file that BBSee creates, depending on whether the upload or download option was selected within BBSee. A blank is possible. The first part of the filename will be the name of the BBS. This feature is intended to be used with automated file/mail management programs, such as Access(QMM), Liberator, Telix Square, and CatCalls, Intellicomm, Boyan 5.0, and Robocomm. Q - QMM/Access* L - Liberator* W - CatCalls - Wildcat 3.0 * marked automater types 2 - CatCalls - Wildcat use BBSee conference S - Telix Square I - Intellicomm* B - Boyan* R - Robocom Note that the Upload and Download file extensions need to match those specified for use with your program. I will attempt to add support for additional Upload/Download types if the appropriate file specifications are provided to me. See Appendix H for special instruction for use with Robocomm. 2.5 Output Directory files This screen contains the default filenames for the files, other than the databases, created by BBSee. All of these files are placed in the output directory. If you don't want to create a file for any of these options, specify NUL as the filename. The Added file is the filename used as output of all new files added to the database. This is useful when batch updates of Page 9 BBSee Version 2.2 files are undertaken, however for the most part I recommend NUL as the device for this option when you are importing ALLFILES.LST types, as it causes a lot of disk overhead. You should however enable this option when you are adding from NEWFILES.DAT or daily imports, and use the List/tag mode to tag new files. The Added file will also have a list of files that are modified for higher priority BBS. In this way you can see files that you may have chosen to disregard on a long-distance call BBS, but sounds more attractive, for a local call. These modifications are indicated with the » marker on the description. You can also choose to have BBSee check your catalog before adding files to your Added file list. This is configured using the Search Catalog for adds option. The Discard file is the name of the file that is to contain information about files that were discarded during the import process, for each of the various rules used in the import. Note that this file is opened in append mode. I suggest that you use the NUL device once you have a reasonable idea of how data is imported. While learning BBSee I suggest that you create this discard file, and examine it to see what BBSee rejects, until you are satisfied with your exclusion words list. The Duplicate file shows filenames and descriptions when there is potential for a description change. A '>' indicates that a description was replaced. This file should be watched carefully as the potential exists that file descriptions will not match the filename that is duplicated. Filenames with 3 or fewer characters in the filename should normally not have their descriptions replaced, as the short filenames are often not unique, especially when you access many BBS sources. It is possible to configure the default for duplicate replacements from 0-9 (in the Misc section). The smaller the number the more there is a chance for duplicates. The Word Search Output file is the file which BBSee creates when you output the results of a search or the output of tagged files to disk. This is a PCBoard-like file with the inclusion of the BBS and file catalog locations. Output to this file will be added to the end of the file if the indicated file is found. The Catalog files are the output files chosen in the output of the floppy catalog filename and volume options. There are also .DUP, .VER and .BBS extensions possible. See Section for further information. Page 10 BBSee Version 2.2 The Cross Reference extension is the extension used in making a BBS cross reference file. See Section 7.4 for further information. The floppy description file is the output from the Describe Floppy option of catalog. See Section 7.5 for further information. The usage log is a facility that allows you to log certain activities within BBSee. The main purpose is to log errors and additions to the database, for those people that want to monitor database growth. 2.6 Single word exclusions, Paired word exclusions, File extension exclusions and Required words. These options allow for processing of file descriptions based on certain words, (actually strings) so that the file can either be included, or excluded from addition to the BBSee database. If you include and exclude words 'smartly' the size of your database can be greatly limited. Note, if for example, you specify to exclude the word 'windows' (you do not want all files associated with Windows v3.1 to be in you database); should you later start running Windows and want files and accompanying descriptions to be included, you must reread in the entire original file list(s). A certain amount of thought, both about your present and future computing needs should be done before deciding on words to exclude and include. Some strings may be better specified as words, ie you may wish to exclude descriptions with the word BMP, forgetting that it is included in some words ( IBMPC ). To include an entire word use the leading and/or trailing spaces by enclosing the word with the space in double quotes. ("gif ", " pcx "," bmp", etc.). 2.7 Source / BBS Board Selection The third part of the configuration is a list of the BBS names that you plan to include in the list. The order of these names is important. See the section on file duplication for further information. You can also include the name of a friend as a 'BBS' if you intend to share file lists. The Format and Options selections are used in processing non-PCBoard files. See Chapter 3 and Appendix E for more information. For PCBoard systems, if you do not configure the Options (and you shouldn't) you can select a default conference for use by a file automation program if desired. Page 11 BBSee Version 2.2 Note that in the shareware version of BBSee, if you have more than 3 BBS/Source selections configured you will experience a delay on start-up. Once you register BBSee you will be give an activation key which provide unrestricted access. 2.8 Area/Conference Support. This option allows you to assign BBS Conference and Area numbers when a file is imported. The BBSee numbers (0-15) correspond to data input in the second column which is the actual area on your BBS. The output in BBSee and in download files will be the entered data in column 2. In the third column you may enter the conference name. This will allow you to select the name from an F2 picklist in BBSee rather than by the BBSee number. Note that for PCBoard files the default conference number can setup in the BBS/Source section. 2.9 Catalog Configuration Default Drive: This is the default cataloging drive, A or B. Default Category: This is the default category assigned when a volume is cataloged. It can be changed using the View Catalog D(etails) option. Catalog within archives: BBSee can be configured to catalog within archives if desired. Enter the Y(es) option of Catalog Within Archives, to catalog every filename within the archive, with the exception of READM*.* files. If you have a restricted need type C(ustom), and if you don't want to catalog within archives type N(o). There is also option P, which causes BBSee to prompt you to catalog within every archive file it finds. The various options can be changed temporarily while running BBSee. If you use the C(ustom) option to customize cataloging within archives, various options are available to you, in a secondary window. This feature allows you to restrict the filenames that are cataloged within archives by specific extension. The Archive Extension selection allows you to choose archive cataloging of standard extensions. The standard extensions are .ZIP, .PAK, .ARC, .LZH, .ARJ, .COM, .EXE, .SDN, and .GIF. Filenames in imbedded archives will not be cataloged. In addition, OR instead, you can specify file extension(s) that you would like cataloged by adding the specific extensions (without the dot). Extract Descriptions: You are able to select automatic extraction of the BBS description files FILE_ID.DIZ and DESC.SDI from your Page 12 BBSee Version 2.2 files while cataloging. Enable this feature by entering a Y(es) in extract descriptions. More and more authors are including these files. Find 4DOS Descriptions: Enabling this option will take catalog descriptions from 4DOS/NDOS the descript.ion file. Recatalog: There are two methods of cataloging; cataloging entire disk contents and cataloging updates to disk contents. The major difference between the two options is that in update mode, BBSee will not do the normal uncatalog/catalog performed by other programs, it only updates the database on the specific filename changes. Minor limitations on the update exist when a cataloged file 'changes', but its name does not change. For example, data changes (size, dates) for a filename, will not cause the database to be modified, nor will any changes in the contents of archives. Manual uncataloging and then a re-catalog will correctly handle these situations. 2.10 Fill Configuration The Fill setup options that will require configuration are: Default category - {99999} - This is the category used in the Fill process as a default, and which is temporarily reset using a Fill. A normal disk when cataloged is given a category of 99999. If this disk is updated using a Fill category BBSee will update the volume category. Update BBSee Catalog - This will cause disks to be cataloged during the Fill. Create Volume Label - This option will cause disks with no label to automatically be sequentially labelled using the selected label template. See Section 5.3.1 for further information. Perform Validity Check - This option will cause a 32bit CRC check to be performed on all copies to the floppy disk, including those done in the File Manager. Using this option is highly recommended, as I have found DOS (and Verify) to be unreliable in determining faulty diskettes. Mark Filled Files - This option allows BBSee's Fill to use the archive bit as an indicator that a file has been successfully copied to disk. When this option is enabled, it is possible to interrupt a large Fill, and come back to the same point later on. It is a good idea to use the File Manager to ensure that the files in the directory you wish to Fill from have their archive bit set (Upper case) properly before starting the Fill. Note that many programs, not only BBSee, including the DOS BACKUP and Page 13 BBSee Version 2.2 ATTRIB commands, will modify the archive bit. After the Fill it is possible to use the File Manager to mark and delete the Fill 'copied files' (showing in lower case) from the hard disk, if desired. 2.11 Function Keys To run programs using the BBSee Shell facility you need to identify the program name (format DRIVE:\DIRECTORY\PROGRAM ie. C:\DOS\FORMAT.COM), and optionally the DRIVE:\DIR where you would like to run this program from. The reset video commands, no swap, and command line parameters, allow you to configure other shell characteristics. Reset video returns the video back to 80x25 if it has been changed by BBSee. Setting EMS/XMS swapping to N(o) will cause BBSee to swap to disk rather then EMS or XMS, which will reserve EMS/XMS memory for the shelled program. If EMS use is disabled this will have no effect. The Command line parameters are those commands you might have typed if you had entered the program on the command line ie (for the FORMAT example ) a: /n:9 /t:80 2.12 Volume Templates This option allows you to create Volume templates for use in BBSee's automatic Volume labelling. (see section on template labelling). The first template is the default template, the second set are for selection from a pick list. 2.13 Analyze Directory This option provides a means to create a personalized batch file that can process files on your computer in any manner you wish. The ~ macro allows substitution of default directory information into the batch file when the batch file is created. This information comes from other options within BBSETUP.EXE. NOTE that lines two and three of this batch file ONLY apply to files with the .ZIP extension. There are two files created in the Output Directory for this option, which are set by the top two fields on this screen. See Section 7.6 for a detailed explanation of how these files are created and used. Page 14 BBSee Version 2.2 2.14 Hardware Installation 2.14.1 Video Installation Various colours, and video modes options are available to the BBSee user. This section details these options. BBSee is written independent of the normal 80x25 screen, and if you start BBSee, with other configurations BBSee will use it. Having less than 70 columns would be for the most part unsatisfactory. BBSee should work with Ultravision extended modes if they are enabled before BBSee is run. Note that if you desire to use custom VGA fonts with BBSee, you should only run BBSee in 80x25 mode, or change the video before running BBSee. If you don't BBSee video resets could 'lose' your font when you exit to DOS. This Change Colours option will allow for setting up colours within the various menus/windows in BBSee. In the shareware version you are able to explore this feature, but it will not save changes for any option except the Search Window. The registered version of BBSee provides further colour configuration capabilities. If you a have a CGA that produces flicker, flicker elimination can be obtained by instructing BBSee to wait for video retraces before writes. Mono mode disables colour settings for use with monochrome monitors. Enter a Y in the appropriate field to enable these selections. If you have a VGA monitor, BBSee can generate screen combinations, other than 80x25. One 'interesting' mode, the 90 column mode, provides a lot more information on the screen with very little loss of readability. Although SVGA is not required, this mode has not worked on every VGA card/monitor combinations. Various screen row (line) lengths are available including 21 (a slightly bigger font), 25 (normal) and 28, 43, and 50, and 60 row modes. Additionally the 50 row mode can be set to only function during a word search, to allow more data on the screen at that time. It is also possible to use special mode(s) available on many VGA cards. Refer to your documentation, and if you find a mode you'd like to try, use 0 as the number of screen lines and set the DOS variable BBVMODE= to the desired mode. Note that most VGA card documentation manuals specify the non-standard mode in hexadecimal notation, and BBVMODE would be the decimal equivalent. Page 15 BBSee Version 2.2 For special environments, DesqView and Memory Commander (RSIS) video specifications are followed to allow 'fast' video. Also, BBSee will not attempt to switch video modes if Windows 3.X is running, although it will accept the Windows 3.1 50 line mode. 2.14.2 EMS Support. BBSee will use expanded memory for some functions to reduce memory requirements. The savings are most dramatic in the word search (although EMS memory is slightly slower than regular memory). Use of EMS is configured on and off in BBSetup. Use of EMS can reduce memory requirements by about 70K and speed up certain shell related functions. For EMS to work with BBSee you must have the full 64K EMS frame. 2.14.3 Mouse Support. BBSee has full mouse support which can be configured off or on. The mouse can be either an arrow with fixed colours, or a block cursor with screen related colours. See Appendix D for information on using the mouse in BBSee. 2.14.4 Sound There is an option to configure 'completion' sounds on and off. Error sounds will remain if sound is configured off 2.15 Miscellaneous Under this option there are data fields that are used in various functions of BBSee. The file date option excludes files older than a certain date from being added to the database. This exclusion date default is not permanent, it can be modified in the File menu selection of BBSee, under the "Modify Import Options" sub option. Although you may want to specify that older files, such as pre-1986 be excluded, you must remember that some sources have files dated as early as 01-01-80. A suggestion is to browse through the lists you wish to read into BBSee and determine if any of these files exist. The duplicate length is the minimum length of filename used by BBSee in determining if descriptions should be replaced for matching filenames from various BBS's. See Section 3.1 The 4DOS description length is the file of length of the output 4DOS description length. SCAN extracts is the option to use if you plan to have BBSee perform a McAfee SCAN.EXE of files that you 'eXtract' Page 16 BBSee Version 2.2 The effective cps is the cps rate used to estimate the download time for marked files. You may wish to change this to match your effective modem speed (ie 270 for 2400 baud MNP, 1650 for a USR HST). Of course, the BBS you are calling will have to match your modem speed. The two locks configure the File Detail Window in the Search Word and List/Tag windows on and off (using Y(es) and N(o).). 2.16 Print Order Form. I hope this is the most used option! This will create a BBSee order form, which you could mail in for registration. You can have as the destination any DOS device (PRN,LPT1,LPT2, COM1) if you wish, although no checking for device availability is performed. See Appendix A for further registration information. Page 17 BBSee Version 2.2 Chapter 3 File Function The heart of the BBSee program is a master database of file descriptions that can come from many sources. File description listings can be imported from BBS directory listings, QWK format files, telecommunication program screen captures and log files, file output from BBSee itself, and they can be entered manually. 3.1 File importation Importation is the method of bringing a file list into BBSee and processing the listing, line-by-line, into a BBSee database record. Because of the many, many different list types, it is impossible to guarantee that all files in a list will be included. BBS file listing, are incorporated into the database using a sequential read of a DOS text (ASCII) file, each line being one record. The layout of a file description 'record' is one that I have adopted based on viewing PCBoard file description listings. Anyone having definitive specifications is encouraged to forward them to me as described in Appendix A. The file "record' layout that BBSee expects is: filename position 1-12 spaces position 13-14 filesize position 15-21 spaces position 22-23 date position 24-31 ( format mm-dd-yy ) spaces position 32-33 description position 34-80 Any lines that follow this original record with blanks in columns 1-33 and text in columns 34 - 80 are treated as continuation of the description record. The pipe character | is allowed to indicate the start of a continuation line if it is the first character of a line. An asterisk in position 32 is allowed. This sometimes indicates a new file in a BBS on-line search. Data is incorporated into the database from the parsed text file, using the exceptions input in BBSetup. The rules built into the BBSee import logic function as follow: - Filenames must be uppercase. Page 18 BBSee Version 2.2 - All descriptions are converted to lower case. The character set is limited to the extended ASCII characters between 32 and 165. No allowance is made for code pages. - If the file contains one of the required words it is considered mandatory. This file will be added in all instances. - Records with a description containing two paired exclusion strings, will not be entered into the database. - Any file description continuation lines that begin with the words 'Uploaded by .....' or 'Last filedate in .ZIP ..' or containing 'files - New:' will be stripped out. - Ending punctation character . and ! are removed. - Catalog only descriptions always replaced. - Files descriptions beginning with (CRS) will have the (CRS) stripped. the 'Last Revision Date...' string for CRS files will also be stripped. Note that if you manually create a PCBoard-like text file using a text editor, you should ensure no tab characters are in your output document, as they can make it appear that the file meets specifications, when it truly does not. Another program supplied in BBSee, IMPORT.EXE, is intended to assist in the automatic creation of file lists, by parsing non- standard file lists into the PCBoard 'standard' that BBSee uses. In general, if you don't know if a BBS is a PCBoard type, run the import file through the import program to see if it meets the PCBoard column specs. General use of this program is outlined in Appendix D. If this non-standard BBS file can be converted automatically using IMPORT, BBSee has the capability of performing this conversion when a file is imported. (BBSee can presently import more than 50 different BBS list formats). Specify in BBSetup, that the file type is type AUT, (for automatic), rather than PCB, and the appropriate option (see Appendix D). If the BBS requires a manual use of IMPORT, specify ASK for the file type, and BBSee will prompt you before importing the file. Note that the nature of the database will not allow automatic determination, and indication of various file areas and conferences on the BBS. This is extremely difficult to detect automatically, and so the feature is not available. You can Page 19 BBSee Version 2.2 however, set a limited number of conference numbers prior to doing an import. 3.2 File Duplication There is a mechanism in place to prevent the addition of filenames with different descriptions, sizes, times and extensions into the master database. Filenames from description listings ( excluding extension) are compared to those already in the database and if the filename is found certain database modifications may take place. PRIORITY will be given to the BBS names higher on the configuration list of sources (the lower number). The extension, file date, and file size stored in the database will be that of the highest priority source. The same is true of the description, although if the filename is more than the configure duplicate minimum (default is three characters long), the description having the most characters is stored in the database, regardless of the source. No method exists to eliminate this problem, or to prevent replacing file descriptions, without user prompting, which is not desirable. This number can be changed temporarily if desired, in the File - Modify Import Options window, or permanently in BBSetup. 3.3 Uncompress and Import NEWFILES.DAT Users of Qmail, MarkMail, Rosemail etc with offline mail readers are probably aware that it is possible to browse all files new to the BBS from a previous date, offline. I am not going to try to explain how these programs work, rather I will explain how BBSee handles the importation of the new file information contained within them. If you plan to use a BBS regularly, and it has the option of using an offline mail reader, usually configured as doors, I suggest that you investigate them. Contained in most .QWK files downloaded with the 'scan for newfiles' option of the mail door turned on, is a file called NEWFILES.DAT. BBSee will allow for a semi-automatic import of this file description list into the master database. Within BBSee, after selecting the Unzip option, use the cursor to select the .QWK file that you wish to import into the database. After this, select the BBS source of this file. The file description records will then be entered into the database. This of course assumes proper configuration of the mail and archive file directories. If your BBS has this capability, regular use of this feature will keep your database up-to-date, and eliminate the need to regularly download the entire list of newfiles added to your BBS's. Page 20 BBSee Version 2.2 BBSee will automatically sense if the .QWK package has been compressed with ZIP, ARC, ARJ, or LZH formats and will extract accordingly. 3.4 Modify Import Options This option allows you to temporarily change specific options related to file imports. The various import-output files can be modified, and exclusion dates and duplicate lengths can be specified. There is also an option to configure a BBSee conference number. Before loading a specific file which you know relates to a specific BBS conference, enter the BBSee number 0-15 that relates to that conference. A pick list is available using the F2 key. At the end of your import this option will be reset to BBSee conference 0. A final option is available to import specific description files, regardless of length. The purpose of this is for customized lists containing information that you do not wish to be ignored. 3.5 Create Record Using this option it is possible to create a master database entry. The best use for this option is to add unknown files, personal files, and obsolete files to the database so that the floppy disk catalog can also be updated. This file description is not subject to any of BBSee's import 'rules'. 3.6 File Manager BBSee includes a simple disk management facility under the main menu File option, the File Manager. It is also available globally using <Ctrl-M>. It is not meant to compete against other commercial file managers, but it could assist you while using BBSee. Most of the functions, are self-explanatory. Some points of interest - The lower case names are files that have their Archive attribute bit set. The Catalog Fill can make use of this bit. - Files copied to a floppy using File manager, will have their archive bit removed if Fill - Mark Archives is Enabled in BBSetup. Page 21 BBSee Version 2.2 - All copies, and moves to a FLOPPY disk will use CRC checking if the Perform Validity Check option is enabled in BBSetup (under Catalog/Fill options). - The eXtract option functions as described in Chapter 1. - Cataloging of floppies is available in the File Manager. - File manager will copy over existing files. - File manager will not try to copy one file if there is no room. - A Move onto another directory on the same drive is treated as a rename, to function quickly. This is one good reason for keeping up/down/archive directories on the same partition when they are going to be used for cataloging. - The V command will bring up a program viewer. This can be a standalone program for archives (SHEZ, AM, ZRAY etc) graphic viewers (VPIC, VUIMG, GWS etc) or it can be program like FV.COM which displays to standard output. 3.6.1 List file Within the File Manager there is a list command designed to browse ASCII text files. The commands available within the lister are: Cursor Up/Down/Left/Right, Home, End, <Ctrl Left>, <Ctrl Right> (scrolling full left and right) F Find text N Next (find Next occurrence of text) Z Zoom List to full screen. T This is a special function, in that it allows you to enter BBSee's List/Tag mode during a normal text file 'list'. The primary use of this mode is to browse the PROGRAMS.NEW file created during an import and then tag selected files for download. This mode can be enabled on a 'Zoomed' list. There is also a configuration option in BBSetup , as in the Search Word option that enables a Detail Window within the List/Tag mode to show possible BBSee information on a filename. If no BBSee description information is found for the file, this window is left blank. Page 22 BBSee Version 2.2 3.7 Floppy Directory This option allows you to see a list of all files on the selected floppy, including all sub-directories, with one entry. The filenames shown on the left have descriptions in your BBSee master database, the filenames on the right would, if you cataloged this disk, be cataloged with description 'catalog only'. This option is available anywhere in BBSee by entering <Ctrl-F>. 3.8 BBSee Shell It is now possible to shell to specific DOS programs by function key <CtrlF2-10>, through a pop-up interface, under File option BBSee Shell, or through <Ctrl-B> almost anywhere in BBSee. If you change video modes while you are in the shell BBSee may exit to DOS when you return, if the previous video state cannot be properly restored. 3.9 DOS Shell This option allows exiting to DOS to execute many DOS programs and commands. Do not run any TSR's, reboot, or turn off you machine while you are in the shell. To return to BBSee you must type the command EXIT at the DOS prompt. It is better to quit BBSee and come back if you must leave the program for a long period of time. If you use BBSetup in the shell, the changes you make will not take place, until you quit BBSee and rerun it. Page 23 BBSee Version 2.2 Chapter 4 Search Function Search for words and/or filenames. Outputs the filename if found, and if the filename has been cataloged on disk, the label and directory of the cataloged disk will be displayed. Graphic resolution for cataloged GIF, and JPEG files will also be displayed. 4.1 Word Search This option allows you to search for strings within the database. Because of the nature of the search the most unique word should be in the primary word field. The primary word is searched in all filenames and description. The search on a word continues until the entire database is read or a complete screen of information is displayed, at which time the filename will be highlighted with a selection bar. It is then possible to select filenames by moving the selection bar up and down using the cursor. Full database information on the selected filename is available by typing the letter D (for Detail). <ESC> will abandon the search at this point. Also see the TAG option. Under the Search Word option BBSee saves all output for later review, [in a file called BBSCREEN.TMP]. You can PgUp and Down through a file as well as use ^Home and ^End to get to the top, and last screen of the present search. Typing <D> will lock on the Detail Window until <D> is pressed a second time. The default Detail Window lock on, Y(es) or N(o), is configured in BBSetup. The BBSee catalog <X> eXtract, <C> Copy and <V> View features are available in this window. See Section 5.10 for further information. 4.2 Filename Search Using this option will allow you to perform an indexed search on the filename. This is by far the speediest search, if you have a pretty good idea of the filename, or you want to look for various versions of a particular file. This is equivalent to a PCBoard <L>ocate without requiring the trailing *.*. To 'browse' the file near the search, the page/cursor up and down keys can be used. A file also can be T(agged), and U(ntagged) using the <T> or <U> keys. See tags for further information. Typing <E> will open up an edit window for the current description. Page 24 BBSee Version 2.2 The BBSee catalog <X> eXtract, <C> Copy and <V> View features are available for retrieved files. See Section 5.10 for further information. 4.3 Output Search List This option creates an ASCII listing of the files that meet the same search criteria as an on screen search. This listing is in PCBoard like format with the addition of the BBS source, and any disk cataloging information that you may have. This listing can be imported into BBSee. If this file exists it is opened in append mode. 4.4 Show All/Show Catalog/Show Uncat'd To toggle the search results from displaying the master database description information, to displaying only descriptions contained in the floppy catalog, to displaying only descriptions of files you have not cataloged, hit enter on this option. 4.5 Local BBS Searching Under the BBS/Source option it is possible to restrict searches to specific BBS(es), using what I call a 'Local' search. An asterisk will indicate that you are running a 'local' search. To disable the 'local' search hit enter on the Show option. The defaults for the 'Local' BBS's are established in BBSetup. Page 25 BBSee Version 2.2 Chapter 5 Catalog Function The purpose of these functions is to improve disk maintenance of downloaded files, and other files that you accumulate and wish to store on floppy. If you accumulate a large number of files on your hard disk, especially from downloads, that you do not want to delete but you wish to remove for later retrieval, using the various cataloging features of BBSee should drastically reduce problems you may have finding them. Cataloging within BBSee is designed to be both powerful and simple. After initial configuration, it can be as simple as running BBSEE /A at the command line to catalog a disk. You can also configure BBSee to do just about everything any other catalog system on the PC market can do. The cataloging system uses three database, volume (info. on the entire disk), catalog (file data on each file on the disk) , and archives (file data within arc, arj, lzh, and zip files). I could add other archive types, but I will wait to see what you users demand. The catalog structure is tied to the master file description database for storage of the 512 character descriptions, but a BBS file list is not required. However using BBS lists, or stealing descriptions from BBS lists will make finding archive files that much easier. One difference between BBSee and other catalogers is that BBSee uses the DOS 4+ disk serial number in conjunction with the volume label to produce a 'unique' identifier for disks. BBSee will not prompt you to update a serialized/labelled disk, as the chance of error is reduced to what I consider to be acceptable. If the disk does not have a serial number, prompting will be required as with other programs. BBSee will automatically extract GIF and JPEG resolution information from .GIF and .JPG files. If the GIFLITE string is left in a .GIF, BBSee will also identify it in the resolution ( 640 X 480 normal 640 x 480 GIFLITE). 5.1 Catalog Disk 5.2 Uncatalog Disk Both of these functions will work by specifying the drive to be cataloged, and inserting the disk if it is removable media. Additionally a disk can be uncataloged by volume label name. A disk can be cataloged, if it meets two criteria, a) the disk has a volume label and b) a matching volume label has not already been cataloged. (Note that in BBSee the volume label is not case sensitive). If files exist on the disk that do not have descriptions in the BBSee master database, you may wish to create a 'Floppy' description file, edit it with the proper Page 26 BBSee Version 2.2 descriptions, and import this edited file into BBSee, with an unknown category. If no descriptions from a file exist an entry with the 'Catalog only' description will be entered into the master database. If you must catalog a disk without a label see section 5.3 on Pseudonym cataloging. If you try to catalog a disk that has already been cataloged, BBSee will check the serial number and if they match, it will automatically catalog the disk for you. If they don't you will need to Uncatalog the disk manually. If the disk you are using does not have a serial number or you are using DOS older than version 4, BBSee will ask if you want to replace the existing catalog entry for that label. Be careful when you physically label your floppies, as it is easy to overwrite your catalog database entries if you use very common volume labels. 5.3 Pseudonym Cataloging Pseudonym cataloging allows you to manual assign the 'label' which will be used by BBSee to identify a disk volume. The pseudonym is independent of the disk label, and so no volume label is needed on the disk for this function to work. Normally the standard method of cataloging should be used, as the volume label is a very easy method of naming unique disks. The naming convention for pseudonym labels should be distinct to assist you in their identification. However there are times when want to catalog blank disks you do not wish to label, or disks which have the same label you do not want to change where this feature will be of necessity. Pseudonym cataloging can be used to catalog individual sub- directories on a disk. Use the DOS SUBST command to identify the sub-directory, and pseudonyms to identify the SUBST'd drives when cataloging. This method should NOT be used when running Microsoft Windows. BBSee will still maintain the serial number (if found) for disk cataloged with a pseudonym for update purposes, so a small level of protection against incorrect pseudonym updates is available. 5.4 Label floppy This option allows you to label floppies without exiting to DOS. If there is no volume label on your floppy, a default unique label assigned by BBSee will be displayed. You can edit or change this if you desire. Page 27 BBSee Version 2.2 If a volume label exists on a floppy that you are labelling, the existing label will be shown in the input window. If you desire to use the automatic template label feature described below, you must first delete any existing label, by inserting spaces, and then re-enter the label function again, to get the proper default label. 5.4.1 Label Templates The default layout of the default label name is established in BBSetup. There are two components, the name component and the number component. The name component is up to seven characters, the number component is up to 99999. They must be separated by a space. BBSee will increment the number component automatically to allow for the unique label, sequential. BBSee does not modify the BBSEE.CFG file in performing this function, so holes can be found. You cannot label a disk in BBSee with a template name that is the same as a cataloged floppy. If you enter a volume label manually which uses the template formula described above, automatic increments of the number component based on volume database, will be made, without you specifically configuring the template. Subsequent calls to the label function will give you the next available number of this new template. Remember to include the number of leading zeroes you feel will be appropriate. A pick list of possible label templates is also available, by hitting function key F2, if the templates have been configured in BBSetup. 5.5 Make Catalog Report Filename/Volume Reports These options create a list of files you have cataloged, sorted by either disk volume, or filename. This list is useful as it is output in a format that BBSee can use as input. This allows for sharing file lists with friends and other user groups. Volume reports for a single BBSee cataloged volume are available in the View Catalog option. Duplicate/New Version/BBS Version Reports These useful reports are designed to give you a list of possible duplicates and new versions of files that you have cataloged. The duplicate report can either be produced by filename, or by disk volume name, the choice being set up on the Report Options selection. Page 28 BBSee Version 2.2 The two version reports use logic to determine if you have 'different' versions of the same program, or that possible new versions exist of files you have already downloaded. The logic is not absolute, but it is still beneficial. Using the New version report you can, much like in the duplicate report, determine obsolete files you may have. The BBS version report identifies files that you have, that also have newer versions in your imported BBS lists. This helps determine two things, files you might have missed in BBS lists and should download, or files that probably should be deleted since you didn't like it enough to download a newer version. Multi-Column Report. This catalog report is a list of filenames with their corresponding Disk Label output in either filename or label/filename order. The number of column and the sort order is setup in the Report Options selection. Extension Report. This report is a catalog report sorted by file extension, or file date respectively. Date order can be ascending or descending as setup in the Report Options Selection. Modify Report Options. This feature allows various methods of customizing features in BBSee's report functions. Options include the capability of outputting BBSee information (Source, Catalog information, GIF resolution). It is possible to output a 'Quick' catalog report which is a fast report created with no descriptions. Also it is possible to configure a report which will exclude all files with a 'catalog only' description. Page 29 BBSee Version 2.2 5.6 Fill One very useful feature of BBSee's cataloging function is the Fill option. What this option does is allow you to copy files to floppy disk, in an optimum manner, much like other programs, (FILL, ICOPY, DISKFILL), but BBSee will catalog after the Fill to save disk swaps, and will catalog archive contents and extract description files from the hard disk rather than the much slower floppy disk. When Fill is started you can enter volume and/or category information. During a Fill, BBSee will determine if you have the free space on existing cataloged disks with the indicated volume template or category and provide you with name of matching volume names so that you can optimally Fill existing disks before each disk change. 5.7 View Catalog This option provides a visual 'directory' of your cataloged files. Hitting enter on a highlighted volume will provide a file list on the item selected by the current cursor position. The next enter will provide the description contained in the BBSee database for the highlighted filename (All the options available in the Search Filename option are available to you on the description). To change the selected volume you can navigate in various ways. Cursor up/down, page up/down and F(ind) and N(ext) options are available. Find will search both the volume name and any description that you may have provided to get to specific volume. Next continues the search from the current location. If you wish to view archive file contents or graphic resolution information, the D(etails) option is available when the cursor is on a filename. If the cursor is on a volume, additional keyboard options are available. These are: - E(dit) to change the description or category for this file. - O(rder) will output the list in various sort orders, including, label name, space available, category and disk number (order cataloged). - R(eport) to create a disk report MYBBSEE.VOL for highlighted volume. - S(ummary) to create a summary of statistics for your cataloged files. Page 30 BBSee Version 2.2 5.7.1 Volume Categories. Using volume categories to identify disk contents can be a useful means of grouping disks with similar contents. The O(rder) and D(etails) option above make use of this feature. As well, when you are in View Catalog, function keys F2 thru F9 can be used to set categories 20000 thru 90000 respectively. You can assign these eight categories as you see fit. If you hit one of these keys by accident, immediately hitting F10 will restore the previous category. Future releases of BBSee will make more use of the categories, to limit catalog reports, and group items. Additionally, categorization will be added at the file level for even more control over your disk catalog. 5.8 Show Catalog Files 5.9 Show Archive Files These options provide on-line browsing of all catalog and archive files respectively. To change the selected filename you can navigate in various ways. Cursor up/down, page up/down and F(ind) and N(ext) options are available. Find will search for the filename that you may have provided. You also have the option to move by Shift-Letter to go to the first file beginning with that letter. Hitting <Enter> on a file will bring up the Search Filename description for the current file. Hitting D(etail) will provide any archive contents for the current file. Note that for the Show Archive file option, the description and archive contents will be for the 'parent' archive file, not the highlighted file. 5.10 Modify Options This option allows you to temporarily configure various Catalog and Fill options established in BBSetup on and off. These options are: Catalog in Archives, Extract Descriptions, Update Catalog, Create Volume Label, Perform Validity Check and Mark Filled Files. See chapter 2 for further information. 5.11 Catalog eXtract, Copy and View. These functions are designed to make it easier to manage cataloged files. Using these options you will be able to perform specialized functions on catalog files, without having to rekey the catalog name. After typing the 'action' letter (X, C or V), you will be prompted with the volume name, and when you accept (your disk is ready), the function will be performed. Page 31 BBSee Version 2.2 5.11.1 eXtract The purpose of this function is to automatically extract an archived files based on the archiver's extension (.ZIP, .ARJ, .LZH, and .ARC extensions). To use this function type X when a cataloged file is found in a Word of Filename Search. The operation of this function is as follows. BBSee first creates a directory in the BBSee output directory with the filename of the archive, (without extension) and the files are extracted into it. The location of the appropriate archive utility must exist in the archive directory configured in BBSetup for this function to perform. Additionally, BBSee can be configured in BBSetup to automatically run SCAN when you perform an eXtract. SCAN from BBSee uses the /NOMEM and /REPORT option, so memory is not checked for a virus. A file called SCANNED is created in the output directory when you scan the file. BBSEE.USE is also updated to show the name of the scanned directory and the return code from SCAN. 5.11.2 Copy File This feature will copy a file from a cataloged disk to an input disk, after you are prompted for the appropriate disk. The destination disk must be different from the source disk. 5.11.3 View File This feature loads the configured archive viewer using the current cataloged file as the command line argument. Page 32 BBSee Version 2.2 Chapter 6 Tag Function When one of the various file searches take place, it is possible to 'tag' a file. This is done using the <T> key. Files can be individually untagged with the <U> key. Additional options are available in the Word Search Option, <Ctrl T> tags a screen of filename 'hits', and <Alt T> tags all screens of filename 'hits'. File tags are indicated with the character. Tags can also be toggled with the <Enter> or <Space> keys. There is a limit of 300 tagged files at one time. 6.1 Delete tagged file This option deletes all tagged files from the database. These filenames are permanently removed from the database. You will be provided with an option to add these files to the Deleted files database so that they cannot be re-added (See Appendix E). This feature is to ensure that you don't have to delete the same files every time a complete BBS file list is subsequently imported, for update purposes. This will also remove the tags. 6.2 Create download file This option creates a download file in the tagged file dir. The format of the filename is bbsname.{defaultextension} ie. SYNAPSE.DOW. The layout of this file is based on the configure automation program being used, and consists of a list of all filenames that are found in the master database on the selected BBS. This will remove all tags from the selected BBS, unless the indicated bbsname has no tagged files. Conference support is provided for Intellicomm, Liberator and Access program/scripts. 6.3 Remove tags The tag is removed from every tagged file. All file information is left unchanged. 6.4 Create upload files This option creates an output list of all tagged files, in a format that can be edited to use with automatic file uploading facilities of scripts Liberator, Access (QMM), Telix Square and CatCalls, and Intellicomm, and macros available for Boyan. Direct area/conference support and support for Robocomm upload agendas are not available at this time. Page 33 BBSee Version 2.2 6.5 Output tags to disk This option creates an output list of all tagged files in PCBoard format. This file is opened in append mode. 6.6 View tags This function gives you a display of all filenames you have tagged during a search or in list/tag mode. By entering O(rder) this list will be toggled between filename order, BBS priority order and catalog label order. An estimate of file download time is also presented. Entering D(etails) allows you to enter the Search Filename function at the current file, to assist in finding newer versions that may exist on the database, which may not have been identified. Because you are in Search Filename mode, access to all of its options are available at that point. Entering a S(ave) will allow you to save your tag list in the current sort order to disk. Section 6.8 explains how to Load this file. Tagging and untagging files is also possible on this screen using the enter or space keys. Any tags you remove will not take place until you exit the window, or type R(edraw). 6.7 Edit Tags This option allows you to edit the description for each file you have tagged. Selective editing can be performed in the View tag window, by going through the Search Word window, available as D(etails). 6.8 Load Tags Use this option to read a file of filenames, and then have them automatically tagged by BBSee. Many uses for this exist including, loading want lists, and special upload and delete file lists (possibly an edited version of the Cross Reference file). Page 34 BBSee Version 2.2 Chapter 7 Describe Function The Describe function provides various means of using the BBSee master database to assist you or produce speciality reports. 7.1 Input File List This function allows you to read almost any ASCII text file which has a filename as the starting word, and provide a PCBoard like output-file containing the description found in your BBSee master database for each file 'found'. The input file for this function, can include such things as redirected DIR listings and output from BBSee itself. The main use of this function is to provide a means of either giving descriptions of files you are giving 'friends', or getting descriptions for files that you have stored as 'catalog only'. 7.2 4DOS Description. This option creates a 4DOS/NDOS descript.ion file based on the contents of your master description database, for the indicated directory. This option will OVERWRITE any existing descript.ion file so be careful, if you have entered some descriptions manually. 7.3 Describe Floppy This option allows for the creation of a file, in PCBoard format, containing any file descriptions associated with files on a floppy. If a file has no description in the master database, the message, 'Not in BBSee catalog' is output to the file, in the description. Since this file is in PCBoard format, if you edit the 'not in BBSee catalog' message with a more appropriate description and then import the file into BBSee, the master database will have more valid data. 7.4 Cross Reference A catalog cross reference creates a list of files you have cataloged against a list from another source. The cross reference output file is a list of differences. This should make it easier to determine what to upload to other sources. Remember to check a BBS before uploading to ensure that you don't upload something they received since your last file import. To make use of this file with an automated upload, edit it as required and use the Load tags facility. This will provide a list in Catalog label order if required, and also can output the desired upload file for you. Page 35 BBSee Version 2.2 7.5 Report Options This option allows you to identify which reports you would like to have output the BBSee Source and Catalog information. As well a Quick Catalog Report Selection which creates catalog reports with no descriptions, (which because of database access can be significantly faster). This option is available globally as <Ctrl-R>. 7.6 Analyze directory This option uses the batch file specifications created in the configuration. Reviewing what I do, should assist you in creating a usable analyze.bat file. These are implemented as a batch file so that you may inspect the file prior to running it. This sample could be further modified to meet your personal requirements. The default configuration functions as follows. Files in the download directory are compared with the description database. If they are found they are added to a file, by default, ANALYZE.BAT, that can perform the following operations when executed. Note that in all cases batch options 2 and 3 will only work for .ZIP files. 1. File is copied from download to archive directory. 2. README.ROS and READ_ME.TXT ( Rose Media ads ) are removed from the ZIP file. 3. Comments are removed from the file ( This requires a shareware package STRIPZIP). 4. Original file is deleted from the download directory. I would recommend that if you approximate my archiving method, that you also investigate programs such as FILL or ICOPY. These will assist in copying files from this archive directory to floppy disk, and they will maximize your floppy disk utilization. A second output file from this option is a list of files that were not found in the master database. A single file, by default, NOTFOUND.ADD is created that meets the specification for a BBS file listing. This file description can be edited with a text editor (the description is initially indicated *Not Found*), and can be imported directly into the database. BBSee does not like the tab character so be careful when you use your text editor. Page 36 BBSee Version 2.2 Chapter 8 Using the program I have included a file, SAMPLE, that is simply a small NEWFILES.DAT file from SYNAPSE to help you test BBSee. You can later expand the actual master database by importing your BBS's allfiles listings. I suggest that you investigate various exclusion word combinations in BBSETUP prior to creating your 'good' database. Once you have got the hang of it, you can of course import files from any sources you want. The first step, which I again emphasize as probably the most important is to understand how to configure all the directories properly. Read the configuration section, if you have not done so already. It is now time to run the program, that is after all why you have read all of this in the first place. 1. Run BBSETUP.EXE at the DOS prompt. I would recommend that you make a temporary subdirectory for this purpose. Files can be moved at a later date. 2. Continue through BBSetup configuration. 3. Place the desired file(s) to be imported in your description directory. 4. Run BBSee and select the File Import Option. 5. Enter the filename (wildcards are possible). 6. When you are prompted to Select a BBS, moving the cursor, or selecting the first character, will scroll through valid options. 7. <Enter> to add files, <Esc> to abort 8. When the file update is complete you are free to explore the program. Enjoy, and good luck! Page 37 BBSee Version 2.2 Chapter 9 Command line arguments 1. BBSEE [primary word [qualifier 1 [qualifier 2 [exception 1]]] ] This will start word searches directly. Blanks are not allowed, unless they are enclosed in quotes. ie BBSEE QMAIL searches all filenames and descriptions with qmail in them BBSEE QMAIL READ OFFLINE CIS search all filenames and descriptions with qmail and ( read or offline) but not containing the string cis 2. BBSEE [-u [[drive:]directory]filename[ext] ] This option allows for automatic updates of Qmail packages, if you have configured the Source/BBS name to be the same as that of your mail package. The default extension is .QWK. ie. BBSEE -u SYNAPSE update the master database with files from the newfiles.dat contained in synapse.qwk in the default mail directory. BBSEE -U C:\MAIL\SYNAPSE.QWK as above but override using the default mail directory. 3. BBSEE [-i [[drive:]directory]filespec Source ] This option allows for automatic importation of a file list using the corresponding source. ie. BBSEE -I *.* SYNAPSE update the master database with all files in the temporary directory for the source SYNAPSE. BBSEE -i D:\MYDIR\FILES.LST BBS1 update the master database with descriptions from the file FILES.LST contained in directory D:\MYDIR for the source BBS1. 4. BBSEE -4 directory This option creates a 4DOS/NDOS descript.ion files of 'directory'. See Section 7.2 for further information. Page 38 BBSee Version 2.2 5. BBSEE -o source destination This option creates a BBSee description destination file based on the filenames listed in source. See Section 7.1 for further information. 6. BBSEE /A or BBSEE /B These options allow you to catalog the indicated disk from the command line. These will allow cataloging in batch files. Page 39 BBSee Version 2.2 Appendix A Registration Information I have tried to keep the price for the BBSee package extremely low to encourage people to register. At these low prices, if you use BBSee there should be no reason to NOT register. I plan to add functionality which BBSee does not yet have, however this will only come into being with your support. The pricing for BBSee is as follows: #1 $15.00 A license to use BBSee with a Registration Key for manual installation. #2 $20.00 #1 plus a floppy containing any new utilities and import functions, a program to install the Registration Key, support in use of the product and notification of upcoming releases. #3 $25.00 #2 plus automatic delivery of version 3, whether I decide to release it as shareware or not. Bank or postal money orders should be sent when possible. Please make these out to Martin Vallevand. If you send me a cheque I will wait for it to clear, before I mail out anything. All orders must be pre- paid. In Canada these prices are in Canadian dollars. Ontario residents also must include the 8% PST. All orders from outside of Canada must be paid in $US dollars. The exchange difference will also be used to pay the difference in postage and applicable taxes. Money orders are preferred. If you send a cheque, (on American banks only), add $5 to the appropriate cost. These prices are subject to change at any time. If you are the author of a useful shareware package, and you send me a copy of your product, registered and licensed in my name, I will either return your package, or more likely, register you and send you the activation key to for BBSee. Barterware? I can be reached at Martin Vallevand Suite 100 56 Fourth Avenue Ottawa, Ontario K1S 2L2 for further information on obtaining this package. I am also open to suggestions on methods of improving BBSee, by adding new functions or by enhancing existing methods. Page 40 BBSee Version 2.2 I will try to respond to letters or phone calls from users who have not opted for the purchase of product support, but this is not always possible. Also I cannot return a disk forwarded to me with a BBS listing, or other information, unless return CANADIAN postage is also enclosed. I monitor many shareware related conferences on Smartnet, Nanet, RelayNet, IntelecNet, an ILink. You may try to contact me there. I can also be reached at SYNAPSE BBS. This BBS is an excellent IBM-only PCBoard BBS located in Gatineau, Quebec, (very near Ottawa, the Capital of Canada). The SYNAPSE BBS Sysop, Daniel Coulombe has graciously allowed me to use his BBS as a 'home' for BBSee. An account has been set up for BBSEE USER with a password of VISITOR for the sole purpose of downloading the current BBSee files. The phone numbers for Synapse BBS are: Area Code ( 819 ) 561-5268 Node #1, 14.4K SupraFAXmodem 243-7179 Node #2, 9600 Compucom 561-6745 Node #3, 16.8K bps HST Dual Std 243-0306 Node #4,#8 9600 Hayes 561-3740 Node #6,#7 14.4K HST 561-4321 Node #9,#5,#10,#14 9600 bps ATI 561-0950 Node #12,#11 14.4K bps HST Dual Std 561-4992 Node #13,#15 9600 CompuCom 246-2344 Node #16 9600 GVC v.32 [for New Users ONLY] I will attempt to maintain the latest version of all BBSee shareware products on SYNAPSE BBS. The format for the program archive filenames are BBSEE##A.ZIP and BBSEE##B.ZIP where ## is the version number. The 'Extra' archive is available as BBSEE##X.ZIP, and the 'Conversion' archive is available as BBSEE##C.ZIP. Page 41 BBSee Version 2.2 Appendix B Program Return Codes 0 Normal exit 1 Not authorized 2-6 Error in BBSEE.CFG 7-10 Error in master database 11-12 Error in deleted file database 13-16 Error in floppy catalog database 17 Not enough memory for BBSee 18 Input file error 19 Could not open add file 20 Could not open error file 21 Could not open download file 22-23 Error on -u 24 Could not open master database file for word search 25 Could not open output catalog file 26 Could not open cross reference file 27 Index error - rebuild index 28 Could not open upload file 29 Could not open duplicate file 30 Cannot run BBSee in its Shell. 31 No NEWFILES.DAT or error in UNZIP in batch .qwk file 32 Error on batch import option 33-34 Error on -u 35 BBS name not found 36 Could not open floppy description file. 37-39 Error on -i 40 Conversion error 41 Database add error 42-43 Directory error in shell. 44 Changed video returned to BBSee from shell. 45 EMS error Search Word 46 Error in the search temporary file. 47 EMS error in Fill. 50-52 Error in floppy catalog database 53-60 Errors in volume database. 61-64 Errors in archive database. 65-66 Error in floppy catalog database 67 Catalog duplicate file error. 68 Error reading JPEG information. 70 Volume database error. 71-72 Error on -i -u 73 Error on /a /b 74-76 Error on -o -4 The remedy for many of these errors will be to increase the FILES= statement in your CONFIG.SYS file. Page 42 BBSee Version 2.2 Appendix C Cursor Movement and Editing Keys Cursor Movement --------------- Arrow keys - cursor movement Ctrl-LeftArrow - word left Ctrl-RightArrow - word right Home - beginning of field End - end of line/field Ctrl-Home - beginning of first field Ctrl-End - end of last field Tab - next field Shift-Tab - previous field Inserting and Deleting ---------------------- Ins - toggle insert mode Del - delete character at cursor BackSpace - delete character left Ctrl-BackSpace - delete word left Ctrl-T - delete word right Ctrl-U - delete to end of field Ctrl-Y - delete to end of form Other Editing Keys ------------------ Enter - process current field Ctrl-Enter - process all fields Ctrl-R - restore field Esc - abort data entry Page 43 BBSee Version 2.2 Appendix D Mouse Support. Full mouse support is available in BBSee, and it is configured ON by default. Should you wish, it can be disabled in BBSetup in the Hardware option. Basic operation is that the right mouse button operates like the <Esc> key and the left mouse button operates like the <Enter> key. I will refer to a left mouse hit as a 'click'. If you don't like the fixed mouse arrow, it can be turned off (to the standard DOS block mouse). 1.0 General Menu and option selection. For navigation within the basic BBSee menu structure and selection boxes, simply point the mouse block cursor at an option and click. The arrow up and down keys on the right hand side of a window border can be used to scroll a window if the mouse cursor is clicked on them. Advanced mouse use. 2.1 File Manager. The File Manager is made up of two distinct windows for the mouse to select from. There is the directory window of filenames, and the command window with the possible commands. Selecting a file within the directory window by a point-and-shoot selection will activate the currently highlighted action in the command window. This default action can be changed by placing the mouse on the 'Action Command' line and clicking, and then making the actual selection of the default command. Alternatively you can manually hit the <Tab> or <Slash> characters to open the Action window. You can also use the mouse to select the option you want performed by clicking on the appropriate option in the command window. You may have to use the 'normal' cursor to highlight the appropriate filename first. 2.2 Search Word. Moving the filename cursor within the search window is done by clicking the mouse on any element of a file or its description. Clicking an already highlighted file will toggle the tag of that filename. 2.3 Search Filename Page 44 BBSee Version 2.2 Clicking when this window is active will toggle the tagging of a filename. 2.4 View Catalog/List Catalog/List Archive Clicking on a volume will bring up a list of all files on that volume. Clicking on a filename line will bring up the description of that file. If you click on the left border of a line, archive contents or graphic resolution information will be displayed if available. 2.5 View Tags. Clicking on the filename will toggle a tag of a filename. Page 45 BBSee Version 2.2 Appendix E Import Usage Attempting to import file description lists into BBSee that are not in PCBoard format, can cause a lot of problems. To overcome some of these problems, a utility program, IMPORT.EXE is included in the BBSee package to assist in the import process. The function of this program is to convert files into a usable PCBoard-like data structure. All non-PCBoard files should be converted with this program, before you attempt to import them into BBSee. The primary syntax to the IMPORT program is: IMPORT {sourcename} {destname} PDM P directs the number of passes that IMPORT makes on the file. The choice is 1 or 2. Some BBS listings require two passes to eliminate CR/LF, and Formfeed problems. 2 passes are required for most Wildcat BBS lists. A special parameter C (for Caution!) is available which can be used for some BBS's which have the description on the line(s) following the filename, but not directly under the initial line. Files created with this option should be reviewed to ensure that the descriptions created are what you expect. D directs the date determination of the import, Y indicates to IMPORT to swap the day and month fields (ie the format is MM-DD- YY), N indicates not to swap the day and month, and C indicates to check for the date format. Of course if all days are < 13 the check will indicate not to swap the day and month. If your BBS uses the international YY-MM-DD format, use the R (for reverse option). The C option can identify this type as well. M directs the mode of the import. IMPORT will automatically try to (the A option) determine the appropriate columns that it uses in the import process. You can override this if automatic mode does not produce a workable PCBoard-like listing, by using the M (manual) option. This mode will allow you to manually enter column details for various fields. The filename and description fields must be entered, if the size and/or date are missing, indicate this by entering 0 for the start and stop column locations. In using manual mode, step through the file using the Get Filename key, and then modify the various fields that you require. If a file date or size does not exist, enter 0 for both the start and end columns of the field. If the BBS uses a K indicator include it within the filesize. Page 46 BBSee Version 2.2 The default if the PDM options are omitted is 2CA If the automatic mode of IMPORT works with your description list, BBSee can also perform the automatic conversion. Use AUT (automatic) in the BBSetup for the appropriate BBS, and enter the pd (pass and date) parameters as determined above. When in doubt use IMPORT to convert the file, and review it before importing into BBSee, to avoid entering incorrect entries in the database. I do not recommend that you use the Caution mode as the pass type, unless you are very sure that it works with your BBS list regularly. You should also attempt to use one pass mode if you find that two pass mode is successful. For many Wildcat! types this is not possible (due to the many differences available). Four other import modes exist within IMPORT. a. IMPORT {sourcename} {destname} XPC This format is used to create a PCBoard file from the XFER5K.TXT file available on EXEC-PC. b. IMPORT {sourcename} {destname} MIN This mode can be used to compress a PCBoard file if there are a lot of spaces and carriage returns within a description. Some BBS's and files created by IMPORT require this, if you want to capture more than 11 lines of description within BBSee. c. IMPORT {sourcename} {destname} WC3 IMPORT {sourcename} {destname} WCF These two options create output from specific file lists from two type of Wildcat listings. If you have a BBS listing from a major BBS that does not work automatically with IMPORT I would very much appreciate it if you would send me a disk, containing a sample, and I will attempt to incorporate its structure into the automatic import. See Appendix A for information on contacting me. Other utilities for file conversion may be included on the extras disk. See the README.2ND file. Page 47 BBSee Version 2.2 Appendix F Database Packing Most database packages, do not actually delete files from a database, they simply mark the files for deletion. The BBSee database is no exception. To reclaim this space it is necessary to 'pack' the database. In addition to reclaiming disk space, (vis-a-vis a random un-packed database), the packed file is maintained in alphabetical order. Due to the nature of the BBSee database, an undelete feature, before unpacking, is not possible. To pack the BBSee master database, run the program PACBBSEE at the DOS prompt, in a BBSee directory. PACBBSEE will read your BBSEE.CFG file and automatically pack the master database. During the PACBBSee operation, a record count will be displayed on the screen. Note that to use this program, a new file is actually created, and your old file is maintained, in case a problem is encountered. You will therefore require disk space equal to that of you original database and index to complete the database pack. Because of the extensive hard disk activity required, this process can take a considerable amount of time. It is not essential to the operation of BBSee, and disk savings can usually only be achieved after a large number of imports. I would pack the database after the all of your bbs allfiles listings are included. There is also a command line option (-c) to only pack files in the floppy databases. Page 48 BBSee Version 2.2 Appendix G Deleted File List Maintenance Filenames that you delete from the master database are added to an index file (the .DEL file) so that they are not added to the database again. At times you may wish to review your deleted files, and allow certain deleted files to be added as your computing requirements change. To do this, the following steps should be followed. Step 1. The first step is to create an ASCII file of your present .DEL file. The program READDEL.EXE will read your present .DEL file and output it to standard output. The format to view the file on the screen is READDEL {master delete file} To trap standard output to a file it is necessary to use the DOS redirect command. The syntax for the redirect of READDEL is: READDEL {master delete file} > {filename} Care should be taken here as DOS does not prevent you from overwriting a file on a redirect. This program can be used to view the deleted file list by reviewing the above file, or omitting the > filename. Step 2. The second step in editing the .DEL is to use an ASCII text editor on the filename output in the previous step. Remove all the lines containing filenames that you no longer wish excluded. You can also add filenames to this file at this point, that will cause the entered filenames to be removed from the master database in the next step. Ensure that you use DOS naming rules when entering these filenames, and do not add a trailing dot. DO NOT include the following extensions if you are manually entering filenames. ZIP, PAK, COM, LZH, EXE, ARC, SDN, GIF, ARJ, TXT, DOC, ZOO, BAT, and SYS Page 49 BBSee Version 2.2 Step 3. The third step is to write a new .DEL file using the WRITEDEL.EXE program. This program, will read the list that you have edited above, delete records from the master database if necessary, and create a new .DEL file. The syntax for use of this program is: WRITEDEL {input file} {output file} The output file is the name of you master .DB and .DEL files without an extension. It will not overwrite your present .DEL file. You must first delete (or rename) the appropriate .DEL file. If you don't run this program from your database directory, ensure that the output file includes the proper sub-directory information. WRITEDEL will check to see if the input file is in the appropriate format. This checking is not all inclusive so be careful. Page 50 BBSee Version 2.2 Appendix H Robocomm download support. Support in BBSee for Robocomm 4.1 depends on an external program 2ROBO.EXE which directly access the Robocomm Clipper database files, rather then intermediate files like the other supported automaters. I would prefer that BBSee remain independent of other program files but no other approach appears to work. To use 2ROBO Setup: 1. Copy 2ROBO.EXE to your Robocomm directory. 2. Configure the tag facility in BBSetup, to have the Tag File Destination directory to be the Robocomm directory. 3. Use .DLR as the download file tag extension in BBSetup. 4. Configure Robocomm as the automater type. 5. Ensure that the BBS name you configure in BBSetup matches the one you use in Robocomm. Running the program. The syntax to run the program is 2ROBO agenda bbsname Program notes. - If the agenda is not found, it will be added. - All the files in BBSNAME.DLR will be inserted in the agenda, after any old items. - The file BBSNAME.DLR will be deleted. - You should not run 2ROBO until just before running the agenda, as BBSee will check for duplicates in the DLR file, not the agenda. I will try to add extra support for Robocomm based on REGISTERED users requests. I would also ask that Robocomm users try to persuade the Robocomm author (Dan Parsons), to allow an independent up/download file mechanism which would provide better portability between Robocomm and specialized programs like BBSee. Page 51