LightBar Kit v1.0 Copyright (C) 1994, by Cutting Edge Online All rights reserved. Programming and Documentation by John Marx Cutting Edge Online (318) 537-7089 Voice 6372-B Kucinski Street (318) 537-7746 BBS Fort Polk, LA 71459 Hayes Optima 28.8k U.S.A. FidoNet: 1:3817/9 LightBar Kit v1.0 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- System Requirements The requirements for using this PPE are as follows: a. PCBoard 15.21+ (This program was created with PPLC v3.0 and will not work with any version less than 15.21.) b. Enough space on your hard drive for installation of the program. c. It's not needed but placing this PPE and all your PPE's into different subdirectories is helpful. This allows you to more easily update or remove a PPE with it's accompanying files. Plus if you place more than one PPE in a directory you may run into the program trying to use a file it shouldn't. This is all that is needed to run this program. LightBar Kit v1.0 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Program Overview With the advent of so many "Who's Called" utilities you might ask yourself why I decided to create yet another one. Well, the answer is quite simple. I like programs which I make. I'm biased this way and feel that since I possess the knowledge, skill and experience to do so I just might as well do so for it might help other users beside myself. This program is part of the JM_ series of PCBoard PPE's and is a fine addition to your online system. We've taken great strides to make this the best online "WhoCalled" PPE around. We've taken what we consider to be the best parts of the WhoCall PPE's an incorporated them into one PPE. We know that you will find this a program which is 100% configurable to you, easy to install and maintenance free on your part. Some of the features which help set this program apart are: þ 100% multilingual and we MEAN it! þ All commands, colors, etc are 100% SysOp definable. þ No NAG-me-to-death screens. This is a risk we're taking on our part to make the program available to you and we hope that if you use it you will support the shareware concept. þ Easy installation via our INSTALL.BAT file will have you up in running with this program faster than you can probally print this short, but sweet, manual out on your printer! How's that for easy installation; this is a short manual also! þ Use of cursor keys, spacebar, or pressing the first letter of the command you want will show the first command available starting with that particular letter. þ ANSI and TTY compliant. If in TTY mode than no ANSI position will be used, but users will still have the ability to use the lightbar capability. Just follow the step by step instructions below and you will be running in no time. LightBar Kit v1.0 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Program Installation To install this program you will need to do the following: 1. First unZIP the archive into its new subdirectory. 2. Goto the new subdirectory and create your configuration file. I've included a SAMPLE.CNF which is commented and gives an example of what the configuration file should look like. The configuration file must bee called LBAR.CNF. 3. We provide you with every file needed to give you a complete lightbar system. Of course, our colors may not be what you're looking for so you might wish to change the files. To change the lightbar files you will need to know the layout of the files. The layout is as follows: First Line: Prompt to display before lightbar items. This may be left blank if you don't wish to have a prompt. Second Line: This is to specify whether you want all the options displayed on one line right after each other or if you want only one choice to be on the screen at a time. (1 for only 1 per line or 0 for all on the line visible). Third Line: Number of spaces to place inbetween lightbar commands Fourth Line: Normal prompt Fifth Line: Hilighted prompt (NOTE: We strongly suggest that the normal and hilighted prompts be of the same length) Sixth Line: The command sent if this option is chosen. ... Repeat as needed ... 4. Now you will need to update a PCBTEXT file. We've probided an install.bat file which gives you the capability to change one or all of your PCBTEXT files. That's all there's to it! We hope that you enjoy this program and don't forget to look at the rest of the JM PowerPack which is the best deal for your money. LightBar Kit v1.0 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Possible Error Codes There are several reasons for error codes. The main reason is something went wrong in the program. Even though all efforts have been made to remove any and all possible errors there still may be some configuration we haven't thought of. As such we've included extensive error checking in all of our programs to eliminate any and all possible errors. Errors will be shown to the caller on the screen explaining what went wrong and why if the program can determine without a doubt what it was. All errors will be logged to the callers log! This allows you to correct any problems that your users might not tell you. A lot of times when an error occurs the users like "that's nice." We feel that even as nice as it would be for the user to explain to the SysOp what they were doing when such errors occur, we know not to expect it so we've added this to the code as well. When it logs this information to the callers log it also logs the exact saying that it gave to the user. This gives you the most complete information we can. You may also wish to check out the "Frequently Asked Questions" at the end of this document for it may cover a question you are currently having about PCBoard and PPE's. LightBar Kit v1.0 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Contacting the Author I can be reached on either my BBS or through my home phone number at any time. If I'm not home and you receive the answering machine just leave your name and number with a short explanation, if you can, of the problem. I WILL call you back as soon as I can and if you gave me a description of your problem will more than likely have an answer for you when I do call you back. When you do call us with information about a bug in the program please give us the following information. This information will help us determine what the problem is: 1. Program name and version number. 2. Type and brand of computer, hard disk, plus any peripherals. 3. Version of DOS plus any TSRs or device drivers in use. 4. Explanation of your AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS files. 5. Description of what is in memory from the MEM command (DOS 4 and above users only) or a similar utility. 6. The exact problem you are having. Please be as specific as possible. Having a printout of the screen and/or being at your computer will be helpful. The Cutting Edge Online BBS operates 24 hours a day, is using a Hayes Optima 28.8k modem, PCBoard 15.2/10 and the number is (318) 537-7746. You will be able to download if you wish on the first call. There are no callback doors. We do use CALLER-ID for just this purpose. I personally don't like callback doors and am sure many others feel the same. We've recently upgraded the system bringing the system to 13.2 Gigs online with 5 CD-ROMs. I'm available also on the PCBoard Support BBS, Salt Air. I only call once a week, normally on Saturday so the replies won't be as quick as you may like. I'm also in the FidoNet PCBoard, PCB-Net conferences. Our FidoNet address is 1:3817/9. If you have a problem, suggestion, comment, download or just wish to talk please call and we will be more than glad to serve you. We're not happy until YOU are happy so let us know if we're doing something wrong. If we're doing it right tell your fellow PCBoard SysOps, if not tell US!