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DDDDD OOO OOO RRRRR BBBBB AA SSS EEEEEEE D D O O O O R R B B A A S S E D D O O O O R R B B A A S E D D O O O O R R B B A A S E D D O O O O RRRRR BBBBB AAAAAAAA SSS EEEEE D D O O O O R R B B A A S E D D O O O O R R B B A A S E D D O O O O R R B B A A S S E DDDDD OOO OOO R R BBBBB A A SSS EEEEEEE THE Remote dBASE Access Solution for BBS Operators Version 1.0a February 11, 1989 Copyright 1989 by: Steven R. Kling SysOp of Technopeasants' EAST (301) 927-4258 and Michael J. Kelly SysOp of Technopeasants' WEST (503) 257-7070 Both PC Pursuitable Another Fine TechnoWare Program Doorbase Version 1.0a February 11, 1989 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ---- INTRODUCTION 3 What Is DoorBase? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 What Is TechnoWare? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 DoorBase's Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 DoorBase's Limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 What's New in This Version . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 DISTRIBUTION AND REGISTRATION 5 Distribution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Registration of DoorBase . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 SET-UP AND OPERATION 6 Files in DOORBASE.ARC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Filenames . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Run the BBS Samples . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 CUSTOMIZING DOORBASE 8 Necessary Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 DoorBase Definition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Database Definition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Title Display Screen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Search Key Prompt Screen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Data Display Screen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 BATch Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Common Errors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 - 1 - Doorbase Version 1.0a February 11, 1989 RUNNING FROM THE BULLETIN BOARD 18 MULTIPLE DATABASES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 SYSOP ON-LINE OPTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 SUPPORT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 DBASE ALTERNATIVES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 APPENDIX I (Support Files Structure) . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 - 2 - Doorbase Version 1.0a February 11, 1989 WHAT IS TECHNOWARE? ---- -- ----------- TechnoWare is by the Technopeasants for Technopeasants. There are two kinds of Technopeasants: 1. The technological technopeasant is someone that has trouble dealing with computers and other advanced forms of technology. 2. The economic technopeasant is someone that appreciates what technology can do for him/her, but cannot afford to spend a lot on it. TechnoWare, therefore, is designed with both in mind. In other words, TechnoWare is written to be easy to understand and easy on the pocketbook. Steven R. Kling Michael J. Kelly SysOp and Head Technopeasant SysOp and Head Technopeasant Technopeasants' East RBBS Technopeasants' WEST (301) 927-4258 (503) 257-7070 WHAT IS DOORBASE? ---- -- --------- DoorBase is a door that allows RBBS (CPC 15.1C or above), PCBoard, WILDCAT!, or QuickBBS SysOps to set up a indexed dBASE III database on-line for display and editing. In this first, general release, adding or editing records is not implemented, but this feature has already been designed and is under test. DoorBase supports COM1 through COM4 and is usable in the local (console) mode. Although untested, it should support multi-node operation, but it may not work if accessed from two nodes at once. True multi-node operation should be available by the summer of '89. - 3 - Doorbase Version 1.0a February 11, 1989 DOORBASE'S FEATURES ---------- -------- As noted, DoorBase allows Bulletin Board System Operators to put a indexed dBASE III Plus on-line for their users. DoorBase's features are listed below. * Use of up to 25 fields. * Support of Character, Date and Numeric fields. Logical fields can be used but no logic is supported. * dBASE-like BROWSE mode * Total SysOp definition of Title Screen (up to 21 lines) * Total SysOp definition of Data Input Screen (up to 24 lines) * Total SysOp definition of Data Output Screen (up to 22 lines) * Total Sysop control of which fields are output to the user * Support of field lengths of up to 254 characters * Easily used off-line (local console mode) DOORBASE'S LIMITS ---------- ------ DoorBase, in this first general distribution version, has the following limits: * Limited to 25 fields. Your database may have more, but DoorBase will not use them. * Does not support Logical fields (soon to be added) or Memo fields (under consideration). * Supports only one index at a time. A two-index version is under test at this time and more are under consideration. * Only 25 phrases may be included on any screen. As users report their requirements to us, we will add more to the system. - 4 - Doorbase Version 1.0a February 11, 1989 WHAT'S NEW IN THIS VERSION ------ --- -- ---- ------- If you've seen or used the preliminary DoorBase 1.0, the improve- ments should please you. The date conversion bug has been fixed, dates now print in normal English rather than in the standard dBASE eight figure manner. Fields not chosen for display no longer have to be hidden or covered over. Lines longer then the screen width now print where you want them to and word wrap (default right margin 78). DISTRIBUTION ------------ DOORBASE.ARC may be freely distributed by Users Groups and Bulletin Boards provided that all files as listed below are included, that none are modified, and that no additional files are added. Commercial vendors of Public Domain and ShareWare software may distribute DoorBase and accompanying files ONLY after receiving written permission. Permission will normally be granted, but we MUST know that you are distributing it to ensure that you have the latest version. REGISTRATION OF DOORBASE ------------ -- -------- Doorbase is not a Public Domain program; it is Copyright, 1989 by Steven Kling and Michael Kelly. It is offered under the ShareWare concept of software distribution. The ShareWare concept allows you to use DoorBase for a reasonable amount of time and test its capabil- ities. If you find it useful, however, and continue to use it, you MUST register. Because we believe that software should not be expensive, your minimum cost for THIS version (1.0a) of DoorBase is $10.00. For your money, you'll get a single-user licence to use this version of the software, and we'll mail you a disk with your BBS's name in place of the "Support ShareWare" display. The cost of a full registration is $35.00. For this you will be granted a single-user license to Doorbase, a one year subscription to both home BBSes of DoorBase (allowing you access to any and all registered user upgrades), and the next major upgrade mailed to you at no cost. - 5 - Doorbase Version 1.0a February 11, 1989 If you use DoorBase, you must register! Commercial, multi-user licenses available at reasonable rates upon request to Steven Kling. Send all registrations to: Steven R. Kling 4009 Utah Ave. Brentwood, MD 20722 FILES IN DOORBASE.ARC ----- -- ------------ Your DOORBASE.ARC should contain the following files: BBS.BAT - BATch file to run DoorBase with the BBS database locally BBS.DBF - Sample database of Washington D.C. area BBS's BBS_NAME.NDX - Sample index for BBS.DBF BBS_BASE.DEF - DoorBase definition file for BBS.DBF BBS_DATA.DEF - Data dictionary for BBS.DBF BBS_DISP.DAT - Data display screen for BBS.DBF BBS_NDX.DAT - Search key prompt screen for BBS.DEF BBSTITLE - Title screen for BBS.DBF CALLINFO.BBS - Sample Door information file (QuickBBS in this case) DBASE10A.DOC - Documentation for DoorBase (you're reading it) DOORBASE.EXE - The DoorBase program FILES.BAT - BATch file to run DoorBase with the FILES database locally FILES.DBF - Sample database of BBS-related files FILEBASE.DEF - DoorBase definition file for FILES.DBF FILEDATA.DEF - Data dictionary for FILES.DBF FILEDISP.DAT - Data display screen for FILES.DBF FILE_NDX.DAT - Search key prompt screen for FILES.DBF - 6 - Doorbase Version 1.0a February 11, 1989 FILETITL - Title screen for FILES.DBF PROGNAME.NDX - Sample index for FILES.DBF READ.ME - Description of DOORBASE.DOC and may contain any late additions to the documentation If the DOORBASE.ARC/PAK that you downloaded does not contain all of these files, notify the SysOp of the bulletin board you got it from that the board is distributing an illegal file. FILENAMES --------- In addition to a dBASE III database and index files, DoorBase requires several support files to run. It is suggested that all of the related files for each database have filenames that start with the same three or four letters. In the examples given in this document- ation, you will often see filenames such as "xxxxDATA.DEF". The "xxxx" represents those three or four common letters and you should substitue letters of your own choosing. RUN THE SAMPLES --- --- ------- To understand what DoorBase will do, run it with one of the sample databases first without making any changes. UnARC'd right "out of the box", DoorBase is set up to run both sample databases off-line. Simply unARC Doorbase, preferably into a separate subdirectory. Then switch to that subdirectory and start DoorBase by typing 'BBS' to run the BBS database or by typing "FILES" to run the FILES database. This will allow you to acquaint yourself with the capabilities of the program. Try all of the features; they should be self-explanatory. Once you have familiarized yourself with DoorBase's operation, you can set up the support files for your own database. The next section which will take you through make up of the DoorBase support files using the definition and data files for both of the databases as examples. This should provide you with the knowledge necessary to customizing DoorBase for your purposes. If you want to put one of these databases on-line and are exper- ienced with Doors, just change the xxxBASE.DEF (page xx) to reflect your type of BBS and write the appropriate bat files to run this on-line. - 7 - Doorbase Version 1.0a February 11, 1989 CUSTOMIZING DOORBASE ----------- -------- To run DoorBase with any dBASE III compatible database, you must create six support files. These files are very simple to setup, so don't get overwhelmed by the documentation. Once you have written these files, they must be saved in ASCII format. Most word processors have this capability, so if you aren't sure how to do it, check your word processor's documentation. Most of the files that DoorBase requires must end in a character. That is they can not end with a Carriage Return/Line Feed or a blank line! NECESSARY FILES --------- ----- You should provide your database with definition and data files with names that are related but unique to the database. The files for the sample databases all started with BBS for the BBS database and FILE for the FILES database. The support files that DoorBase needs are: * A DoorBase Definition file (xxxxBASE.DEF suggested). This file contains information about your Bulletin Board and the next four files. * A Database Definition file (xxxxDATA.DEF suggested). This file contains information about the database and index files. * A Title Screen Data file (xxxxTITL suggested). This file is the opening screen that your users will see. * A Search Key Prompt Screen file (xxxxNDX.DAT suggested). This file provides your users with the information they need to find the information they want. * A Data Display Screen file (xxxxDISP.DAT suggested). This file is how the users will see the database records. * A BATch file to invoke DoorBase (xxxx.BAT suggested). Before starting to write any of these files, you should know what you will name the files and have all other information ready. NOTE: DoorBase will accept UPPER or lower case for all of the set-up files. - 8 - Doorbase Version 1.0a February 11, 1989 DOORBASE DEFINITION -------- ---------- The first text file to write is the DoorBase Definition file (xxxxBASE.DEF). It is perhaps the simplest file and contains 11 lines: 1) SYSOP's First Name 2) SYSOP's Last Name 3) Path\filename of the appropriate User Information File (DORINFO1.DEF, PCBOARD.SYS, etc.) 4) COM PORT ALL CAPS with no COLON (COM1, COM2, COM3 or COM4) 5) Name of the BBS 6) Path\filename of the Data Definition file (created below) 7) Path\filename of Title Screen Data file (created below) 8) Path\filename of Search Key Prompt Screen file (created below) 9) Path\filename of Data Display Screen file (created below) 10) Number of minutes without user input before log off 11) Maximum number of minutes allowed in the door 1) and 2) are your first and last names as you want them to appear to your users. Any combination of upper and lower case is acceptable. 3) is simply "CALLINFO.BBS" in the samples. To put a database on-line, DoorBase must have the full path and filename of the appropriate User Information File. My DoorBase Definition files have: "C:\RBBS\DORINFO1.DEF", yours will vary, depending on what type of Bulletin Board System you are using and where you have it located. 4) is the communications port that your Bulletin Board's modem uses. It must be all UPPER CASE and must NOT end with a colon. 5) is the name of your Bulletin Board as you want your users to see it. Any combination of upper and lower case is acceptable. 6) is the full path and filename of the database's Database Definition file (xxxxDATA.DEF). If this file will be in your DoorBase subdirectory, the path may be omitted. As I have several databases on-line, I keep my DoorBase databases in a separate subdirectory specifically for those databases. My DoorBase Definition files contain: "C:\DATABASE\xxxxDATA.DEF" 7) is the full path and filename of the database's Title Screen file (xxxxTITL). If this file will be in your DoorBase sub- directory, the path may be omitted. My DoorBase Definition files contain: - 9 - Doorbase Version 1.0a February 11, 1989 "C:\DATABASE\xxxxTITL" 8) is the full path and filename of the database's Search Key Prompt Screen file (xxxxNDX.DAT). If this file will be in your DoorBase subdirectory, the path may be omitted. My DoorBase Definition files contain: "C:\DATABASE\xxxxNDX.DAT" 9) is the full path and filename of the database's Data Display Screen file (xxxDISP.DAT). If this file will be in your DoorBase subdirectory, the path may be omitted. My DoorBase Definition files contain: "C:\DATABASE\xxxxDISP.DAT" 10) is the number of minutes that DoorBase should wait without user input before it logs the user off and returns to the Bulletin Board. 3 is suggested. This line should contain only a number. 11) is the maximum number of minutes that a user may remain in DoorBase per session. 20 is suggested for a typical database, but may certainly vary depending on the size and complexity of the database. This line should contain only a number. DATABASE DEFINITION -------- ---------- The Database Definition (xxxxDATA.DEF) file will contain three to 27 lines, depending on the number of fields that your database contains. The Database Definition file for the BBS database looks like this: Line Actual Number Data ------ ---- 1) BBS.DBF 2) BBS_NAME.NDX 3) 1,18,0 4) 1,20,0 5) 1,12,0 6) 1,2,0 7) 1,5,0 8) 1,3,0 9) 1,3,0 10) 1,4,0 11) 1,40,0 1) is the full path and filename of database. Since the BBS data- base currently resides in the same subdirectory as DoorBase, the path has been omitted. If your database will be in the subdir- - 10 - Doorbase Version 1.0a February 11, 1989 ectory as DoorBase, the path may be omitted. As I have several databases on-line, I keep them in a separate subdirectory. Since this database is a fragment of one of my databases, this line in my BBS_DATA.DEF is: "C:\DATABASE\BBS.DBF". 2) is the full path and filename of database's index. Since the BBS database currently resides in the same subdirectory as DoorBase, the path has been omitted. If your database will be in the subdirectory as DoorBase, the path may be omitted. As I have several databases on-line, I keep them in a separate subdirectory. Since this database is a fragment of one of my databases, this line in my BBS_DATA.DEF is: "C:\DATABASE\BBS_NAME.NDX". 3) and all of the remaining lines (up to line 27) list the structure of your database. These lines all have the same format. You will need to know the "structure" of your database to properly provide the information. With dB3+, the simplest way to get a hard copy of the database's structure is, using ASSIST, go to the TOOLS section, select 'LIST STRUCTURE' and answer yes to the print request prompt. We are not familiar enough (yet) with the dBASE clones to tell you how to get this information from them, other than to suggest you have a pencil and paper handy. For each field in your data- base, you will need to know the type of field (Character, Numeric, Date, or Logic), the length of the field, and the number of decimal places (0 if not Numeric). A dBASE printout of the structure of BBS.DBF looks like this: Field Field Name Type Width Dec 1 BBS_NAME Character 18 2 SYSOP Character 20 3 CITY Character 12 4 STATE Character 2 5 TYPE Character 5 6 AREA_CODE Character 3 7 PREFIX Character 3 8 NUMBER Character 4 9 COMMENTS Character 40 ** Total ** 108 Each field definition line has three parts, separated by commas. These parts are: Field type, field length, decimal places - 11 - Doorbase Version 1.0a February 11, 1989 Field type is defined with a numeric value: 1 for character field 2 for numeric fields 3 for date fields 4 for logical fields (not implemented at this time) Field length is the number of characters in the field (same as dBASE) Decimal places is the number of decimal places in the field. Character, date, and logical will have a 0 here. Line 3 of the Database Definition for the BBS database contains the information for the the first field (BBS_NAME): Actual Data Explanation ----- ----------- 1,8,0 [Character, length 8, 0 decimal] The lines for the remaining fields are: 1,20,0 [Character, length 20, 0 decimal] 1,12,0 [Character, length 6, 0 decimal] 1,2,0 [Character, length 2, 0 decimal] 1,5,0 [Character, length 5, 0 decimal] 1,3,0 [Character, length 3, 0 decimal] 1,3,0 [Character, length 3, 0 decimal] 1,4,0 [Character, length 4, 0 decimal] 1,40,0 [Character, length 40, 0 decimal] The Database Definition file for the FILES database looks like: Line Actual Number Data Explanation ------ ---- ----------- 1) FILES.DBF Name of database 2) PROGNAME.NDX Name of database index 3) 1, 8, 0 [Character, length 8, 0 decimal] 4) 1, 3, 0 [Character, length 3, 0 decimal] 5) 2, 6, 0 [Numeric, length 6, 0 decimal] 6) 3, 8, 0 [Date, length 8, 0 decimal] 7) 1, 18, 0 [Character, length 18, 0 decimal] 8) 1, 18, 0 [Character, length 18, 0 decimal] 9) 1, 20, 0 [Character, length 20, 0 decimal] 10) 1, 11, 0 [Character, length 11, 0 decimal] - 12 - Doorbase Version 1.0a February 11, 1989 11) 3, 8, 0 [Data, length 8, 0 decimal] 12) 3, 8, 0 [Date, length 8, 0 decimal] 13) 4, 1, 0 [Logical, length 1, 0 decimal] 14) 4, 1, 0 [Logical, length 1, 0 decimal] 15) 4, 1, 0 [Logical, length 1, 0 decimal] 16) 1, 43, 0 [Character, length 43, 0 decimal] 17) 1, 254, 0 [Character, length 254, 0 decimal] When you compare this Database Definiton file to the one for the BBS database, you immediately notice that this one has spaces in it. Any number of spaces may be added to enhance readability. Again, lines 1) and 2) may have the path of the database and index file omitted only if they will be in the same subdirectory as DoorBase. Lines three through 17 are descriptions of each field in the data- base as explained above. TITLE DISPLAY SCREEN ----- ------- ------ The Title Display Screen (xxxxDISP.DAT) is the opening screen that is shown to users when they first enter DoorBase. It may contain any ASCII character (including IBM high-bit characters). It may NOT, however, contain any ANSI strings (color, blinking characters, etc). Its only other restriction is that it can not have more than 22 lines (it can have less); the bottom lines are reserved for use by DoorBase. The Title Display Screen can have any information that you wish to convey to the user, but we suggest that it contain the your Bulletin Board's name and a "title" which explains what the database contains. Take a look at the files BBSTITLE and FILETITL. They look just as the user will see them. SEARCH KEY PROMPT SCREEN ------ --- ------ ------ The Search Key Prompt Screen (xxxxNDX.DAT) tells the user what he/she needs to know to enter an appropriate search key. Every line in the Search Key Prompt Screen has the same format: Row, Column, "Phrase" Row is the row number to place the text on Column is the column number to place the text on "Phrase" is what you want to show the user. It MUST be in quotes. - 13 - Doorbase Version 1.0a February 11, 1989 **************** IMPORTANT NOTE ******************** * * * All Rows MUST be between 1 and 24. * * * * All columns MUST be between 1 to 80. * * * * If you use values outside these ranges, or * * if it extends beyond the right margin, * * then it will not display correctly. * * * **************************************************** The Search Key Prompt Screen may have up to 24 lines of text. DoorBase will place the cursor at the end of the last line in the file, waiting for search key input from the user. For this reason, most Search Key Prompt Screen files will have the lines out of order. The Search Key Prompt Screen for the BBS database (BBS_NDX.DAT) looks like this: 13,5,"Enter the name of the BBS that you wish to look up. If you" 14,5,"don't know the exact name, just enter the first one or two" 15,5, "letters in the name that you wish to find." 19,5, "<Enter places you at the top of the database>" 17,25, "Enter the name of the BBS: " Note that the order of the last two lines is reversed; the last line prints on line (row) 17, while the second-to-last line prints on line (row) 19. Also note the final space following the colon in the last line. Without that space, the cursor would print in the column immediately following the colon. The Search Key Prompt Screen for the FILES database (FILE_NDX.DAT) looks like this: 10, 5, "Enter the name of the file that you want further information" 11, 5, "about. If you don't remember the exact name, just enter the" 12, 5, "first few letters of the file name." 13, 5 "Enter only the file name, omitting the extension (.ARC)." 17,5, "<Enter places you at the top of the database>" 15,15, "Enter the file name you want: " - 14 - Doorbase Version 1.0a February 11, 1989 DATA DISPLAY SCREEN ---- ------- ------ The Data Display Screen (xxxxDISP.DAT) displays the database data to your users. Each line has the same structure: Field number, Row, Column, "Phrase" * The field number is the number listed for the desired field and can be obtained using the dBASE command "list structure." DoorBase will display only those fields that you tell it to in this file. You may have the data fields in any order. * Row is the row number to place the text on * Column is the column number to place the text on * "Phrase" is what you want to show the user. It MUST be in quotes. The field is displayed immediately after the "Phrase". It is possible to display anything that you want on the screen by using the above format by starting the Data Display Screen file line with a "0" instead of a field number. This will place the "Phrase" at the specified Row, Column without a field being displayed. The Data Display Screen file for the BBS database (BBS_DISP.DAT) looks like this: 0,3,15, "Technopeasant's database of Bulletin Boards" 1,5,10, "BBS NAME: " 2,5,45, "SYSOP: " 3,7,10, "CITY: " 4,7,30, "STATE: " 5,7,45, "BBS TYPE: " 6,9,25, "Phone Number: (" 7,9,43, ")-" 8,9,48, "-" 9,13,13, "Comments: " Pretty straight forward. Fields 6, 7, and 8 are the telephone area code, prefix, and last four digits respectively. - 15 - Doorbase Version 1.0a February 11, 1989 The Data Display Screen file for the FILES database looks like this: 1, 4, 4, "File name: " 2, , , "." 3, 5, 4, "Size: " 4, 6, 4, "File date: " 5, 7, 4, "Author last name: " 6, 8, 4, "Author first name: " 7, 9, 4, "Category: " 9, 10, 4, "Date on board: " 10, 11, 4, "Date deleted: " 11, 12, 4, "On board? (T = Yes, F = No): " 12, 13, 4, "Tested? (T = Yes, F = No): " 13, 14, 4, "Has docs? (T = Yes, F = No): " 14, 15, 4, "Description: " 15, 16, 4, "Notes: " DoorBase will accept spaces in the xxxxDISP.DAT file. This one has spaces added to enhance its readability. Note the second line. If you want to put something immediately after a field, leave out the Row and Column. Fields 11, 12, and 13 are Logical fields. Although DoorBase does not really support Logical fields, they will print out. If you use them, they should probably have added explanations as in the example. We are working on further support of the Logical fields. The last field is a long text field (254 characters - the maximum allowed by dBASE III Plus). I use this field somewhat like the extended description that RBBS offers for file listings. Fields longer than 80 characters are word-wrapped by DoorBase, and each subsequent line starts directly under the beginning of the field data (not the "Phrase"). For this reason, if you are using long fields, they should be displayed last, otherwise, you will be left with empty space in the middle of your display or else the next field will overwrite part of the long field. The two examples given are very simple. This display can be greatly enhanced by using the IBM high-bit graphic characters. You are limited only by your imagination and the amount of time that you want to spend. Before writing your BATch file to invoke your database, you will find it profitable to run the database locally to check that everything looks the way you want (it NEVER does for me). I find that "fine tuning" my displays is the most time consuming thing about getting a database on-line. To run your database locally, copy the xxxxBASE.DEF to DOORBASE.DEF then bring up DoorBase by typing "DOORBASE". - 16 - Doorbase Version 1.0a February 11, 1989 BATCH FILES ----- ----- The BATch file (xxxx.BAT) to start DoorBase is quite simple. All BATch file examples will assume that your Bulletin Board System files are in C:\BBS and that the DoorBase files are in C:\BBS\DOORBASE. For all baud rates under 9600, the bat file will look something like this: CD C:\BBS\DOORBASE COPY xxxxBASE.DEF DOORBASE.DEF DOORBASE CD C:\BBS The first line is to change to the subdirectory where Doorbase is located. The second line copies the DoorBase Definition file (xxxxBASE.DEF) that you created for your database to filename DOORBASE.DEF, which is the file that DoorBase looks for. The third line invokes DoorBase. The fourth line switches back to the default subdirectory for you Bulletin Board. With RBBS, the system would be automatically restarted. If you are using a different system, you need to check the system's documentation to find out exactly what needs to be done to get back from a door. For all baud rates of 9600 and above, a separate bat file for each baud rate must be made and noted in the door menu file. These BATch files are nearly the same, but line 3 (which invokes DoorBase) should be changed to: DOORBASE /C=9600 for 9600 bps and DOORBASE /C=19200 for 19,200 bps. This is done to "lock" the modem into the selected rate of speed and is required by DoorBase. - 17 - Doorbase Version 1.0a February 11, 1989 COMMON ERRORS ------ ------ The most common error message that you might see is: Error > 62 File >DoorBase 1.0a Date >(date and time) If you get this, there's no real problem. What has happened is that you've ended one of the files you created with something other than, such as a Carriage Return/Line Feed. Go back to each of the files and delete everything past the last character of the data that DoorBase needs. The other problem that I continually run into is forgetting to close the phrase that I want to display with a quotation mark. If you forget to do this, you'll see the Row and Column information for the next line immediately following the information of the line on which you forgot the ending quotation mark. To remedy this, just go back and put the quotation mark in. RUNNING FROM THE BULLETIN BOARD ------- ---- --- -------- ----- Now you need to add the name of the door to the appropriate menu for your BBS, for RBBS it would be MENU5. If you're not sure, check the Bulletin Board System documentation. MULTIPLE DATABASES -------- --------- It's very simple to run multiple databases or a database with multiple indices. Since each database (or index) has a separate, uniquely named set of support files, you only need to have a BATch file for each. For instance, if the FILES database was also indexed by file date and category the three different doors would use the same database and could use the same Title Screen Data file. The three sets of files could be: Program Name File Date Category ------- ---- ---- ---- -------- FIL1BASE.DEF FIL2BASE.DEF FIL3BASE.DEF FIL1DATA.DEF FIL2DATA.DEF FIL3DATA.DEF FILETITL FILETITL FILETITL FIL1_NDX.DAT FIL2_NDX.DAT FIL3_NDX.DAT FIL1DISP.DAT FIL2DISP.DAT FIL3DISP.DAT - 18 - Doorbase Version 1.0a February 11, 1989 and the respective xxxxDATA.DEF files would contain: FILES.DBF FILES.DBF FILES.DBF PROGNAME.NDX FILEDATE.NDX CATEGORY.NDX 1, 8, 0 1, 8, 0 1, 8, 0 1, 3, 0 1, 3, 0 1, 3, 0 etc. SYSOP ON-LINE OPTIONS ----- ------- ------- While in the door, the SysOp has the following options: F8 = kicks the user out of the door F9 = turns snoop on/off F10 = chat with the user (ESC) terminates chat SUPPORT ------- This is a preliminary release, and we will be adding more features as time permits. If you have any problems setting it up, or the documentation is unclear, please send one of us a message. Steven Kling Mike Kelly Technopeasants' EAST Technopeasants' WEST (301) 927-4258 (503) 257-7070 DBASE ALTERNATIVES ----- ------------ What if you cannot make your own dBASE files? Both Technopeasants' East and Technopeasants' WEST are official sources for PC-File:dB, a ShareWare product from Buttonware. We would suggest that you try it and see if it fits your needs. Another alternative might be Ward Mundy's WAMPUM, although we have not tried it. Steven uses Foxbase at work and owns dBASE, while Mike fools with dBASE and is a registered user of PC-FILE:dB. But as the definition of TechnoWare in the Introduction suggests, we realize that not everyone can afford the most suitable option. - 19 - Doorbase Version 1.0a February 11, 1989 APPENDIX I (Support Files Structure) -------- - DoorBase Definition (xxxxBASE.DEF) Line Brief Explanation 1 SysOp's First Name 2 SysOp's Last Name 3 Path\filename of BBS's User Information file 4 COM port 5 Name of BBS 6 Path\filename of Data Definition file 7 Path\filename of Title Display Screen file 8 Path\filename of Search Key Prompt Screen file 9 Path\filename of Data Display Screen file 10 Number of minutes without user input before log off 11 Maximum number of minutes allowed in DoorBase Database Definition (xxxxDATA.DEF) Line Brief Explanation 1 Path\filename of database 2 Path\filename of database index 3 - 27 Field definitions Field definition: a, b, c a - Field type 1 - Character 2 - Numeric 3 - Date 4 - Logical b - Field Length c - Decimal places Title Display Screen (xxxxDISP.DAT) Plain ASCII file (high-bit character ok, NO ANSI codes) - 20 - Doorbase Version 1.0a February 11, 1989 Search Key Prompt Screen (xxxxNDX>DAT) All lines: Row, Column, "Phrase" Data Display Screen (xxxxDISP.DAT) All lines: Field #, Row, Column, "Phrase" Substitute a "0" for Field # if "Phrase" is desired without a data field - 21 -