                    Top Twenty Downloads/NewsCenter

This program was started a while back after I released The Top Twenty
Generator. I had gave up on the program, as there was no way to access
certain parts of the file database in a way that I needed. Due to some
changes in the code, I am now able to do what I want to do. There are
actually two programs here, one being the Top 20 File Generator, based
on the number of downloads. You can have the download list be created on
any set of areas, they can run concurrent or be scattered throughout the
file database. At the same time, optional you can create a HTML file and
also optional create a ALLFILES.BBS listing. The all files listing can
either have short descrptions or include the whole description. Also
included is the area and the area is color coded designating if it is
online or offline. Total files are also calculated along with total
downloads. In essence, you can create a top 20 download file for JUST
the adult files, or JUST the files that have the word 'GAME' in the area
name.

After the major part of this program was completed, I now ended up with
a whole bunch of BBS files. Now, I did not really want to copy them all
to the BULL folder and then make the links, so I made a program to display
them. This program is called ViewTop20. Even through it can display any
BBS file, with the atCodes embedded. They will be displayed correctly.
There is one added bonus, while the top 20 Generator will make true BBS
files, ones that could be added to the bulletin section or renamed to a
hello screen, another file is created that is used hand in hand with the
BBS file. It is a HDR file. This contains two lines, the first line
being the name of the group of areas, a name that you type in when you
create the collection of areas, called a template by my program. The
second line contains the number of files and downloads in this collection.
My program will display the first and second line and then display the
BBS file.

You can create up to 1000 groups and have up to 1000 collections in each
group. Access levels can be added to each group. 

It is simple to use and you will find it a much better system then the
current bulletin system.

                              Installation

As every programmer says, installation is a breeze. Simply create a
folder where you want to this to reside. Unzip the TOP20DL.ZIP program
into this folder. Copy the WCX files into your wildcat folder. Run WcMenu
and add the two program to your menu. They can appear anywhere in the
menus. I do suggest that the SortDL program be on the sysop menu and
only give you and your co-sysop access to this program. The SortDL program
can be ran remotely, but I suggest that you run it locally for best
speed results. 

In the PARAMETER section of WcMenu, you NEED to add the location of the
folder you just created. This would be as follows: If your wildcat folder
is located at C:\WC5 and you put this program in TOP20DL. NOTE: You DO
NOT have to put the program under the Wildcat folder.

  C:\WC5\TOP20DL    the trailing \ is optional.
  
Now, some systems will require you to put in the computer name and the
server path, such as \\Server\WC5\TOP20DL

This is usually needed when your wildcat is located on Drive C on one
computer and one or more nodes is on another computer. This is so that
your other nodes know WHICH C drive to look at.

Now you need to log on locally and enter the SORTDL program. It will ask
you where your Wildcat folder is located and then ask for your registration
number. You can enter 0 for the registration number if you have not
registered it yet! Notice the YET!  (:

That is all there is to setting it up. It will automatically create a
Group called Top 20 Downloads. 

TIP: Do not use long group names for groups that are going to contain
high scores from 16 bit games. For instance, if you want to create a
group that is called Door Scores, that would contain the Lord scores. If
you have Lord automatically write to this area, it may not work due to
the name. This is something you would have to test with each game. I
find it easier to have in the batch file a copy statement that copies
the file over. Remember, you will create a HDR file for each BBS file
that is not created with my SORTDL program, and this HDR file will contain
the name of the BBS file that the user will see. So, the BBS file could
be called LORDHIGH.BBS, and in the header file is 'L.O.R.D. High Scores',
so when they list that group, they will see the long name and the user
never sees the LORDHIGH.BBS name.

                        Creating Download Lists

Since this is the first time you have ran this program, and I have no
ideal how you have your file database set up, you will have to tell the
program what areas you want to include in your list. First, let's try a
CD rom. Go into the file area and list a CD rom. Note the first area and
also the last area. Let's say for example you have Nightowl 15 in your
file database. The CD rom can be offline or online, it does not matter.
Let's say that the first area for this CD is 150 and the last area is 
180. You would first decide if you also want to create a HTML file and
also an allfiles file. Just press the appropiate letter to toggle this
option off or on. If you turn the all file option on, you will have
another toggle to decide if you want the all files to have short 52
character description or full descriptions.

After selecting the various options, press A to start the process. Since
no template is selected (none are created), you will be asked for the
starting and ending area. Enter the appropiate numbers. You will then be
asked for a name for this collection. Try to keep a system of naming if
you have a lot of CD ROMS, for example, call this one:  NightOwl #15

You will then be asked for a name for the template. This is used to
store this information in. Long names are allowed, just follow your
operating system rules. But I suggest you keep the names short, but
descriptive. Less than 20 characters should suffice. For example on this
one, I would call it NO15, and then NightOwl 16 would be NO16.

Next, it will ask you for a group to place this in. The groups already
created should be shown. Since this is your first time, Top 20 Downloads
should be the only one listed. Press the number next to the group desired
(1 in this case) and after a brief delay, it will display that the template
is saved. It will now list the group of templates available and allow
you to select one. Enter the number and it will start the magic.

Here is what is happening:

The program is going though each area that you have selected, file by
file and checking the number of downloads for each file. It is adding it
to the top 20 list and sorting the list as it goes. You will see the
file it is working on in the top line. Then the sorted list will be
displayed. The line highlighted in RED is the last file that made the
list. The program will also beep when a new leader emerges. The bottom
line displays the current area, the last area it will be checking, the
total files, the total downloads, and a tally or where it is at in reference
to how many there is. NOTE: Until this program is registered, there will
be a delay every 500 files.

When the program is all done, there will be 5 beeps and the program will
prompt you to press any key, unless the 'Press any key' option is turned
off on the main menu. If no files have been downloaded from the CD rom,
then no BBS files will be created. However, an all files will still be
created.

That is all there is to creating a BBS file. Now you can enter the 
ViewTop20 program to view this file. Please note that the first time you
enter a NEW group it will state that you do not have access to this
group and kick you out. This is by design. See Security Levels below for
details on how to change the access levels of the groups.

TIP: Due to the nature of the program, it is suggested that you exit the
program and enter it again when creating BBS files. The program will run
at it's very best when done this way.

Now that we have a template made, press C to load the template. After
selecting it, you will see it shows the name of the collection on the
screen. All you do now is press A to start the building over again. It
will overwrite the old BBS file, while retaining the HDR file.

There is another way to enter the areas. If let's say you wanted to
create a top 20 download for all your adult areas, but they are scattered
all over the file database. Press B from the main menu. All the areas
will be loaded and you can then use the arrow keys to move down or up.
You can press the SPACE bar to mark/unmark an area. The number of areas
that can be marked will vary on machines, I have found that if you get
near that 1,000 mark you are pushing it. I plan on revising this area of
the program in future releases.

There are a couple of options in this part of the program. You can press
T for text search. It will mark all areas that contain the search critera
that you enter. For instance, if you tell it to search for GAME, an area
called GAMES and one called MORE GAMES will both be marked. Case in
unimportant in the search. You can search multiple times, for instance,
search for SOUND, then search for AUDIO. You can then go and mark more
areas or unmark areas. 

If you want to clear all the marked areas, press C, and to mark all the
areas, press M.

When you have all the areas you want marked, press S and it will prompt
you for a name, filename and group to save it as. You will have then
created a template, just like above.

You can press L from there to load a template. You may then mark or
unmark files and then resave the template.

                                  HTML

Why of course it supports HTML graphics. A folder called TOP20DL was
created when you ran the program. This is located under the PUBLIC folder
in your Wildcat! folder. All HTML screens will be placed here. It is up
to you to create links to these files. The HTM screen my program produces
is nice looking. If you create another one you would like implemented in
future releases, send me a copy of it.


                             Data Structure

Data structure of the DAT files are very simple. They contain on the
first line the name of the template, or basically a description of the
areas that you have defined. The second line contains the group name,
which is the ub folder under the TOP20DL folder that you would like to
put this list in. The sub folder will be created automatically by the
program when you add it. Then the next line(s) contain a list of the
areas to include in the top 20 generator and the optional allfiles listing.
You can modify this list with a text editor, but I suggest using the
built in editor. It works well and was hard to write. (:



                            SOFTWARE LICENSE

Top20dl  Copyright(c) 1996 Express Computers, All Rights Reserved.

Express Computers hereby disclaims all warranties relating to this
software, whether express or implied, including without limitation any
implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular
purpose. Express Computers will not be liable for any special,
incidental, consequential, indirect or similar damages due to loss of
data or any other reason, even if Express Computers or an agent of
Express Computers has been advised of the possibility of such damages.
In no event shall Express Computers's liability for any damages ever
exceed the price paid for the license to use software, regardless of the
form of the claim. The person using the software bears all risk as to the
quality and performance of the software.
