DizIt v3.4 For PCBoard v14.5a and 15.x And Other Systems with use DIRx formats By Copyright 1994 Robert Neal 317 Hickory Romeoville, IL 60441 Support BBS: CorpSoft BBS Node #1: (815) 886-3233 14400 v.32bis (Public) Node #2: (815) 886-9381 14400 v.32bis (Public) Node #3: (815) 886-9388 28800 v.fc (subscriber only) | Text marked with "|" indicates a change since last version. Sysops upgrading from DizIt v1.x should refer to documentation for changes as v2.0 was a major rewrite of how DizIt processed files. Sysops upgrading from v2.x should not need to do anything other than copy the new .EXE's into your DizIt directory. You may want to run the new DIZCFG.EXE on each of your .CFG files, but this should not be required for most sysops. PROGRAM INFORMATION =================== As a sysop, you've probably downloaded hundreds of files to add to your board. You've probably used the local upload option in PCBoard to add these files to your system, or you've used PCBFiler to read the new files and manually typed in each file description. But with many files now including their own description file, FILE_ID.DIZ and DESC.SDI, wouldn't it be nice to have a program do all the work for you? DizIt is a utility written for PCBoard v14.5a and PCBoard 15.x to do just that. DizIt was written to aid sysops in adding files, up to 2,500 at a time, which contain FILE_ID.DIZ or DESC.SDI into their upload directory from the command line. Additionally, if FILE_ID.DIZ or DESC.SDI is not found in an archived file, DizIt can be configured to scan a text file, that is in PCBoard directory format, and import descriptions directly from that file. Great for importing files from captured file listings of other BBS, file listings from CDROM's, etc. Text files do NOT need to include the "|" character which PCBoard requires. DizIt will import any file which includes the description starting in the 34th column. The entire process is simple to do, even easier than using the "local upload" option of PCBoard, plus offers the import from file function that the local upload function doesn't. If no description is found DizIt will do no further processing of the file except for moving the file to the holding directory you've indicated. This allows you to place all your files you want to add in the directory and let DizIt search for those that can be automatically added to your PCB File directory listing. Currently, DizIt is written to process FILE_ID.DIZ and DESC.SDI from ZIP and ARJ archived files. Based on my experiences, the majority of files being distributed are in these two formats and these two formats will suffice for almost all PCBoard sysops. If you would like to see another format included, please feel free to write me and I'll look to add the format to DizIt. While DizIt will not search for the FILE_ID.DIZ and DESC.SDI for files other than .ZIP and .ARJ, it will quickly scan the file listing for descriptions to import. Great for importing .GIF, .EXE, .LHA, .TXT, etc. into your PCBoard upload directory. PROGRAM INSTALLATION/OPERATION ============================== INSTALL ------------------------- Place the DIZIT files into a directory in your path. You may place DIZIT in it's own directory if you so choose, but you must be sure to properly configure the batch files to make the call to the proper directory when running DIZIT. Ensure that the appropriate archiving programs are available in your directory path. For ZIP files, you'll need PKZIP.EXE and PKUNZIP.EXE. For ARJ files you'll need ARJ.EXE. DIZIT makes a call to these programs to extract the description files as well as importing your BBS comment file. CREATE CONFIGURATION FILE -------------------------- Edit DizIt configuration file, DizIt.CFG. Use the program DIZCFG.EXE contained with this archive to edit this file or use your favorite text editor to edit this file. The items in the configuration file are as follows, do not include the line number references. Refer to detailed explanation below for each line: DizIt.CFG -------------------------- Line 1: CorpSoft BBS Line 2: 0 Line 3: G:\WORK Line 4: C:\UPLOAD Line 5: C:\HOLD Line 6: D:\PCB\MAIN\UPLD Line 7: D:\BBS.CMT Line 8: D:\IMPFILE Line 9: D:\DIZIT\DIZIT.LOG |Line 10: Y |Line 11: Y |Line 12: 0 Line 1: BBS Name Line 2: Registration number, leave as 0 if unregistered. Line 3: Drive/path to be used for temporary work area. A RAM disk, if available, is recommended. Ensure that this directory exists before using DizIt. Do not include the trailing "\" at the end of the directory name. Line 4: Drive/path of where files are to be moved to once they are processed. This could be your public upload directory, private directory or any other directory you choose. Again, ensure that this directory exists before using DizIt. Do not include the trailing "\" at the end of the directory name. Line 5: Drive/path of where files should be moved if either FILE_ID.DIZ or DESC.SDI is not found. Enter "NONE" on this line if you want DIZIT to keep the files in the directory they are currently located. Line 6: Full path/filename of the file to which is to be updated with the files imported. Typically this will be your public upload directory, but you may want to instead move the files to your private upload directory so that you may preview the files before making them public. This file should relate to the directory choosen above. Line 7: Full path/filename of a comment file you want to have added to the ZIP file. Typically, this may be your "BBS AD" comment. Enter NONE if you do not wish to use this option. Line 8: Full path/filename of a text file to be scan and descriptions extracted from for import. File must be in PCBoard file directory format. Enter NONE if you do not wish to use this feature. Line 9: Log file for DizIt, records name of files imported and if description file was found or not. |Line 10: Enable option to include NEWEST FILE: in description (Y or N) |Line 11: Enable option to verify disk space (Y or N). Some sysops have | reported that the disk space routine is returning negative | values. If you have this problem, disable this option (enter a | "N") until this issue is resolved in a future release. |Line 12: Maximum number of lines of description to import. Seems some | authors like to use the FILE_ID.DIZ as a means of writing a | review about their program, I've seen one program that had a | description of 30+ lines. You can enter any value (1-99) in this | field or enter a 0 to allow full description imports. PROGRAM OPERATION ------------------ Move all files to be processed into a temporary file directory. This directory should only contain files you wish to have imported into your PCBoard directory. Enter the following command at the DOS prompt: DIZIT DIZIT.CFG C:\DIZTEMP *.ZIP ----- --------- ---------- ----- ^ ^ ^ ^ | | | \Wildcard to be used (optional - default="*.*") | | \ Directory containing files to be processed | \ Name of your configuration file \ Name you have used for the DizIt .EXE program Once the prorgam starts, it will read the names of all files in your temporary file directory. DizIt will then, if instructed, add the ZIP COMMENT specified on line 7 of the DizIt.CFG file to the ZIP file. DizIt will then check the ZIP or ARJ file to see if the FILE_ID.DIZ or DESC.SDI file exists in the ZIP or ARJ file. If the file is not a ZIP or ARJ archived file, DizIt will skip to the next process listed below. If FILE_ID.DIZ or DESC.SDI is found, DizIt will extract the file to your temporary work directory and then begin to add the file to the end of your PCBoard file directory indicated in the configuration file. Unlike other similar programs, DizIt will update your PCBoard file listing with the file size and the current date of the upload, no further processing of the PCBoard file directory list is required. If FILE_ID.DIZ or DESC.SDI is not found, DizIt will optionally scan the text file indicated in line 8 of the DIZIT.CFG file for filename matches. If a match is found, DizIt will automatically import the description from the text file. Once DizIt has imported the file and description into your PCBoard file directory list, DizIt will move the file from the current directory to the directory specified in line 4 in the configuration file. |USE OF ENVIROMENT VARIABLE |============================ | |At the request of a sysop, I havea added support for enviroment variable |DIZITUPDIR. I had a request from a sysop who was using DIZIT to import |to 150 different directories and wanted a way to send files to different |directories without 150 different .CFG files. Now, you can put "SET |DIZITUPDIR=directory" (where directory=the directory you want files |moved to) before calling DIZIT and this will override the directory you |have indicated in your .CFG file. If you do not have a special need for |this option, do not use it as it may confuse you. REGISTRATION ============ DizIt is released as user support software (aka SHAREWARE). I don't expect you to register the program if you don't like it or if it doesn't meet your needs (just stop using it). But if you continue to use DizIt after a reasonable evaluation period of up to 30 days, you are required to make payment for the program or stop using it. DizIt is NOT crippled in any way other than a marker "->DizIt" will be added to the last line of the file description field. This function has been added as an incentive to register the program. Once you have registered the program, the marker will no longer added to the imported description. Registration is only $12 and will include unlimited free upgrades and support via my BBS. Many hours have gone into making DizIt what sysops have been asking for. It can save you hours of time in uploading files to your board locally, and your time saved should more than offset the $12 price. Please use the form REGISTER.FRM included with the program to register DizIt. If this file is missing, send a check for $12 (US funds) to: Robert Neal 317 Hickory Romeoville, IL 60441 Please include your BBS name as this information will be used to create your unique registration key file. You may receive your registration file via my support BBS (but please be sure you have an account established on my BBS so that I can leave this information in a private message to you) or via the US Mail. Please indicate your preference. Keep your eyes open for other utility programs from me written for PCBoard. Several programs are now in the works and should be released soon. Also, look for my door programs, Card Sharks, Links Golf, BBS Bowling Solitaire and Z-Wordz (available on my BBS as well), I think your users will enjoy playing them. See the file OTHER.TXT for a listing of all my currently available programs. You may register online with your Visa or MasterCard by calling my BBS and typing CHARGE at the main menu prompt. SUPPORT =================== If you have any questions, comments, problems, suggestions for enhancements, etc., I may be reached at my support BBS or by mail. In addition, you may send a message to me on the RIME conferences to my BBS "1255", I regularly monitor the messages in the Sysop, BBS and PCBoard Support conferences. I can also be reached via Prodigy at PNSP01A. I can also be reached via Internet mail at bob.neal@corpsoft.com. LEGAL INFORMATION =============================== This program is provided on an "AS IS" basis. No warranty of any kind is expressed or implied. YOU USE THIS PROGRAM AT YOUR OWN RISK. I take no responsibility for any damage caused directly or indirectly from the use or the inability to use this program. VERSION HISTORY: v1.0 - Initial release v1.1 - Fixed bug where if NONE was selected as the directory to move files to, DIZIT would rename file to NONE. If DIZIT processed a file at the same time that the PCBoard upload directory was being browsed on a 2nd node, DIZIT would return error. Revised file handling so that this no longer occurs - DIZIT updates file without an error. v2.0 - Rewrite of original code for improved status display and speed. Added option to scan text file listing for descriptions to be imported if FILE_ID.DIZ or DESC.SDI file is not found. Program now includes internal routines to read directory information. No need to use batch files to process a group of files. Added LOG FILE feature. v2.1 - Added option to disable the import descriptions and BBS ad file. v3.0 - Greatly increased number of files that could be imported at one time. Previously I had set this to 250 records, but several sysops have had reason to import more than this at one time. DizIt now supports up to 2,500 files imports at one time (have only verified this with 1,400 records - I have nothing that has 2,500 files to be checked at once, nor the disc space ). DizIt will trim extra spaces from the description file if it is left padded with spaces. For example, a record " This is a great file" is imported as "This is a great file". Revamped error routines to verify files/paths specified in configuration file. If an error occurs, an explanation is now shown explaining which file/path was missing and then cleanly exit for you to correct. Rewrote file routine to allow any file extension to have their file description from the text file if specified. This now allows .EXE, .GIF, .TXT, .LHA, etc to be quickly imported into your PCBoard upload directory. These files will not be checked for FILE_ID.DIZ or DESC.SDI and will only have descriptions imported from the text file. Only .ZIP and .ARJ files will be searched for the FILE_ID.DIZ and DESC.SDI files. Added file DIZCFG.EXE, an editor for your DizIt configuration files. No more need to refer to the documentation each time, DIZCFG.EXE has a brief explanation of each line in the configuration file and allows you to edit/enter data. Found that DizIt would not properly operate under DRDOS. The routines used to copy the files to the directories specified would result in files being lost. The routine worked fine under MSDOS. What worked under DRDOS then didn't work under MSDOS - go figure. Changed routine so that it now handles either DOS version correctly. v3.1 - If a file was marked as NONE in configuration, the validation rotuine would try to process the information and return an error message. Revised routine to accomodate this. v3.2 - Left in some debug code that resulted in bypassing my error routine. Result, if you improperly set up DIZIT the program was unable to report what configuration option was improperly set. Error routine should now execute - while I was in the code caught a few more possibilities as to how an error could be generated and now check for them as well. Let me know if any errors go unreported by the program. v3.3 - Added routine that verifies disk space available before copying files. If space is insufficient, DizIt will bypass the file and make a notation in the DizIt log file. Noticed that I had accidentally deleted the "2" in my dimensions for the number of files to be processed. Subsequently, since v3.1 the number that DizIt could process at one time has been set to 500 instead of 2500. DizIt will once again process up to 2500 files at once. v3.4 - Added option to include date of newest file when importing files via FILE_ID.DIZ or DESC.SDI. Added option of disabling the disk space check. The routine I'm using works fine on all 5 of my systems, yet several users have reported that the routine is returning negative disk space. If you encounter problem with the disk space option enabled, you can now turn it off until I can get this resolved. A tricky one since I can't duplicate it on any of my systems. Added option to limit the length of the description being imported. Nothing I like more than to have an a FILE_ID.DIZ which is 20+ lines long. You can now set the length of the imported description to any limit you want and any line in excess will be ignored. Fixed a bug in v3.3 where if you did not have sufficient disk space, a file was being left open. Added support for enviroment variable DIZITUPDIR. I had a request from a sysop who was using DIZIT to import to 150 different directories and wanted a way to send files to different directories without 150 different .CFG files. Now, you can put "SET DIZITUPDIR=directory" (where directory=the directory you want files moved to) before calling DIZIT and this will override the directory you have indicated in your .CFG file. If you do not have a special need for this option, do not use it as it may confuse you. Updated DIZCFG.EXE to accomodate the new configuration options.