145MENU3.ZIP March, 15, 1992 When I first started changing my PCBoard prompts by using the new external text file ability in PCBTEXT, I uploaded a file called MENUS145.ZIP. This is a replacement for that file because after hearing that Larry Schwabe was inspired by my efforts (and I like inspiring others) I decided to change some more of my prompts in PCBoard, noteably the new expert prompt lines in PCBTEXT. In fact I borrowed several of Larrys shorter prompts and use them for the expert prompts and in some other places. BTW Larry, the PCBDUMP file was an idea I took from a WWIV bbs, seems it's a built in "feature" ;-) Now here is 145MENU3, the third version. I decided to make the prompt file extentions to PMT so they wouldn't become confused with the other PCBoard text display files in my GEN directory. I left the text-only files, that are not prompts, with the TXT extension. Also notice that I added an "X" as the first letter of the expert prompt files and it has the same name as it's non-expert counterpart. Below is a list of the files included in this archive, what they mean and what PCBTEXT lines to change. Be sure to add your drive letter so PCBoard will be sure to find them. I use only one PCBTEXT file for my three node system and I have only one set of the prompt files to deal with. I've not noticed any network delay in using one set, and I have PCBoard pre-load the PCBTEXT file. All the files are in PCBoard's @code format, I didn't include ANSI files because I no longer use ANSI where I don't have to. In fact I've found it easier to just edit the @code files directly. BTW all prompts can use color codes except GRAFIX.TXT, because the caller hasn't chosen whether he/she wants color at the time this file is displayed. PCBTEXT Replace line with: What the prompt is, size of Line# Add your drive! Or what the text is: display: Text display only files: #59 %\pcb\gen\PCBDUMP.TXT Automatic disconnect text (line noise) #116 %\pcb\gen\REDUCED.TXT Time reduced for event text (paragraph) #164 %\pcb\gen\EDITM.TXT Edit message short help (3 lines) #176 %\pcb\gen\TRANSOK.TXT Single file transfer ok (1/2 screen) #290 %\pcb\gen\ABORT.TXT Aborted transfer text (paragraph) #478 %\pcb\gen\BATREC.TXT Batch transfer ok (1/2 screen) #595 %\pcb\gen\PWORD.TXT Forgot password text (1/2 screen) Prompt files with expanded text: #1 %\pcb\gen\COMMENT.PMT Comment to sysop text (full screen) #63 %\pcb\gen\HLPCMD.PMT How to use help (two screens) #149 %\pcb\gen\GRAFIX.PMT Quick logon ANSI prompt (1/2 screen) #197 %\pcb\gen\READM.PMT End of message prompt (4 lines) #222 %\pcb\gen\EDITM.PMT Text entry prompt (1 line) #223 %\pcb\gen\FLIST.PMT File list prompt (full screen) #224 %\pcb\gen\LBULL.PMT Bulletin list prompt (2 lines) #227 %\pcb\gen\CHATU.PMT Unavalible for chat prompt (full screen) #228 %\pcb\gen\CHATA.PMT Available for chat prompt (full screen) #396 %\pcb\gen\MAIN.PMT Main prompt (1 line) #424 %\pcb\gen\QSCAN.PMT Quick scan prompt (full screen) #425 %\pcb\gen\RMAIL.PMT Read mail prompt (full screen) Expert mode prompt text files: #584 %\pcb\gen\XRMAIL.PMT Expert read mail prompt (3 lines) #585 %\pcb\gen\XFLIST.PMT Expert file list prompt (3 lines) #611 %\pcb\gen\XLBULL.PMT Expert bulletin list prompt (2 lines) #613 %\pcb\gen\XQSCAN.PMT Expert quick scan prompt (1 line) Now, the instructions: First, you must be running version 14.5 of PCBoard. Second, if you have more that one node, you must configure all your nodes PCBOARD.DAT files to look for ONE central copy of the PCBTEXT file. Or you should make changes to the PCBTEXT files on each node. Third, you must make changes to your PCBTEXT file using MKTXT145.EXE. It is helpful if you print out your PCBTEXT file with CDC's print utility, RDPCBTXT.EXE for reference. Load MKTXT145.EXE, then use the function key indicated to search for the line number you wish to replace, the line number is indicated in the list above. Once you are at the line number to be replaced, replace it with the location (on your system) and name of the file indicated above. For example, put all the .PMT and .TXT files included in this archive in your directory that contains PCBTEXT, for a standard setup this would be: C:\PCB\GEN. Now using MKTXT145, you should be at line #1, this is the prompt displayed whenever someone uses the C command for a comment to the SysOp, replace this text with: %C:\pcb\gen\comment.pmt Next use the search function key to jump to line number #59, replace this text with: %C:\pcb\gen\pcbdump.txt You get the idea? Just continue on replacing all the lines as you wish, when you are done, exit MKTXT145 with the ESC key and your changes will be saved. Be sure you include the % sign in the filespec as shown above, or else PCB won't know you want to display a file but will instead show the text: "C:\pcb\gen\comment.txt" to your caller, and you don't want that. Although I use C:\pcb\gen as my example, if you want to keep these display files in another directory that is fine, just enter the proper directory name for your system in MKTXT145. I keep all my extended prompts in a directory called F:\pcb\gen\extended\ and copy them all to my ram disk E:\gen\ on each node on boot up. I have the PCBTEXT entries point to E:\gen\comment.pmt for example. This way they are called instantly and there is no network traffic. Now run PCBoard and check your changes, test them using both NOVICE and EXPERT mode, and be sure to check all the changes. I like to watch my callers and try to determan how they are reacting to the menus, that way if I see someone entering commands incorrectly, I can make modifications to the display files when they logoff. One final point, if you edit the .PMT or .TXT files, you must use a plain ASCII editor such as Qedit or the built in one in Norton commander. Also you must make sure you DO NOT hit enter after the last word in the .PMT files, doing so will result in PCBoard putting the ? on the line below the prompt. Example: Your main menu command ? You don't want that, so edit carefully. Finally, if you write door or utility programs for PCBoard, and if you want to swap door or utility program registrations for some custom designed screens, please feel free to give my board a call at the number below. Many thanks to the following: Clark Development Company: For the best BBS software on earth! Sam Smith: For ProDoor and all its features. Larry Schwabe: for inspiring my to take this further ... Steve Tom: for the ANSI prompt idea. Those unmentioned whose ideas I stole and modified. Dean Gangstee, SysOp The Unregistered BBS! (805) 298-7022 HST D/S - (805) 298-6124 HST 9600