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██████████████████████████████████████████ ██ █░░░░░░░██ ██ MaxTools █░░░░░░░██ ██ █░░░░░░░██ ██ 16 Separate Utilities █░░░░░░░██ ██ For █░░░░░░░██ ██ Maximus System Operators █░░░░░░░██ ██ █░░░░░░░██ ██ Version 1.03 █░░░Θ░░░██ ██ █░░░Θ░░░██ ██ (Copyright 1992-93) █░░░░░░░██ ██████████████████████████████████████████ < ALL RIGHTS RESERVED > MaxTools is a Copyright of Michael Jones Maximus is a Copyright of Scott Dudley 4DOS is a Copyright of Rex Conn & JP Software Inc. MaxIPC is a Copyright of Peter G. Zion Catdisk is a Copyright of Rick Hillier Netware Lite is a Trademark of Novell, Inc. Lantastic is a Trademark of Artisoft, Inc. Desqview is a Trademark of Quarterdeck Office Systems OS/2 is a Trademark of IBM Corporation Special thanks to: Thomas Stubbs FidoNet: 1:133/125 Tom Lane FidoNet: 1:382/91 Graham Tippett FidoNet: 1:351/1116 John Howard FidoNet: 1:244/112 David Cole FidoNet: 1:129/179 Leon Lynch FidoNet: 1:262/3 Stephane Seguin FidoNet: 1:163/16 Evin Mulron FidoNet: 1:350/501 Table of contents 1 LEGAL NOTICE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 Preface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 2.1 System requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 2.2 Message area requirements . . . . . . . . . . . 2 3 Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 3.1 Creating the MaxTools subdirectory . . . . . . . . 2 3.2 Setting the maximus environment variable . . . . . . 3 4 MaxTools Log File . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 4.1 Creating the log file . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 4.2 Log file usage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 4.3 Log file format . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 5 Error Levels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 5.1 Error levels which MaxTools uses . . . . . . . . 4 6 MA & FA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 6.1 Displaying message areas . . . . . . . . . . . 4 6.2 Displaying file areas . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 7 MakFM For CD ROM SysOps . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 7.1 Rotating out CD's. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 7.2 Displaying offline status . . . . . . . . . . . 5 7.3 Editing Max.Ctl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 7.4 Running MakFM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 7.5 File menu output formats . . . . . . . . . . . 6 8 MakMM For Scanning Private Mail Only . . . . . . . . . 6 8.1 Editing Max.Ctl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 8.2 Running MakMM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 8.3 Message menu output formats . . . . . . . . . . 7 9 FBSD For adding/deleting file sizes & dates . . . . . . . 7 9.1 CD-ROM support. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 9.2 Formatting an all files list . . . . . . . . . . 7 9.3 Running FBSD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 9.4 Other considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 10 MAXMENU For displaying complex ANSI screens . . . . . . . 8 10.1 ANSI Welcome screens . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 10.2 The optional more?[yn=] prompt . . . . . . . . . 8 10.3 Call back when you are there!. . . . . . . . . . 8 10.4 When a user hangs up on MaxMenu . . . . . . . . . 9 10.5 Local mode and baud rate simulation. . . . . . . . 9 10.6 Running MaxMenu Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Handshaking. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Parity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Word length. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 IRQ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 10.7 Running MaxMenu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Port . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Baud . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Lines per page. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Abortable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 11 MAXBUL For displaying bulletins the old fashioned way. . . . 10 11.1 General bulletins, their location, and their file names . 11 11.2 Using submenus. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 11.3 Adding Quit and Exit to your menus . . . . . . . . 11 11.4 Adding security levels to bulletins and submenus . . . 12 11.5 Running doors with MaxBul . . . . . . . . . . . 12 11.6 Shelling to a door . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 11.7 Exiting to a door . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 11.8 Running MaxBul Setup. . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 11.9 Running MaxBul. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 12 MAXLOG For trimming your Max.Log file by # of days. . . . . 14 12.1 MaxLog days defined . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 12.2 Running MaxLog. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 12.3 Max.Log and the MaxTools.Log file . . . . . . . . 14 13 MAXCAT For creating a FILES.BBS from CATDISK v4.40. . . . . 14 13.1 Running MaxCat. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 13.2 CATDISK v4.40 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 14 MAXCD For creating an ALLFILES.LST . . . . . . . . . . 15 14.1 MaxCD's built in /t /b filter. . . . . . . . . . 15 14.2 Configurable word wrap and unlimited line length. . . . 15 14.3 MaxCD's custom templates . . . . . . . . . . . 15 14.4 Running MaxCD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Sw1 - The exist switch . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Sw2 - The format switch. . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Security levels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Locks and keys. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 15 MAXMUV For moving files along with their descriptions. . . . 16 15.1 Running Maxmuv. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 15.2 Additional considerations . . . . . . . . . . . 16 16 MTDOOR For updating a users profile from a door file . . . . 17 16.1 Doors not written for Maximus. . . . . . . . . . 17 16.2 Lotto doors and call back verifiers. . . . . . . . 17 16.3 Running MTDoor setup. . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 16.4 Running MTDoor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 17 MTEXIST For re-writing FILES.BBS with only files that exist. . 18 17.1 Running MTExist 18 MYMAIL For scanning & retrieving echomail addressed to you . . 19 18.1 Message formats: *.MSG and Squish . . . . . . . . 19 18.2 Setting up MyMail. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 18.3 Running MyMail. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 19 MBBS For creating pseudo AREAS.BBS files . . . . . . . . 19 19.1 Running MBBS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 20 MAXLEV For sending canned mail messages to users . . . . . 20 20.1 MaxLev's On-Line Help system . . . . . . . . . . 20 20.2 MaxLev's 20 second setup . . . . . . . . . . . 20 20.3 Sending mail to new users . . . . . . . . . . . 20 20.4 New users and call back verifier support . . . . . . 21 An Explanation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 20.5 Sending mail to users whose access has been lowered . . 21 20.6 Sending mail to users whose access has been raised. . . 21 20.7 Message formats: *.MSG and Squish . . . . . . . . 21 20.8 MaxLev's Message template format. . . . . . . . . 22 20.9 Running MaxLev. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 21 MAXRE For exiting with random error levels . . . . . . . 22 21.1 Running MaxRe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 21.2 Using MaxRe to create a fake node with MaxIPC . . . . 22 22 MaxTools Official MaxTools Distributors and availability. . . 23 Magic File Names . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Official MaxTools Distributors . . . . . . . . . . . 23 23 The end of another chapter . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Page 1 LEGAL DOCUMENTATION FOR MAXTOOLS LICENSE AGREEMENT You may distribute the non registered version of MaxTools freely as long as everything within the original archive is included. You may change the archiving method as long as everything that was in the original archive is included in the target archive unaltered. You may charge a minimal distribution fee of no more then $10.00 provided that the purchaser knows that this does not cover registration. By using any of the MaxTools, even on a trial basis which includes curiosity, bonds our agreement that you agree to all terms of this document. You agree that the sole owner of all MaxTools utilities and documentation is the property of Michael Jones. You are granted a limited license to use MaxTools. You understand that you may not alter any of the programs documentation or executables. This includes reverse engineering of any kind. Your limited license extends only for a period of 1 calendar month. After that you must register and pay a $20.00 registration fee. The $20.00 registration fee extends your license for using MaxTools and grants you permission to download updates via my BBS only for as long as I provide them. I reserve the right to revoke anyone's registration at any time without cause or reason without any further obligation. Although I strongly encourage registered users to supply me with their ideas, I am no way obligated to fulfill any request. All decisions are up to Michael Jones, the author of MaxTools. As a registered user you agree not to circulate any of the registered utilities downloaded from Michael Jones or obtained from any other source. You also understand that although I provide updates , I am under no obligation to do so. MaxTools & updates come with no warrantee expressed or implied. The only thing that I can promise is that the utilities worked fine on my machine. I will not be held liable for any damages, loss of wages, mental anguish or any other loss caused directly or indirectly by MaxTools utilities, documentation or anything else thereof. You agree to pay any and all legal costs for Michael Jones if you decide to take any legal action against the author for any reason. END OF LICENSE AGREEMENT Page 2 2 Preface Welcome to MaxTools, A literal toolbox for Maximus SysOps. MaxTools is probably unlike any other software package that you have ever seen. Rather then provide you with a gizmo that slices and dices, I have created a cluster of small, but powerful command line driven utilities that can work independently or together to help you peak out your BBS's performance. 2.1 System requirements o 8086/88 processor or above o Monochrome or Color Monitor o DOS Version 3.3 or above o Maximus BBS software 2.2 Message area requirements o MaxLev requires only your private mail area be *.MSG format. o MyMail requires all of your message areas be *.MSG format o All other utilities do not require any special message format for your message areas. 3 Installation Installation of MaxTools is quite simple. I have taken an approach that will keep your maximus subdirectory from getting cluttered. All of the executables may be placed in any location on your hard drive provided they are in your path. 3.1 Creating the MaxTools Subdirectory MaxTools keeps all of its data files within its' own directory structure. You need to first create a subdirectory off of your Maximus directory called "MAXTOOLS". Example: C:\MAX> MD MAXTOOLS Page 3 3.2 Setting the Maximus environment variable In order for MaxTools to find your Maximus data files as well as its own data files, Maxtools needs for you to create a DOS environment variable called "MAXIMUS" and have it pointing towards your Maximus subdirectory. Example: C:\MAX> SET MAXIMUS=C:\MAX\ It is highly recommended that you insert this command in your autoexec.bat file and reboot your computer. None of the MaxTools utilities will run without it. 4 MaxTools Log File Most of the MaxTools utilities will append to a file called "MaxTools.Log" within your MaxTools subdirectory only if it exists. 4.1 Creating the log file A quick and simple way of creating the log file would be using DOS's copy con. EXAMPLE: C:\MAX> COPY CON C:\MAX\MAXTOOLS\MAXTOOLS.LOG You will then get a blank line as if your PC was hung. Type : "START" [ENTER] Then press : CTRL Z [ENTER] 4.2 Log file usage MaxTools.Log will keep reports just like Maximus does in its own log file. Whether it is a progress report or a file create error, you can generally find it here if the file is activated. Page 4 4.3 Log file Format MaxTools utilities maintain MaxTools.Log in the same format that Maximus does with a minor exception. MaxTools uses its own "tokens" for messages found there. + = Start of a program token : = Usually a message token # = Usually an action token such as a file read or write ! = Error token with error message on the same line. 5 Error Levels In many of the more intense utilities, I exit with an error level depending on the success of the utilities session. 5.1 Error levels which MaxTools uses The following is a basic guideline that I follow: 0 = Normal run. No action taken 7 = Normal run. Action taken. Event was successful. 13 = Normal run. Action was needed but an error happened causing abnormal termination. 6 MA.EXE & FA.EXE MA & FA display your message and file areas as if you were logged on to your BBS and chose the [A]rea change command. The main purpose of MA and FA is to view what your areas will look like prior to running silt. 6.1 Displaying message areas Typing MA by itself will display the available message areas. If you are using a different file name other then MsgArea.CTL then, you need to specify the file name on the command line. Example: MA Areas.Ctl MA will work with a control file that contains both file and message areas but will only display the message areas. Page 5 6.1 Displaying file areas Typing FA by itself will display the available file areas. If you are using a different file name other then FileArea.CTL then, you need to specify the file name on the command line. Example: FA Areas.Ctl FA will work with a control file that contains both file and message areas but will only display the file areas. 7 MAKFM.EXE For CD ROM MakFM was designed to create an external file area menu. The output looks just like what you would see on line except for if an area does not exist, offline is put where the area number choice would be. 7.1 Rotating out CD's How many of you juggle many CD's through 1 CD player and had to rig something up so that users would know which file areas were on line and which ones were off? 7.2 Displaying offline status MAKFM was designed to put that nightmare to rest. MakFM creates an external file area menu that you can add to Maximus in a flash. And MakFM uses the same color scheme that Maximus uses! Example: 1 ... General Downloads 2 ... FidoNet Related Files 3 ... G Rated GIF's offline ... Graphics Misc offline ... Shelter Shareware 6 ... Unchecked Uploads 7.3 Editing Max.Ctl In order to have an external file area menu, you need to first edit your Max.Ctl file. Pull up Max.Ctl in your favorite editor and uncomment the following line: % Uses FileAreas Misc\FileArea This is the mecca file that you will need to write with MakFM. Page 6 7.4 Running MAKFM The command line syntax for MAKFM is: MAKFM <switch> <file name> Switches are: t = target file will be text format a = target file will be ansi format m = target file will be mecca format Please note that any existing file will be over written. 7.5 File menu output formats MAKFM will create file menus in either ANSI, MECCA, or plain text. Note that plain text contains no color. 8 MAKMM.EXE For scanning private mail only One of the most common requests that I have had was to figure out a way to have my BBS scan for private mail only. I had users sit there while Maximus scanned through the National FOR SALE echo and many other large echos. There is a way out but you need MakMM to do it. 8.1 Editing Max.CTL There are 2 entries in the Max.Ctl file that need to be edited. The first one is "Highest MsgArea". % Highest MsgArea 1 Make sure that your private mail area is the first one in MsgArea.Ctl and is called Area 1. Normally this would be all that you need. When anyone scans for new mail Maximus will only scan up to Area 1 and stop. There is only one problem. If a user is on the BBS and decides to change areas with the [A]rea command, Maximus will only display up to area 1. He/she will be able to change areas, but just no see them. Unless you have an external Msg Area menu created by MakMM. The second entry that you need to edit is: % Uses MsgAreas Misc\MsgArea This is the mecca file that you need to create with MakMM. Page 7 8.2 Running MAKMM The command line syntax for MAKMM is: MAKMM <switch> <file name> Switches are: t = target file will be text format a = target file will be ansi format m = target file will be mecca format Please note that any existing file will be over written. 8.3 Message menu output formats MAKMM will create file menus in either ANSI, MECCA, or plain text. Note that plain text contains no color. 9 FBSD For adding/deleting file dates & sizes FBSD does exactly what it says and stands for Files BBS Size and Date manipulator. 9.1 CD-ROM Support FBSD was first created for those of you who purchase CD-ROMS and need a quick way to remove all of the information that Maximus supplies so that it does not show up twice while somebody is listing files. Deleting file dates and sizes can be done with wild cards. 9.2 Formatting an all files list Although MaxTools comes with it's own all files list generator FBSD may be used to add dates and file sizes for other all files list generators. FBSD download counter aware and formats your files.bbs to a human readable format. Page 8 9.3 Running FBSD The syntax for adding file sizes and dates is: FBSD a <files.bbs> <Path to files> The syntax for deleting file sizes and dates is: FBSD d <files.bbs> Wildcards are acceptable for delete only. 9.4 Other considerations FBSD has no way of telling what is after a file name. FBSD removes the first 2 entries that follow the file name separated by spaces. It is suggested that you check your FILES.BBS before using this option. FBSD will not filter out /t /b switches. 10 MAXMENU.EXE For displaying complex ANSI screens MaxMenu is provided so that you can easily shove any file to the com port that you choose, whether it is ANSI or TEXT MaxMenu will take you where you want to go. 10.1 ANSI Welcome screens Maximus alone cannot give you a ANSI welcome screen prior to the login prompt. LOGO.MEC does not permit color. But using MaxMenu you not only can have that menu but users will not be able to tell that you are using an external program to display that menu. MaxMenu is fast! (For faster execution it is suggested that you execute MaxMenu in your batch file prior to running Maximus) 10.2 The more?[yn=] prompt The optional more prompt is displayed if a certain number of lines per page are specified on the command line. 10.3 Call back when you are there! If a user sits at a more prompt more then 3 minutes, Maxbul will send them the message "Call back when you are there!" and hang up on the user. Once this happens, Maxbul will immediately terminate and give control back to your software. The message and the 3 minute limit are hardcoded and cannot be changed. Page 9 10.4 When a user hangs up on MaxMenu MaxMenu continually monitors the carrier so that if a user does hang up on MaxMenu, MaxMenu will properly terminate and give control back to your system. 10.5 Local mode and baud rate simulation When running MaxMenu locally you need to specify the port as 0. When ran locally with a certain baud rate specified on the command line, MaxMenu will attempt to simulate what that menu might look like at that speed. Please keep in mind that I did not use any scientific calculations for this, and the rate is a rough estimate. 10.6 Running MaxMenu Setup Before you can even use MaxMenu, you need to run the setup program that is built into MaxMenu. The syntax for running setup is: MaxMenu setup Be prepared to answer the questions that setup asks you. 1. Handshaking (None,CTS,XON-XOFF,XON-XOFF CTS) Usually 3 for highspeeds, 0 for 2400 2. Word length (7, 8) Usually 8 3. Parity Usually 0 4. IRQ for your com-port. (0 for normal IRQ) 0 uses the common default IRQ's for com ports 1-4. I would use 0 unless you really know what you are doing. Page 10 10.7 Running MaxMenu MaxMenu is always in what I call simultaneous snoop mode. This means that whatever the users sees, the SysOp will see. If a user is at a prompt, the SysOp may hit a key to continue from his/her end. Syntax The syntax for running MaxMenu is as follows: Syntax: MaxMenu <port> <Baud> <Lines> <Abortable> Port If port is 0 (local) MaxMenu will try to emulate whatever baud rate is specified. I don't claim accuracy in the speed but it is semi close. Baud The only exception here is if you are locking your port to 38400 then this should always be 38400. Lines Lines per page give the user More [y,n,=] at that length. 0 = none Abortable Abortable is whether or not you wish to enable the user to abort menus with either CTRL-C, CTRL-K, or space bar. CTRL-C does not work locally. Lines per page must be specified if this option is to be enabled. 11 MAXBUL For displaying bulletins the old fashioned way MaxBul was designed to give Maximus SysOps that old fashioned bulletin capability. Once Maxbul is set up, all that you have to do to add a bulletin is create the bulletin, and edit the menu screen. Page 11 11.1 General bulletins, their location, and their file names All of the bulletins must reside in your MaxTools\Maxbul directory. To create general bulletins, a special file naming convention is used. BULLET1.MNU - This is your main menu BULLET1.001 - This is bulletin 1 off of the main menu BULLET1.002 - This is bulletin 2 off of the main menu BULLET1.003 - This is bulletin 3 off of the main menu Please note that all bulletins are single digit numeric entries. 11.2 Using submenus There are many cases where a SysOp may want to have a special categories for bulletins. In this case MaxBul will allow you to have submenus. Let us say in the above example that you wanted option #2 off of the main menu to take the person to a submenu that had more choices. Instead of creating BULLET1.002 you would create: BULLET2.MNU - Choice #2 off of the main menu is a submenu BULLET2.001 - This is bulletin 1 off of your submenu BULLET2.002 - This is bulletin 2 off of your submenu BULLET2.003 - This is bulletin 3 off of your submenu 11.3 Adding Quit and Exit to your menus You are going to want to add Quit and Exit as options to your menus. [Q] Quit - Always exits submenus. At the main menu it does nothing. [X] Exit - Always exits MaxBul and returns control to the BBS. This must be at the main menu so that callers know how to leave. It is optional for submenus however. Page 12 11.4 Adding security levels to your bulletins and submenus You may decide that some of your bulletins need to be restricted from other users. MaxBul gives you the option of restricting singular bulletins off of the main menu or restricting submenus off of the main menu. To enforce security all you have to do is create a 1 line text file with the corresponding file name and add the lowest security level that may access it. The security levels used are numeric not Disgrace or Worthy. The level that MaxBul references is that which is read from DOOR.SYS or DORINFO1.DEF. Examples security files: BULLET2.LEV - Security file for choice 2 off of the main menu BULLET3.LEV - Security file for choice 3 off of the main menu BULLET4.LEV - Security file for choice 4 off of the main menu 11.5 Running doors with MaxBul Although MaxBul was not originally designed to be a full fledged door manager, it does have limited support to do so. The only draw back is that MaxBul does not keep track of the users time on-line. MaxBul will however hang up on a user if they sit at a prompt for more then 3 minutes or detect loss of carrier and exit. There are 2 ways to run a door from MaxBul. Keep in mind that the bulletin MUST exist and wherever there is a bulletin you may attach a door to it. After the bulletin is read, the door is executed. 11.6 Shelling to a door Shelling to a door is probably the safest way, but it will take more memory to do so. To shell to a door you must create a batch file that MaxBul recognizes. The following is the formula: BULLETx.00y - MaxBul would look for BULLETxy.BAT MaxBul executes the batch files passing the port as parameter #1 and the baud rate as parameter #2. Page 13 11.7 Exiting to a door Exiting to a door may be more preferable to some. The same formula that applies to shelling applies to the error level which MaxBul exits with. Keep in mind that when MaxBul exits, it is completely gone from memory and you are responsible for executing MaxBul again after the door ends. Using the formula above BULLETx.00y, upon exiting, MaxBul would exit with an error level of xy. A few examples: BULLET1.002 - Exits with an error level of 12 BULLET2.003 - Exits with an error level of 23 An additional note is that if you using the exit method, is that you cannot run MaxBul from a Mecca file directly. You need to create a batch file that runs MaxBul. Also Maxbul does use the common error levels that most MaxTools use when exiting. 13=error 7=success 11.8 Running MaxBul Setup Running MaxBul setup is identical to running setup for MaxMenu. Please review MaxMenu setup for setup instructions. 11.9 Running MaxBul Running MaxBul identical to running MaxMenu except that you need to specify a door file. Below is the syntax: Syntax : MaxBul <Port> <Baud> <Door file> <Lines> <Abort> Explanations for all of the options excluding "door file" may be found under MaxMenu. The door file is the full path and file name of a valid DORINFO1.DEF or DOOR.SYS file that Maximus creates. Please see your Maximus documentation on how to create one of these files. All of the options that are in MaxMenu are contained in MaxBul including baud rate emulation. 12 MAXLOG For trimming your Max.Log file by # of days MaxLog is a very simple program that trims down your Max.Log file by the last number of days of activity that you specify on the command line. Page 14 12.1 MaxLog Days Defined MaxLog counts days by "days of activity" rather then actual days. MaxLog does this so that SysOps who do not get callers every day will still be able to look back on the BBS's activity without having an empty log file. Let us suppose that you have 1 caller each month, for a period of one year. That is 12 days of calls. If you were to shorten your log file with MaxLog down to the last 3 days, you would have the last 3 months of calls. 12.2 Running Max.Log MaxLog syntax is fairly straight forward: MaxLog <# of days> < Max.Log file > Note that if you do not specify the log file, "Max.Log" is assumed and is looked for where your MAXIMUS environment variable is pointed. 12.3 MaxLog and the MaxTools.Log file MaxLog may be ran on the MaxTools.Log file with no special precautions needed. In fact, MaxLog is designed to append it's progress to MaxTools.Log while the file is being shortened. 13 MAXCAT for creating a FILES.BBS from CATDISK v4.40 Using MaxCat with Maximus and CATDISK 4.40 all you have to do is dump your files in a file area and run MaxCat. MaxCat will instantly create your files.bbs based on files that exist with descriptions! 13.1 Running MaxCat When running MaxCat you must be in the directory which contains the files that MaxCat is creating the files.bbs file for. MaxCat will append to a files.BBS if it already exists. Syntax: MaxCat < Catdisk.Dta > < files.bbs > Page 15 13.2 CATDISK v4.40 I have looked at many versions of CATDISK which were older and newer then 4.40. My decision to support v4.40 was based on stability, features, and the number of menus one had to go through to catalog or view files that were catalogued. A choice had to be made because it looked as though the file formats had changed through out the different versions. I will consider supporting other versions if their is an expressed desire for it. 14 MAXCD For creating an ALLFILES.LST MaxCD is not just another ALLFILES.LST generator. MaxCD includes features that the other ones left behind. 14.1 MaxCd's /t /b filter (Registered version only) MaxCD has a /t /b filter hardcoded in. You will never see a /t, /b, /tb, /bt switch in your all files list. 14.2 Configurable Word Wrap and Unlimited line length Whether your file descriptions are already formatted or all on one line, MaxCD will word wrap lines of any length over 80. MaxCD word wraps at column 21 as a default. To change this value you need to create a text file in your 'MaxTools\MaxCD' subdirectory called "WORDWRAP". On the first line enter a number between 5-60 or 0 for turning word wrap off. 14.3 MAXCD's Custom Templates Currently MaxCD supports 2 types of custom templates that appear at the top of your ALLFILES.LST MASTER.TPL - Appears at the top of your ALLFILES.LST <level>.TPL - Appears 2nd if MASTER.TPL exists. These templates must reside in your MaxTools\MaxCD subdirectory. To enable them, all you have to do is create them. 14.4 Running MaxCD Running MAXCD is pretty straight forward. The syntax is as follows: Syntax : MaxCD <Sw1> <Sw2> <Level> <OutFile Name> Example: MaxCD 1 0 Disgrace J:\AllFiles.Lst Page 16 Sw1 - The exist switch 1 = See if each file exists while processing the list. If the file does exist place a '*' in front of the file name and a space in front if it does not. 0 = Disable file exist Sw2 - The format switch 1 = Format the files and their descriptions into even columns 0 = Do a straight file copy of files.bbs Security Levels Any security level that you specify, MaxCD will create an ALLFILES.LST for files accessible for that level and under. Also MaxCD will use that level for its' template selection. Locks and keys (Registered version only) You may specify a security level with a forward slash followed by which ever keys that you want your file list to be generated on. EXAMPLE: Disgrace/ABC 15 MAXMUV For moving files along with their descriptions You have all used Hurl. This is a command line version of Hurl that supports wild cards. You can now move *.GIF from your uploads area to your GIF area without a second thought. 15.1 Running MaxMuv MaxMuv does require that you use full path names specified on the command line. MaxMuv also requires that the same paths be specified in your filearea.Ctl file. This is fool proof protection for both of us that your correct files.bbs file gets updated. The syntax for MaxMuv is as follows: MaxMuv <Source> <Destination> 15.2 Additional considerations Because MaxMuv calculates your files.bbs by what you specify, two file areas sharing the same path will be detected and rejected for your protection. See MT-NEWS.LZH for information on using 4DOS to tag files for move. Page 17 16 MTDOOR For updating a users profile from a door file MTDoor is a simple utility which will take SysOp defined information from a DORINFO1.DEF or DOOR.SYS file and update the callers profile with it. 16.1 Doors not written for Maximus MTDoor was written for SysOps that wish to use doors that were not written specifically for Maximus but do update a door file. 16.2 Lotto doors and call back verifiers Most of the programs that will require MTDOOR will be doors such as Lotto Doors or Call back verifiers which write the updated information to the door file. 16.3 Running MTDoor Setup To run MTDoor setup the syntax is: MTDoor Setup You will be brought to a screen that has security levels and toggle options. MTDoor setup allows you to toggle which items in your callers profile that you want to be updated from the door file. All 4 items may be enabled or disabled. Those 4 items are: o Users Name o Users City o Users time left on line o Users security level Users name toggle The users name should NEVER be toggled to on unless you really are sure of what you are doing. Users City This option may be needed if for some reason the door would update the users city. This can usually be left off. Page 18 Users Time left on-line Users time may be enabled if you are using a type of time bank or lotto door not specifically written for Maximus. Security Level This option is good when using a callback verifiers. Unlike the other options this one needs a little thinking through. Doors that do not support Maximus will not recognize levels such as WORTHY or DISGRACE. The setup program will allow you to key in what your numeric equivalents are for your door files. These may be found in your DORINFO1.MEC or your DOORSYS.MEC. 16.4 Running MTDoor MTDoor must be ran from a mecca file with the following syntax: [xtern_run]@MTDoor.exe <switch> <Door file> This syntax will force maximus to re-read in the new data that MTDoor updated into the users profile. Please refer to the Maximus documentation for further information. 17 MTEXIST.EXE For re-writing FILES.BBS with only files that exist MTExist does exactly what it says. It reads in your FILES.BBS, filters out files which no longer exist, and writes a new one with only the files that are there. 17.1 Running MTExist The syntax for MTExist is as follows: Syntax: MTexist <switch> <File Path> <Files.BBS> Valid flags are: Raw Rewrites stripping all info from files.BBS This is faster the Lite and good for one line descriptions and no headers. Lite MTExist takes caution examining what needs to be removed. It is suggested that you use the Lite switch if you are not sure. "File Path" is the path to where your files are located and "Files.BBS" is the files.bbs which you wish to update. Page 19 18 MYMAIL.EXE For scanning & retrieving echomail addressed to you MyMail will scan all of the echo areas for mail which is addressed to you. If any is found, MyMail will then write a copy of the message in the directory which you specify on the command line. The echo area is inserted before the subject so that you know the origin. 18.1 Message formats *.MSG and Squish Currently there is only support for *.MSG. Squish may be added in a future release. 18.2 Setting up MyMail MyMail requires an Areas.BBS file. If you do not use an Areas.BBS file or know what one is, you need to run MBBS.EXE, another MaxTools utility which will create a PSEUDO Areas.BBS that MyMail will read. 18.3 Running MyMail The syntax for running MyMail is as follows: Syntax: MyMail <Areas.bbs> <Mailbox dir> <Your Name> MyMail scans all areas that are not "pass through" If Squish messages are encountered they are ignored. MyMail will never overwrite old messages in the target directory specified. 19 MBBS.EXE For creating Pseudo Areas.BBS files MBBS creates a pseudo areas.bbs file for MaxTools users who do not use one but wish to run MyMail. 19.1 Running MBBS Running MBBS is pretty simple. The syntax is as follows: Syntax: MBBS <Areas.BBS file> Any existing areas.bbs file will be over written. Page 20 20 MAXLEV.EXE For sending canned mail messages to users MaxLev has got to be the most popular of all of the MaxTools combined. MaxLev will send canned messages to users based on the users status and security level. Don't let MaxLev fool you. It is powerful and yet very easy to use. 20.1 The MaxLev On-Line Help System MaxLev is one of the few utilities that has its' own On-Line help system. If you plan on using this utility I STRONGLY recommend that you take a tour of it. Help will start you from an introduction and ease you through the simple steps that are needed to set up and run MaxLev. Also included in On-Line help is built reference charts that display files that MaxLev looks for as well as the variables that MaxLev supports. 20.2 MaxLev's 20 second setup MaxLev may be setup and ran within 20 seconds on an AT compatible machine! The syntax for MaxLev setup is: MaxLev write ALL This will create the necessary directory structure as well as sample generic canned messages that will be sent to users. All of the variables supported are used in the sample message templates to give you an idea on how to use them. 20.3 Sending mail to new users When MaxLev detects a new user, MaxLev will look for a file in its' home directory called NEWUSER.TXT. This is a simple text message which follows the format discussed later in this chapter. As always MaxLev uses what exists and assumes that you do not wish to use it if it does not. New user messages may be disabled simply by deleting the file. Page 21 20.4 New users and callback verifier support MaxLev fully supports call back verifiers. All new users are sent NEWUSER.TXT. If you wish to send a user a second message "you have been upgraded via" the door, you need to create another text message. The format is as follows: <level upgraded to>.NEW EXAMPLE: WORTHY.NEW An Explanation MaxLev keeps a second copy of the user file for comparing who is new and who is not, as well as what their security access has changed to. Because a call back verifier updates a user on-line, there is no way to detect that he/she has been upgraded. But if all of your new users are DISGRACE and you upgrade a user with your door to WORTHY, then a WORTHY.NEW would only be sent to users who passed the door. They would also get sent NEWUSER.TXT which is for all access levels. 20.5 Sending mail to users whose access has been lowered MaxLev will send messages to users whose access has been lowered to a particular access level. The file naming is as follows. < Level >.DWN 20.6 Sending mail to users whose access has been raised MaxLev will send messages to users whose access has been raised to a particular access level. The file naming is as follows. < Level >.UP 20.7 Message formats: *.MSG and Squish MaxLev requires that your private mail area is *.MSG format. MaxLev does not care what format your other message areas are. I am considering adding Squish support in one of the next releases. Page 22 20.8 MaxLev's Message template format To create your own messages, all that you need is your favorite DOS text editor. The message format is as follows: Your Name Subject Start of message . . End of message For a complete listing of all of the possible file names and their extensions, please consult the 20.9 Running MaxLev There are 2 command line switches for running MaxLev Go - Normal memory conserving for large user files and SysOps with low memory overhead fast - Uses more memory and loads users names into an array for fast sorting and comparing. 21 MAXRE For exiting with random error levels MaxRE is actually and older MaxTool that did not make the boat in v1.02. One of things that make life exciting is change. People get tired of the same ole BBS as well. With MaxRe you can bring your BBS back to life with random events, menus, or even a realistic fake 2nd node which really doesn't exist! 21.1 Running MaxRe The syntax for running MaxRe is as follows: MaxRe <start> <stop> If you were to specify 2 and 4 MaxRe would generate a random error level between 2 and 4. 21.2 Using MaxRE to create a fake node with MAXIPC A user has contributed a unique way of simulating a second node with MAXIPC and MaxRe. Please see MaxReIPC.DOC included in MT-NEWS.LZH. Page 23 22 MaxTools Official Distributors and availability MaxTools is internationally distributed via MXBBSNET and SDSMAX. In order to keep phone costs down for all parties involved this usually happens on the average of once per month. I have been known to work around the clock having my cup of coffee at the keyboard along with dinner. Because of this it is very possible that I may have a new revision a week to 2 weeks after a major release. To keep the latest and greatest release available to you I have reliable high speed distribution points which get the latest version netmailed to them upon completion. MAGIC FILE NAMES The following is the Magic File names as well as the official distribution points: MAXTOOLS - The latest release MaxTools for MS-DOS MTUPDATE - The latest <changes only> to the current DOS version OFFICIAL MAXTOOLS DISTRIBUTORS * Michael Jones (Author) 2400-14400 V32, V42 FidoNet 1:133/115 MXBBSNET 256:256/1408 * Thomas Stubbs (South Eastern U.S. Distributor) 2400-14400 V32, V42 FidoNet 1:133/125 End Of Eternity BBS -- Atlanta, GA (404)892-0282 * Tom Lane (South Central U.S. Distributor) US Robotics HST/Dual Standard 16.8 bps No Freq's 0300-0500 Central Time. Non-Nodelisted Systems Welcome. FidoNet: 382/91 Flotom Enterprises -- Austin, Tax_Us (512)282-3941 * Graham Tippett (Canadian Distributor) 2400-14400 V32, V42 "MaxTools" user is set up for updates. FidoNet: 351/1116 The Uptown BBS -- Black Creek, BC (604)337-2163 Page 24 23 The end of another chapter I would like to take the time to thank everyone for their continued support. I would also like to thank all of the new users that have stuffed my netmail box with the kind words and thoughtful suggestions. Clearly it was you who helped me make MaxTools what it is and I do appreciate it! Keep those cards and letters coming and I will keep tapping at my keyboard! Michael Jones P.O. Box 769192 Roswell, Georgia 30076 FidoNet: 1:133/115 MXBBSNET: 256:256/1480 MXBBSNET: 256:256/525 ChateauNet: 100:4000/401 BBS: 404-518-1356