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                           DCT BBS Lister v0.04
                             By Dan Traczynski
                               July 13, 1996

            Copyright (C) 1996 Dan Traczynski.  All rights reserved.



                                   
                                                                     
                                     
                                                                         
                            Table of Contents                            
                                                          


               Features ................................... o1
               Files in this Archive ...................... o2
               Installation ............................... o3
               Distribution & Disclaimer .................. o4
               Things to look for in upcoming releases .... o5
              History - Notes from the Past .............. o6


                                   
                                                                            
                                                                      Ch.1  
                             Features Of DCTList                            
                             


     Supports both DORINFOx.DEF and DOOR.SYS allowing it to be run on
      virtually any bulletin board system.
     Lightbar selector for you eLiTe d00ds.
     Users may upload and view ANSI ads for each BBS.
     Problem users can be locked out.
     Optional user censor (allowing you to filter out swearing).
     Colour configuration.
     Users may edit/delete BBSs they have created.
     The BBS list format may be configured.
     Automatically sorts BBSs into alphabetical order.
     Users may download a list of the BBSs in the database in five
      different formats.
     Fully integrated search mode.  The user interface is exactly the same
      in search mode as it is in normal listing mode.
     Full user logging (even the SysOp-User chats are logged!).
     User time-out after a configurable amount of time.
     Carrier detect.
     Multi-tasker capability.
     Internal SysOp-User full-screen chat mode.
     Even creates alternating GOODBYE.ANS/ASC files to show to your users!
    It's FREEWARE!  No unregistered beeps, delays, or disabled features!


                                   
                                                                            
                                                                      Ch.2  
                                  File List                                 
                                  

  The following files were distributed in the original archive (except
  DCTLIST.CFG).


    Required Files
   

    DCTLIST.EXE   The main DCTList executable.
    CONFIG.EXE    The configuration program for DCTList.
    DCTLIST.CFG   The configuration file that is created when CONFIG.EXE is
                  run.


    Supplementary Files
   

    These files may be deleted to save HD space without adversely affecting
    DCTList.


  * AGEN004.ZIP * Alternating GOODBYE.ANS generator utility.  This program
                  will take a few random entries from the BBS database and
                  stick them into an ANSI and ASCII file to show to the users
                  when they logoff.  Definitely worth taking a look at.

    UPGRADE.DOC   Quick upgrade information from DCTList v0.02 or v0.03.
    DCTLIST.TXT   DCTList documentaion.  It may be a good idea to keep this
                  around.
    002TO003.EXE  Required if upgrading from DCTList v0.02.
    FIX003.EXE    Required if upgrading from DCTList v0.03.  Do not run this
                  program if you are upgrading from DCTList v0.02.
    BBSAD.Q-A     Example RemoteAccess questionnaire for running DCTList in
                  AutoAdd mode.
    BBSAD.SCR     Example Concord script file for running DCTList in AutoAdd
                  mode.
    DCTLIST.LOK   Used if you want to lock out certain users from DCTList.
                  May be deleted if no users are locked out.
    DCTLIST.FLT   Used if you want to filter out inappropriate language.
                  May be deleted if the censor is disabled.
    FILE_ID.DIZ   A short description of DCTList for use on BBSs.
    DISTRO.APP    Information and application form for becoming a DCT
                  Productions distribution site.
   OTHER.DCT     Other products released by DCT Productions.


                                   
                                                                            
                                                                      Ch.3  
                              Installation Guide                            
                              


      If you are upgrading from v0.02, simply overwrite the old files
   with the ones in this archive, then run 002TO003.EXE to upgrade the
   DCTLIST.DAT file.  After that, run CONFIG.EXE to update the DCTList
   configuration file.  Do not run FIX003.EXE.

      If you are upgrading from v0.03, overwrite the old .EXE files with
   the new, then run FIX003.EXE.  Version 0.04 is a bug fix from v0.03
   and requires no special upgrade programs other than FIX003.EXE.

      Installation is very fast and easy.  First of all you must create a
   directory for DCTList to reside in and then run CONFIG.EXE to configure
   it to your system.  You may also wish to edit DCTLIST.FLT if you will
   be using the censor.  DCTList does not have to be run from the directory
   it resides in, as it automatically looks for all of its files in its
   home directory.  Have your BBS call DCTList via a command-line similar
   to "C:\DOORS\DCTLIST\DCTLIST.EXE /PC:\BBS".  The "/P" parameter is only
   required if the drop file will not be in the current directory when
   DCTList is run.  If your BBS supports memory-swapping, it would be a
   good idea to do so (if you don't, there may not be enough memory to
   shell out to the external transfer protocols and archivers).

      If you choose to allow file transfers within the door, you may
   configure up to nine protocols in CONFIG.EXE (nine should be more than
   enough).  The only limitation to the protocols that you may use is that
   they MUST be able to log the transfer in DSZ.LOG and support batch
   transfers (so Xmodem is out of the picture).  You must also remember to
   set the DSZLOG environment variable prior to the user entering DCTList
   so the door can find the DSZ.LOG file.  Refer to the protocol's
   documentation for more information on the DSZLOG environment variable.

      Selecting RAR or ARJ as the external archiver may pose problems.
   These two archivers require a lot of memory to run, so if you choose to
   use one of these two protocols, be advised that they MAY not work.

      If you have allowed users to download the BBS list via an external
   protocol, you may also wish to insert your BBS ad into the archive that
   the user downloads.  This can easily be done by copying your BBS ad to
   the DCTList directory and renaming it to BBS.AD.  If DCTList locates the
   BBS.AD file in its home directory, it will include that everytime a user
   downloads the list.

      If you would like to have users who run boards themselves
   automatically add their BBSs to the list, you may execute DCTList with
   the "/A" parameter.  This switch is designed so that when a new user
   logs on, you can ask him if he runs a BBS, then execute DCTList if he
   does.  Using the "/A" parameter will take him directly into the "Add
   BBS" menu and then terminate after he adds or aborts the BBS entry.
   The two sample script files BBSAD.Q-A and BBSAD.SCR have been included
   in this archive for use with RemoteAccess and Concord.  If you decide to
   use one of them, you may have to change the directory names within it.
   The minimum security to add a BBS to the list is ignored when DCTList is
   run in AutoAdd mode.


    Command-Line Parameters
   

    /A      Invoke AutoAdd mode.  DCTList begins in the "Add BBS" menu
               then terminates after adding/aborting the operation.
    /Bxxx   Specify locked baud rate (i.e. /B38400).
    /L      Local mode (logs in with the SysOp's name).
    /Nx     Specify node number (not really needed unless you want it to
               read DORINFO2.DEF for node 2 etc).
    /Pxxx   Specify path to drop file (i.e. /PC:\BBS).
    /V      Turn local video off.
    /W      A DOS only network is present.


    External ANSI Files
   

      New in v0.03, support has been added so that parts of the program
   support more customisation by allowing you to design your own ANSI
   screens.  The following files, if they exist, will replace the internal
   displays.  Note that these files are not required in order for the door
   to function properly.

    LOGO.ANS      This replaces the default "DCTList" logo that is
                  displayed upon startup.  If the "Intro Screen" option in
                  CONFIG.EXE is turned OFF, this file will not be displayed,
                  even if it exists.
    GOODBYE.ANS   If this file exists, it will be displayed instead of the
                  "Returning to BBS" prompt on exit.  Be creative. :)
    LOCKOUT.ANS   This is shown if the user is locked out.
    NOANSI.ASC    If the user's terminal does not support ANSI, this file
                  is displayed instead of the hard-coded message.
    INUSE.ANS     Message telling the user that someone else is using the
                  door on a separate node and that he cannot enter the
                 door at this time.


                                   
                                                                            
                                                                      Ch.4  
                          Distribution & Disclaimer                         
                          


       DCTList is copyrighted (C) 1996 by Dan Traczynski.  All Rights
    Reserved.  I encourage you to distribute it, but DO NOT change any of
    the files within the original archive.  The archive should be named
    DCTBL004.ZIP, preferably kept in its ZIP format.

       The author, Daniel Traczynski, will take no responsibility to
    anything that this program may or may not do to your system.  Although
    the program has been tested thoroughly, no guarantee can be given that
    it will do what it was made to do.  Nevertheless, if anything should
    happen, the user is totally responsible and the author will be under
    no obligations whatsoever.  By using this program you agree to this
   disclaimer.


                                   
                                                                            
                                                                      Ch.5  
                          Things to look forward to                         
                          

       DCTList is very new and is still in its developmental stages, so
    some features you will see listed in CONFIG.EXE may not work yet.  I
    plan to have these options completed in the next version.  Most of
    the features that I add to this door are requests made by SysOps, so
    if you would like to see a new feature added to this door, by all
    means send me e-mail and I will try to add in your request.  I can
    be reached at dan.traczynski@als.dudd.uniserve.com.  If you do not
    have internet e-mail access, I can also be contacted via the FidoNet
    RA_Util echo.

       The BBS comment editor in CONFIG.EXE will be completed in the next
   version.  Any bugs found will also be fixed. :)


                                   
                                                                            
                                                                      Ch.6  
                                   History                                  
                                   


  + Added a new feature/Something was improved.
  - Removed something.
  * General comment.
  > Bug fix.


 Version 0.04 -=- July 13, 1996. -=- Bug fix release.
   > On some circumstances, deleting a BBS would cause the database indexes
     to get screwed up.
   + Added the GOODBYE.ANS generator.


 Version 0.03 -=- July 5, 1996.
   > If the phone number format was changed so that it was a length greater
     than the default one of 12 characters, the listing would be screwed up.
     Fixed.
   + Any BBSs that have been added since the user last entered the door are
     now pointed out to him/her.
   + Added a local download of the BBS list, so the SysOp can copy the BBS
     list to another directory regardless of whether downloading has been
     enabled.
   - Removed support for internal communication routines as it is very
     unstable and the file transfers would sometimes crash.  This means that
     a FOSSIL driver must be installed, but you will most likely have one
     loaded already since all BBSs that I know of require one to operate.
   + Users may now download the BBS list in Terminate 4.00, Telix 3.22,
     Telemate 4.20, or Lync 3.0 format in addition to the text format.
   > Oops!  It was possible for a user to delete a BBS s/he hadn't created.
     Now users may only delete BBSs that they've created unless they have
     SysOp access.
   + Fixed up the protocol configuration; added many more options.
   + Added multiple external protocol support.
   + When downloading the BBS list, the SysOp can now have DCTList include an
     ad for his BBS in the archive.
   + The pause prompt is now animated.
   > It was possible to set the lightbar background to a value higher than 7
     in CONFIG.EXE.  Fixed.
   + The user time-out can now be configured.
   + Finished off the user logging.
   + Users may now upload and view ANSI ads for each BBS.
   * If there is an ANSI ad for a BBS, a '' is shown after the BBS number
     when listing the BBSs.
   * DCTList no longer needs to be told what drop file to use.  It now simply
     searches for both DORINFOx.DEF and DOOR.SYS and loads the first one it
     finds or terminates if neither exist.
   + Added the extra field option.
   + Added the changing line 24.
   + The SysOp-User chat sessions are now logged to CHAT.LOG if user logging
     is enabled.
   + Added the /A parameter and sample script files for use with Concord and
     RemoteAccess.
   > Fixed a bug in the chat mode if the user hit backspace and was on the
     first column and row of his window.
   + The BBS list format may now be configured.
   + Added the search mode.  Users can find a BBS by entering a search string
     or specifying how many days old the listed BBSs should be.
   + Added an INUSE.FLG file so there shouldn't be any runtime errors on
     multi-node systems.
   + Added the external ANSI file support.
   > DCTList would crash if more than 255 BBSs existed in the database.
     Fixed.
   + Added two more colours to configure: Input Fields and Search Highlight.
   + Users may now press their up/down keys to switch fields when entering or
     editing a BBS entry.


 Version 0.02 -=- May 22, 1996.
   + Added the full-screen chat mode.
   > If a user was entering the message nets that the BBS was part of and hit
     ESC, the "Enter nets this BBS is part of" prompt wasn't being removed
     before the "Abort? Y/N" prompt was displayed over it.
   + The opening screen can now be disabled.  It can be toggled from the
     general configuration menu in CONFIG.EXE
   + The colours may now be configured.
   + DCTList now sorts the BBSs into alphabetical order.
   + DCTList now converts BBS names and other fields into proper case (but
     words like 'BBS' are not converted to 'Bbs').
   + Added Alt-J: Jump to DOS.
   + Users may now edit and delete BBSs that they created.
   + Finished off the automatic BBS deletion feature.
   + Added CONFIG.EXE (no more messy text configuration files).
   + Users may now download the BBS list as a text file via an external
     transfer protocol.
   + Added support to configure how the phone number format will look.


 Version 0.01 -=- March 22, 1996.
   * First release to eta testers only.

                                                                           
                                                                         
                                                                         
                                     
                                                                     
                                   
