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-
- ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────┐
- │ Labtest 2.0 - The Definitive Upload Processor │█
- └───────────────────────────────────────────────┘█
- ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀
- Copyright (c) 1993
-
- Mark Williamson
- Software Solutions
- PO Box 1233
- Lemoore, CA 93245-1233
-
- Introduction
- ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
- ┌───────────────────────┐
- │ What does Labtest do? │█
- └───────────────────────┘█
- ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀
-
- ■ Scan the user's uploads (unarchiving as necessary)
- ■ Rearchive the file to the Sysop's preferred format
- ■ Add a .ZIP or .ARJ file comment
- ■ Detect FILE_ID.DIZ file (if one exists) and reserve it for
- use by the user-defined batch file. Inserts the contents
- of FILE_ID.DIZ into FILES.BBS
- ■ Update the FILES.BBS file to reflect the new file name
- ■ Provide the user with a graphical depiction of the progress
- ■ Optionally drop to dos after each file is successfully processed to run
- a custom batch file.
- ■ Create SCANFILE.BAD for Wildcat 3.x systems in the event of a bad
- archive.
- ■ Process entire directories, unpacking/scanning/repacking each file.
- ■ Ignore previously processed files, so you can run Labtest as a
- maintenance item. User the /O override command to process
- previously processed files.
- ■ Detect GIF resolution and insert into FILES.BBS comments
- ■ Auto-magically update Remote Access 2.00 file database entries
- with new filename (if converted), description from FILE_ID.DIZ
- (if one exists) and file size.
- ■ Multi node configurable, use the /N node switch.
-
-
- Shareware Notice
- ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
-
- Labtest 2.0 is a shareware product. We at Software Solutions believe every
- computer user should be able to try a program for a limited time before they
- make a decision to purchase it. Under this concept, you, the user, agrees to
- register or discontinue use of Labtest after the 30 day trial period. Labtest
- will not stop working and is not 'crippled' in any way. The unregistered,
- shareware version of Labtest is fully functional. Upon registering Labtest,
- the registration message will disappear and you will have your name and BBS
- name prominently displayed for all of your user's to read.
-
- How to Register Labtest
- ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
-
- You are encouraged to register Labtest 2.0 for the simple fact that it costs
- only $20 to do so and will keep the author happily pounding away at the
- keyboard improving and upgrading it's capabilities. With your registration
- you will receive a registration key which will turn off the bothersome Please
- Register Me message and enable the usage log feature of Labtest.
- Additionally, you will be entitled to free upgrades until the end of time. At
- the end of this document is the registration form. Fill it out and mail it
- with your $20 to the address listed on the form. You can get your
- registration key by return mail or a call to your BBS, whichever you specify.
-
-
- Installation
- ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
-
- System Requirements
-
- Labtest will run on any IBM compatible 286/386/486 computer with
- at least 640k ram.
-
- Additional support programs required to run Labtest are:
-
- A Virus Scan program (user definable)
- Upto six Archive utilities (user definable)
- EXITINFO.EXE (For Remote Access 2.00 only - included in this
- archive)
- BNU or X00 Fossil driver.
-
- Additionally, Labtest requires the use of Ansi graphics on both
- the host computer and the remote terminal.
-
- Note, when using McAfee's VirusScan, you will need 330k of memory
- (plus that used by Labtest) to scan the files.
-
- Labtest is designed primarily as a utility for System Operators (Sysops) to
- protect their BBS's from user's who, knowingly or unknowingly, upload an
- archived file that is either corrupted or one of the files contained in the
- archive is infected by a computer virus.
-
- When running Labtest on your BBS, you must ensure that a fossil driver is
- already loaded. Labtest uses the fossil driver to communicate with the modem.
-
- To install Labtest in your BBS, there are several steps to take to ensure a
- smooth installation. Some of these steps depend entirely on the BBS software
- you are using.
-
- Labtest recognizes door information files produced by almost all major BBS
- software.
-
- The door information files recognized are:
-
- DOOR.SYS
- DORINFO?.DEF
- CALLINFO.BBS
- EXITINFO.BBS (Remote Access version 1.11!)
- Use supplied EXITINFO conversion utility for RA 2.00
- CHAIN.TXT
- SFDOORS.DAT
-
- The first step to installing Labtest is to decide where to put the Labtest
- files. This is entirely up to you. You may place them into the BBS
- software's base directory, or into a directory of it's own. In order
- for Labtest to locate it's configuration files, it is suggested that
- Labtest be placed in the DOS path. This will allow you to run Labtest
- from any directory on your system.
-
- The next step is to run LABSETUP. Labsetup will write the configuration file
- which Labtest will read each time it is run (Local and BBS modes).
-
- [ Files and Paths ]
-
- Main BBS Dir: Enter the full path name to your BBS home Directory. Note
- that this is NOT necessarily the node directory. For
- Wildcat users, this is where Labtest writes SCANFILE.BAD
- for bad archives. For Remote Access users, this is where
- your CONFIG.RA and FILES.RA is located.
-
- Work dir: This is the directory where files will be unpacked to.
- This directory will be wiped clean after each use of
- Labtest so it is best not to use this directory for
- anything else other than Labtest.
-
- Badfiles Dir: This directory will be used to store archive files that
- failed the test. These files will not be converted.
- For Wildcat users, Labtest will not move bad files.
- Wildcat will detect the presence of SCANFILE.BAD in the
- home directory and will flag the file as bad in the
- database, preventing it from being listed or
- downloaded.
-
- Logfile name: Specify the complete path and filename (with extension)
- of the file that Labtest should write the activity to.
- Labtest supports a Front Door style logfile. You may
- specify the same log file that your BBS uses if you
- wish.
-
- Comment file: This is an ascii text file that Labtest will use as an
- ARJ or ZIP archive comment. This is useful especially
- for advertising your BBS.
-
- Batch File: This is the full path\file name of a batch file you want to
- run after each archive file is processed. Three parameters
- will be passed to this file: Old_File_Name, New_File_Name,
- and the path\filename to the FILE_ID.DIZ if one was found.
- This batch file can be used to run a file database update
- utility that will import the file description and name to
- your database (for Wildcat, Telegard, Remote Access, and
- others that don't use FILES.BBS).
-
- [ BBS Info ]
-
- System name: Enter the name of your favorite bbs - yours!
-
- Sysop name: Enter your name as it will appear on your registration.
- This information is used to calculate your personal
- registration number, so it is vital that you enter it
- precisely as you will on your registration form. This
- is case sensitive, so pay particular attention to
- upper/lower case.
-
- Labtest key #: This is your personal registration number. If you
- haven't registered Labtest, this should be a zero. No
- number will work except the one you get by registering
- Labtest.
-
- Node Setup: Entering this field will bring up a window where you
- must enter information concerning your BBS nodes. If
- you are running a single line system, don't worry about
- this. However, if you are running a single line system
- and your BBS stores the door information files
- somewhere other than the main bbs directory, enter a 1
- in the node # column and the path to the door
- information files in the next column. Use this same
- method for entering up to ten nodes for your multinode
- system.
-
- BBS Software: Entering this field will pop up a menu of supported BBS
- systems. Move the highlight bar with the arrow keys
- and hit enter on your BBS type. If your system is not
- on the menu, we suggest you select FILES.BBS so that
- Labtest will be sure to update the description file.
- If you would like to see Labtest directly support your
- type of BBS, send us as much information on your system
- and we will be glad to update Labtest.
-
- [ RA 2.00 Info ]
-
- If you selected RA 2.00 as your BBS software, Labsetup will ask you
- where your RA 2.00 file databases are stored. This is the path to
- your file database as you entered it into RACONFIG. Usually this is
- C:\RA\FDB. Note that RA 2.00 divides the file database into three
- files per area, the header file, the index file and the text file.
- Labtest will update each of these files to reflect the conversion (if
- the file was converted) and the FILE_ID.DIZ description. Labtest
- will use the directory where the archive being check resides to
- search for the file area number. From there, it will search the file
- database for the file name to be updated.
-
- [ Wildcat Info ]
-
- If you selected Wildcat 3.x as your BBS software, Labsetup will
- display a help screen detailing information you need to update your
- Wildcat ALLFILES.DAT file. You will need the program WCFILES to
- update your database with the FILE_ID.DIZ contents. This may be ran
- from the custom batch file which Labtest will execute after each file
- is processed. Consult your Wildcat documentation for details on how
- to run WCFILES from the command line. See the included batch file
- WCUPDATE.BAT to import the long file descriptions into Wildcat.
- Please note that you will have to manually rename the file in the
- file database since WCFiles does not do this from the command line.
-
- [ Archivers ]
-
- In this menu you will define up to 6 pack/unpack programs. Three
- things are required for each archive type:
-
- File Extension: Enter the three digit file extension of files that the
- archive utility creates, ie. ZIP for Pkzip, ARJ for
- Arj.
-
- Pack command: Enter the Dos command line to create an archive of
- this type. Use the @ symbol to indicate the
- filename. Labtest will replace the @ with the
- filename.
-
- Unpack command: Enter the Dos command line to unpack an archive of
- this type. Use the @ symbol to indicate the
- filename. Labtest will replace the @ with the
- filename.
-
- Scan utility: Enter the Dos command line to initiate the virus
- scanner. Place the @ symbol where Labtest should
- substitute the filename.
-
- Convert archives to: Enter the three letter file extension of your
- preferred archive type. Labtest will use the
- appropriate packing command to convert your
- uploads to this type.
-
- Note that Labtest comes preconfigured for 6 of the most popular
- archive utilities and for McAfee & Associate's VirusScan program.
-
-
- If you make a mistake entering any information, you may back up using the
- UpArrow key or ShiftTab. You can also use your mouse to move around the
- prompts. Press ESC if you wish to cancel the changes. Note: If you press
- ESC, your changes will be ignored and the program will exit. When you are all
- finished, press F10 or enter at the last prompt to save your setup.
-
- Running Labtest
- ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
-
- Command line options:
-
- /L Local mode. Labtest will not look for a door information
- file. This is useful for performing maintenance when the BBS is
- offline. If you were to run Labtest in an event, use this
- switch.
-
- /O Override. Labtest will ignore files that were previously
- processed unless you use this switch. It is recommended that
- this switch be used on your command line when Labtest is
- running under the BBS. Some industrious user may try to use
- this feature to bypass Labtest's functions.
-
- /NOSCAN Causes Labtest to disable virus scanning. Useful only in
- Local mode when you only want to convert archives
-
- /N<#> Node ID. Tells Labtest which node it is being run on. Labtest
- will look for the /N<#> in the LABTEST.NOD file and attempt to
- locate the door information files in the corresponding
- directory. Note: Even though the /N seems to only deal with
- multi node systems, it is very important that you set up at
- least 1 node for your single line system. Just specify the
- path to the door information files in Labtest Node Manager.
-
- To run Labtest, you must have a fossil driver installed. If you want to run
- Labtest in local mode, you will still need a fossil driver, but you should use
- the /L switch to override the reading of the door information file.
-
- Labtest will read the commandline to fetch the file names to be processed.
- Valid filenames include:
-
- Wildcards (*.*, *.ZIP, etc..)
- One or more filenames (ie C:\BBS\UPLOADS\NEWFILE.ZIP)
-
- You can mix and match any of the above. You can even have multiple wildcards,
- like C:\BBS\*.* C:\BBS\UPLOADS\*.* C:\MODEM\DOWNLOAD\*.ARJ, etc..
-
- Note: When using wildcards Labtest will only process those files that were
- not previously processed by Labtest. Labtest keeps track of which files have
- been already processed. You may force Labtest to process all files by using
- the /O (Override) command line switch. Using the /O switch is not
- recommended in conjunction with a wildcard. When Labtest detects a
- wildcard, like *.*, it tells Labtest to process ALL files in the
- specified directory. When Labtest processes a file and rearchiving is
- enabled, the newly created file will appear at the end of the DOS
- directory. So, when Labtest reaches this new file (which had just been
- processed), it will process it again because of the Override command.
- Override is useful when rearchiving is not enabled or on single files.
-
- To run Labtest as a nightly event in your BBS, install Labtest in your
- system's event handler:
-
- \/==Local Mode!
- C:\LABTEST\LABTEST.EXE C:\BBS\UPLOADS\*.* /L
-
- The above line would cause Labtest to process any 'new' files in the
- upload directory.
-
- Many BBS software packages have the option for an external upload scanner.
- For example, in Remote Access v. 2.00, use the option External Scan Program,
- and use the following command line:
-
- *C /C C:\LABTEST\LABTEST.BAT @ /O *M
-
- (When using with Remote Access 2.00, you must run Labtest from a batch
- file in order to convert the new Exitinfo.bbs format to the RA 1.11
- format. Use the included EXITINFO.BBS conversion utilty.)
-
- For Wildcat systems, see the enclosed SCANFILE.BAT to run Labtest from
- Wildcat. The correct command line for a Wildcat system is:
-
- C:\WC30\LABTEST.EXE /N%WCNODEID% /O %1
-
- For most other BBS programs, simply substitute the @ with the full path and
- file name of the user's upload. The *M is a Remote Access specific command
- that forces Remote Access to swap out of memory.
-
- The important thing to remember is to ensure that your BBS software will swap
- itself out of memory to give room for the unarchiving utilities.
-
- Or, if you need to use a batch file, (for Remote Access version 2.00 users,
- you must use an EXITINFO.BBS conversion utility. One such program is included
- with Labtest. You would run the EXITINFO.BBS conversion program in the batch
- file just before running Labtest.) You may substitute the appropriate command
- to run a batch file. Then, in your batch file, you would run Labtest as
- follows:
-
- C:\LABTEST\LABTEST.EXE %1
-
- Wildcat automatically detects the file called SCANFILE.BAT and will run
- this batch file after each upload. An example SCANFILE.BAT is included
- in this archive. Note: The Wildcat user's manual warns against moving
- an uploaded file or changing the name of the file during the scan
- process. It has not been determined exactly what happens when the file
- Wildcat expects to see is not there anymore because it was converted or
- moved to the badfiles directory. The options to convert and/or move
- files out of the Wildcat upload directory are completely up to you.
-
- Each time Labtest processes a file, it will attempt to detect the archive
- type. Once the archive type has been determined, the file will then be
- unpacked completely. Then, McAfee's VirusScan will be scan each of the
- executable files. If the scan was successful and no problems were reported,
- the archive will (optionally) be converted to the type specified in Labsetup.
- Last but not least, if the new archive is a ZIP or ARJ format file, a file
- comment will be added to the archive, provided one is specified in Labsetup.
-
- If a problem is detected by Labtest, the user will be notified that the file
- did not pass and Labtest will then move the file to the directory specified
- for Bad Files in Labsetup. No other action will be taken on bad archives.
-
- A note on file descriptions
- ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
-
- Labtest was designed to be flexible but not 'all things to all people.'
- Labtest will attempt to locate a FILE_ID.DIZ file in the user's upload. If
- one exists, it will be copied out of the temporary directory. Then, when
- Labtest is finished with the file, it will exit to dos and run the batch file
- named in Labsetup. Here, you may run a utility which will update your file
- database or do whatever. Labtest will pass the old archive name, the new
- archive name, and the full path and file name of the FILE_ID.DIZ file if one
- was found. This way, you can run a utility which will add the file to your
- file database using the description in FILE_ID.DIZ. For systems that
- use FILES.BBS, Labtest will always replace the user's comments with the
- contents of a FILE_ID.DIZ file if one was found. Also, Labtest will
- insert the picture resolution of a GIF file. The resolution is made up
- of the screen size in pixels and the number of colors. Otherwise, you
- will have to go into your file system and change the name to the new
- archive name. Labtest is intended to be more of a generic upload
- processor, giving it appeal to a variety of BBS software. Therefore,
- routines were left out that would automate the process of updating
- various system files. This chore is left up to the Sysop. If you don't
- like that idea, the I suggest you leave the Preferred Archive field
- blank in Labsetup, thus turning off archive conversion.
-
- Suggestions and Comments
- ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
-
- Software Solutions would like very much to here from you! Please send your
- suggestions and comments to:
-
- Software Solutions
- PO Box 1233
- Lemoore, CA 93245-1233
- Fido Address: 1:214/54
-
- We a particularly interested in knowing what type of BBS software you are
- using and how you think we could improve on Labtest. Additionally, if you
- have thorough descriptions of you BBS's data file formats, we would like very
- much to include them into Labtest so the program would update your file
- database to indicate the new file name.
-
- Why so cheap?
- ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
-
- Software Solutions is a private enterprise owned solely by one person with a
- goal: To write quality software that anyone can afford. Too many times has
- there been a need for a utility and the one program that seemed to be 'the
- one' cost way too much money. The price of software these days seems to have
- gone crazy. While keeping the price at $20, we hope to get a good response
- from Sysops everywhere. And at the same time, we are contributing to the
- proliferation of quality shareware for a very reasonable price.
-
- Technical notes
- ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
-
- Labtest 2.0 was written entirely in Turbo C++ version 3.0. Door
- interface routines provided by OpenDoors 4.1 by Brian Pirie (all rights
- reserved).
-
- Labtest operates by shelling to the user defined archive and scanning
- programs. If the archive programs return an errorlevel of 0, Labtest
- assumes the operation was successful. If any other errorlevel is
- returned by the software, then the archive is tagged as 'bad'. Note
- however that utilities like PKZIP will return an errorlevel of non-zero
- if you did not have enough memory or disk space to unpack the archive.
- Labtest will always log the errorlevel reported by an archive utility
- and the scan utility. Consult the documentation on the utilities you
- decide to use with Labtest for specifics on errorlevels. Labtest will
- run the virus scanning utility once for each executable file extracted
- from the archive. This method was chosen over the shelling once and
- scanning a whole directory method so we could inform the user of which
- file failed the scan. Also, Labtest will log the specific filename of
- the file which failed the scan.
-
- After a file is successfully unpacked, scanned and repacked, Labtest
- will throw in your ZIP/ARJ comment (if defined in Labsetup). Last but
- not at all least, Labtest will shell to the batch file defined in
- Labsetup. Labtest will pass this batch file three file names. First is
- the OLD_FILE_NAME. This is the name of the original file uploaded by
- the user (or in local mode, found in the directory). The second file
- name is the NEW_FILE_NAME after the conversion process. And lastly, the
- full path and filename of the FILE_ID.DIZ file if one existed in the
- archive. These things given, one could possibly update their file
- database:
-
- Consult the documentation on your BBS software to see how you can use
- these three filenames to update your file database.
-
-
-