External Message Editor Configuration Explaination 袴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴퀘�. Eventually, I would like to write my own Full Screen ANSi editor, however, time is of the essence... errr, something like that! :) In any case, that's a future version of READ.PPE! For now, I'm gonna support some commom FS editors! Full screen editors supported in this version of READ.PPE 袴컴컴컴컴퀘響鋏컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴켐� IceEdit � Tested with version 1.70, 1.75 & 2.00 GEdit � (Not Tested Yet, hopefully added in next release) WWIVEdit � (Thinking about it, might insult a WWIV guru tho) 袴컴컴컴컴퀘鄕鋏컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴켐� Overview of using EXTx.BAT 袴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴퀘�. If a file named EXT.BAT exists in READ.PPE's current directory, it tell's READ.PPE you are using an EXTERNAL MESSAGE EDITOR! Something NOT supported by PCBoard itself. The way it works: 1. If EXTx.BAT exists, READ.PPE uses it to call the editor. If it does not exist, READ.PPE uses PCBoard's own editor as normal. The only problem using PCB's internal editor is there's no way to call the editor and then regain control with the PPE. So, CALLED.PPE is used to RELOAD READ.PPE which eats memory. After replying to about 15 messages, 115k memory will be allmost gone! Besides that, PCB's internal editor is completely hard coded. It's ugly, and un-changeable. 2. A parameter is passed to EXTx.BAT, and that is PPL's TempPath() var. This is the directory MSGTMP, MSGINF, and DORINFO1.DEF are located for the editor's use. Advantages of using an external editor 袴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴퀘�. Configurablity to the max! Dependant upon the editor you choose to use, you can have options never before dreamed of with PCBoard! READ.PPE regains control *WITHOUT* loading again! So, this will save memory and should solve all memory problems involved with READ.PPE! That is if the message editor you use isn't a memory hog! When quoteing a message, line 1 of read.cfg will be used as the quote char! Meaning, if you put �, then in the full screen editor, all the quoted text would look like: 홓eople say this ppe rulez! :) Then, when reading the message (with read.ppe), "�" will be replaced with line 2 as normal. When quoteing, you can configure what will be before and after the quoted text (ie. 'John Doe said to Jane Doe...', 'Jane Doe repiles...', See quote.doc for more informations) Disadvantages of using an external editor 袴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴沆. Dependant upon the editor used, you may have to use a FOSSIL driver if you do not allready. Configuring IceEdit to work with READ/ENTER.PPE 袴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴沆. I have tested READ/ENTER.PPE with IceEdit 1.70, 1.75 and 2.00. They seem to be compatable withall three versions. Other versions may cause unpredictable results. Use caution and common sence! (Note: See ICEEDIT.BAT for example) Required settings are: EDITCFG.EXE/Toggles [Toggle Menu 1] * Use Soft C/Rs NO [Toggle Menu 2] * Quote Format YES * QBBS Compatible NO * Errorlevels YES EDITCFG.EXE/Other * SysOP Security 110 (Or whatever you have set as your Sysop Sec Level) * Dropfile Type DORINFO1.DEF Now, you need to create the batch file to run IceEdit. Let's start with node one. (EXT1.BAT) In a text editor, create EXT1.BAT in READ.PPE's main directory. It should look like this: 袴컴[EXT1.BAT-Begin]컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴沆. @echo off rem EXTx.BAT - used by READ.PPE to run an external message editor with PCBoard rem rem %1 = Work Dirctory, where MSGINF, MSGTMP & DORINFO1.DEF are located rem rem ** Setup for IceEdit ** (Tested with versions 1.70, 1.75 & 2.00) rem SET IEDIT=C:\PCB\ICEEDIT\ ;Your path to IceEdit.EXE C:\PCB\ICEEDIT\ICEEDIT.EXE /D:%1 /N:%PCBNODE% ;Run IceEdit with params * IF ERRORLEVEL 1 GOTO MSGERROR ;Handle an aborted message GOTO DONE :MSGERROR Echo Message Aborted>%1MSGABT ;Creates MSGABT for READ.PPE ** :DONE SET IEDIT= ;Clean up the enviroment :) 袴컴[EXT1.BAT-End]컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴沆. * The /D: parameter tells IceEdit where to find MSGINF, MSGTMP and DORINFO1.DEF. This is VERY important! ** A file named MSGABT in the temp directory is needed to tell READ.PPE the message was aborted. It need not contain any valueable informations, just exist. Configuring another editor to work with READ/ENTER.PPE 袴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴퀘�. At this time no other external editor has been tested, however, if it reads MSGTMP, MSGINF and DORINFO1.DEF it *should* work. If your dareing, try it, if not, send me the editor and I will! :) Notes about DORINFO1.DEF! (Read this!) 袴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴퀘�. PCBoard does not support external full screen editors, nor is PCB's default message editor configurable! So, the need for an external editor is great! Unfortunatly, PPL doesn't have a way to write a DOOR.SYS file (that I know of), and sence DORINFO1.DEF is less complex, I decided to support it instead. Now, to gather all the com port info for DORINFO1.DEF, READ.PPE reads it out of the current node's PCBOARD.DAT file. If you use one PCBOARD.DAT file for multiple nodes, the external editor will not address the correct comport! Don't use an external editor! :) In a future version of READ.PPE I plan on checking the /PCB eviroment to make sure your not using a different com port, until then, deal with the memory problems and the non-configurable full screen message editor... While your at it, bug the hell out of CDC and tell them you want a configurable message header, full screen editor, and configurable message quoter! Reach out and touch someone?! 袴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴沆. NOTE: If you have/know of a full screen editor you want to see supported, tell me and I'll see what I can do. Any questions? � Need help? � Suggestions? � Comments? � Contact me! E-mail: maverick@phcc.org Salt Air: Kenneth Padgett Sysop of: The No-Name BBS (703) 323-6838 FTP: x136.pcboard.com /pub/bbs/antix WWW: http://pages.prodigy.com/no-name/anti-x.htm http://pages.prodigy.com/no-name/kenneth.htm