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- I release ASC2FON.EXE to the public domain. I retain no responsibility for
- it's use or misuse. This programs creates an output data file. This involves
- writing over any file with the same name as the data file (be warned). If you
- specify the name of an existing file, this program does not ask you to confirm
- overwriting, but rather zaps that file replacing it with the mundane dialing
- directory. An example of a very DUMB move would be to run this program as
- follows:
-
- ASC2FON.EXE C:\DOS\FORMAT.COM (***** DO NOT DO THIS *****)
-
- This would, in effect, write over the file 'C:\DOS\FORMAT.COM' which on my
- system would prevent you from ever formating another disk without using the
- original DOS floppy disk.
-
- Copyright 1990, John Toop.
-
- Requirements: 64K free memory,
- 80x25 text mode,
- DOS version 3 ??,
- (A2F.EXE requires DEVICE=ANSI.SYS in your CONFIG.SYS).
-
- You are free to distribute this program providing the copyright message is
- left intact and there is no charge (beyond normal copying costs) for that
- distribution, and documentation is enclosed.
-
- ASC2FON.EXE converts ascii text files (that are in collumnar format) to TELIX
- 3.x FON files suitable for dialing directory usage. ASC2FON uses direct
- memory writes and as such has only been tested on a monochrome monitor.
- A2F.EXE should work on non-monochrome monitors. Both versions support mouse
- usage. See below for more information.
-
- Usage :
-
- ASC2FON textfile [datafile]
-
- Where textfile is the file of columnar BBS listings to be added to a dialing
- directory, and datafile is the optional dialing directory name. If no name is
- supplied NEWTELIX.FON is assumed.
-
- Quick start: Try this with an ASCII list of BBS numbers in a file "bbs.lst"
-
- ASC2FON bbs.lst
-
- If garbage appears on the screen press ESC to quit. Then either set your
- video to text mode 7 (monochrome) or use A2F.EXE instead.
-
- Now make sure the lower screen reflects your highest baud, press space until
- a phone number appears, align the ######## with the number, and then align
- NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN with the name (shrinking or expanding as needed) using the
- cursor keys; Use 'T' to toggle the highlighted field, press A to add the
- current line to an entry in your dialing directory, until all the lines you
- would like in the dialing directory are past. Press D for Done and startup
- TELIX. Alt-D to load the dialing directory and 'O' for Other menu, 'L' for
- load and type in the [drive:path\]NEWTELIX.FON, ie:
-
- C:\BBS\NEWTELIX.FON (***** NOTE !! This is the default file [without
- path] ****)
-
-
- You should now be looking at the names you have compiled. Read on for more
- information.
-
- If you use a mouse, I have tried to implement a mouse compatible menu. Move
- the mouse to the appropriate word and press the button. Someone please tell
- me if this works on anything other than a monochrome text mode system. Is
- your mouse a block cursor (a square like █ )? Should I have this program
- show up in your favorite color? Not having a color system, this could be
- somewhat tough to test.
-
-
- 4 main types of commands are available:
-
- 1-Ctrl keys
- 2-Alt keys
- 3-normal keys
- 4-mouse clicks (if mouse and driver installed)
-
- The commands act on the status line and the current line of text which appears
- just above the status line. When you start the first line of the text file
- should appear just above the status line. This is the current line. The
- actions on this line are to either skip the line or add it to the dialing
- directory. As you will soon find out, this program only goes one way through
- the text file.
-
- ASC2FON.EXE uses direct memory writes and as such may not be acceptable for
- your use. I have included a slower, but hopefully, more compatible version
- called A2F.EXE which should solve all your problems.
-
- Please contact me with any criticisms or comments. I can be reached on on
- Pete's Place (Toronto 416-471-5229), or PN Junction (Toronto 416-465-2331), or
- the TELIX support BBS(Toronto 416-439-8293 / 416-284-0682), or on Compuserve
- 75130,1562 (BBS numbers are my life!)
-
-
-
- Alt keys
- ************
-
- These keys are used to change the defaults that appear. For example if you
- own a 300 baud modem hold down Alt-B until 300 appears to the right of the
- word "baud". If you use the same password on all BBSs (do people actually do
- this?) then you can edit this field with Alt-W....
-
- If you are confused by toggles, be warned that it is made up of the computer
- user's worst enemy (bits). Each of these bits have meaning as per the
- following obtuse explanation excerpted from a text file from the TELIX support
- bbs.
-
-
- toggles description see below
-
- toggles, /* bit 0: local echo - 0 = off, 1 = on */
- /* bit 1: add LFs - 0 = off, 1 = on */
- /* bit 2: BS trans - 0 = destructive, 1 = not */
- /* bit 3: BS key - 0 = sends BS, 1 = sends DEL */
-
- dprefnum, /* dialing prefix number to use when dialing */
-
- If you don't understand any key, you probably don't need to change that
- feature from the default. ie most bbs's use NO PARITY, 8 DATA BITS, 1
- STOPBITS, and ANSI-BBS terminal mode.
-
-
-
-
- Ctrl cursor keys (left/right)
- *********************************
-
- These keys move the status line relative to the current line of text. The
- ctrl Left arrow moves the text to the right. This seems illogical however the
- text file is constant and the status line is actually moving left and right
- over the line of text. The left arrow (like the less than symbol '<' )
- indicates an earlier position in the array of characters and thus the current
- line moves left.
-
- Really though; The only time Ctrl keys are needed is when the author of some
- list has made the name and number field appear past the 80th column in the
- string (and thus off the screen). A list was circulated around a few years
- ago that was 220 columns wide.
-
- At present the screen is only able to shift 80 characters (1 screen width)
- however this may change if I get any requests. I've really only been fooling
- around in C for 6 months (in my spare time) so my code may not be that
- efficient. The code is available on request. I used the DeSmet C compiler,
- which is available on most BBSs. One nifty use for this program might be for
- those of you who like to make lists of BBSs and post these lists on BBSs. You
- can post a TELIX dialing directory with your list.
-
- Would you like to glue this dialing directory to the end of your usual dialing
- directory? See GLUE2.EXE ...
-
- GLUE2.EXE is used to connect two dialing directories as follows where the 2
- files are mainfile and stickyfile:
-
- Usage: GLUE2 mainfile stickyfile
-
- Where mainfile will have stickyfile appended to itself
- Don't forget to backup these files first in-case you append the wrong one
-
- You can then use TELIX to delete any unwanted entries in the mainfile.
-