A PCBOARD bulletin, files and doors menu generator - V-2.6!

                  Written by Charlie Crawford.

     OK lazy sysops of the world - Unite!  Yeah, I got tired of
having to bring up the old word processor each time I wanted to
change a bulletin, file, or door menu option and I was not all
that impressed with other generation programs - So here it is! 
If you run a PCBOARD, then check it out and if not- maybe you
ought to get one huh?

                          What it does.

     This program allows you to fill out one or all three
databases of listings for your bulletins, files or doors menus. 
It automatically generates the BLT, DIR, or DOORS file for you
with PCBOARD color codes you have selected for either all
listings or individual ones.  You get to choose the colors for a
menu banner, the numeric listings and the listing names
themselves.  If that is not all - you get to choose whether you
want them in single or double lines and if you want them in
columns or not.  

                   How to install and run it.

     Installation is pretty simple.  All you do is unzip the file
to a subdirectory of your choosing and go there.  You may wan to
put the files into \PCB\GEN or wherever  you keep your menus, but
that is up to you.  I keep the program and the databases in my
menu subdirectory since I like being able to generate the menu
and have it ready to go!

     Running the program is easy as pie!  Of course, nobody
really knows how easy pie is, but then again...  All you do is
type "bgpcb" at the prompt and away you go!!!

     The first thing you will see is a long explanation of the
program for those of us who hate reading docs.  Then you get to
choose whether you want to work with your bulletins, doors, or
files menu.  Just hit the corresponding letter to your choice and
that sets up the program to work with the appropriate database. 
Next you get to choose whether you want a banner in the menu.   
Some folks like the idea of having a repeating phrase or whatever
in their menu and so here is a shot at it.  You might decide to
put something like "Harry's greatest doors " every ten menu items
or so.  If you choose yes to this prompt then you will be asked
for what the banner should say.

     Next you get to choose whether you want to quit and do
nothing more, exit and generate a menu file corresponding to your
choice, do a global change of your menu color scheme, or use the
C to continue option that allows you to edit or add new records! 

     Here, a word about the global color changes is in order. 
Using the global option gives your menu a uniform color scheme
with your selected colors for the banner (if you chose to use
one), the listing numbers and the listing names themselves.  You
can make them all bright and flashy or more conservative!  The
thing to remember is that global is global and so if you want
individual listings to have different colors than others, then
global is not the choice you want!

     Selecting the C option to continue is the most likely choice
when first using the program.  I mean, what good is it to
globally change nothing huh?  This C to continue choice will
allow you to edit existing or add new records to the database
from which your menu will be generated.

     The first thing that happens when you choose the C option is
you get asked if you want to just edit the listing names.  This
is because you may have records that you are happy with the
colors selected, but not with the names.  You might also want to
edit a particular name without having to deal with the colors or
other listings and so this option is heaven for you.  If you are
just starting out and don't have any records with names you want
to edit, or want to edit full records or add new ones, then
answer this prompt with a no.

     Now you get presented with a prompt to see if you want to
edit or add records beyond just the listing names.  If you say
yes to this, then you get to choose whether to start at the top
of your listings or go to a particular listing.  If you don't
have any listings, then you would choose to start from the top
where you don't have anything anyway.  Makes sense huh?  If you
have listings already, then you might want to start somewhere
down the file since you could spend a whole lot of time just
paging down until you get to either the record you want to edit
or to the end of the listings to add a new one.  So for example,
let's say you have 50 bulletins and want to edit #49 and add a
new one as 51.  All you do is choose to start down in the
listings and type 49 when asked and then you go right to the
place you need to be.  Edit the record using the arrow keys to go
from field to field and then once you get to record #50 you will
be asked if you want to exit or not.  If you say yes, then you
don't get to add a new record 51 since the program assumes you
are done and takes you to the place int the software where a menu
is generated.  If you answer no or if you originally enter a
value greater than the last record in the database, then you get
to a screen that tells you that there are no more records and
would you like to add one?  Say yes, answer the questions and
your record is created.  If you then answer the question about
leaving with a no after entering the record you just created,
then you will have the opportunity to add another and so on.

     Editing or creating listings is real easy.  Just look at the
chart of color codes and enter the one you want for the various
options.  You could make a banner bright green, the menu numbers
bright red and the menu listing names bright white if you wanted
or you could make individual listings different colors!  Nifty
huh.

     It is important to remember when entering listings that the
number of the record created and the number that will appear on
the menu are the same.  So if you are entering your fifth entry
and put a six in your bulletin number field, the menu generated
will be pretty stupid because your callers will notice or even
worse, select #6 and get something different from what they
wanted.  So be careful! 

     Once you get to the actual screen for generating your BLT,
DIR, or DOORS. menu file; you get to decide on whether to use
single spacing or double spacing in your menu.  Some folks like
no lines between the listings and so they choose single.  Also,
you will notice that the program will copy your existing menu
file (if one is in the directory) to its same name with a .org
extension.  This protects you from losing the file if you don't
like the results of what is produced by the program.  If no
existing file is found, then you will see the DOS error of file
not found or whatever, but don't freak out about it since that is
normal and the program will just move on.

     Once having chosen what spacing you want, then the program
will ask if you want columns or lines.  If you are verbose and
like to tell everyone a whole lot about the door, bulletin, or
file area then columns are not for you!  In effect, lines give
you around 70 characters worth of space to put in the listing
name, but columns truncate the field to 25 characters.  This
means you need to keep your names under 25 characters if you want
to use columns.

     If you use columns, then you should also get a word
processor that can do global search and replace.  Use it on the
file created by BGPCB and add 15 or whatever amount of spaces you
want to the carriage returns.  This gets the menu more centered. 
The reason for having to use a search and replace program is that
I have not figured out how to get Clipper to write beyond the 80
columns in a text file it creates.  PCBOARD reads the color codes
and does not use the space they take in the text file on the
screen and so it looks great, but Clipper uses those columns in
setting up the file and wraps text every time I tried to get the
text more centered.  Sorry about that, but just get a search and
replace utility and search for carriage return and replace with
carriage return and fifteen or so spaces.  Experiment to your
liking.

     Well, that's about it.  The program is free and you use it
at your own risk.  It works for me and should for you.  I do
suggest unzipping the program to a test subdirectory and playing
with it for a bit before you unzip it again into your menu files
directory which is usually \pcb\gen.
               If you need to reach me, then call me eastern time between 9
and 5 at area (617)-727-5550 extension 4503 or call the BBS at
area (617)-451-5327.

                    Questions and answers...

q: What happens if I get a new version of this and unzip it to my
subdirectory?  Do I lose my records and listings?

A:  Yeah, good question.  If you are updating your version of
this program and overwrite the existing databases with the blank
ones in the program, then you will be ticked!  The good news
would be that you get to enter all that data again and add new
colors, and the bad news is that you get to enter all that data
again and add new colors.  I suspect that if I ever do anything
more with this, it will be like the Talking Checkbook that I
wrote and have fail-safe databases.

Q:  What is my name?

A: Ask your Mama.

Q:  What about multi-node set ups?

A:  Hmmmm, if you are using more than one menu for various nodes,
then I suggest that you unzip the files to each node where there
is a different BLT, DIR, or DOORS. file than used on other nodes
and do your generation from there.

Q:  Will this run remotely?

A:  Yeah, if you use something like Doorway.exe to drop to DOS.

Q:  What is the ultimate answer to it all?

A:  42.

Q:  I have some sysop friends who are rugged individualists and
use another software package.  Does your program or other ones
you write support them.

A:  Well, people could change the color codes with a word
processor but the only other BBS software for which I have
written a similar program is PowerBoard.

Q:  Are you done yet?  I want to run the darn program...

A:  Yes - have fun!