+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Enhanced Bulletin Lister v1.0 | | Written by Drew [PWA] | | Docs Last Updated 04-06-95 | +-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+ +-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | 0. Table of Contents | +-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+ 1. Introduction 2. Packaging 3. Installation 4. Configuration 5. Last Words +-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | 1. Introduction | +-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+ Enhanced Bulletin Lister (EBL) is a simple and limited, but attractive lightbar and hotkey driven PPE to replace your "B" command while functioning as a seamless add-on to your existing defined bulletins. It is simple because unlike numerous other bulletin PPE's, you do not have to type in the pathnames of each and every bulletin you wish to have available to be shown for this PPE, since you may do so already (and have probably done so) in PCBSETUP. It is limited because if the number of bulletins you have for a conference exceed one page in length, then the original method of the "B" command is used (no lightbars or hotkeys) for that conference. EBL is totally conference aware. The only real configuration involved is defining your bulletins (in BLT.LST) and drawing your own bulletin menu files (BLT) in the normal fashion within PCBSETUP. Hence, EBL is behaves more like an add-on to your existing bulletin setup. Source is also included, so feel free to improve upon this in any fashion. Let me know (send me) if you make any worthwhile changes that should be included in future versions. +-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | 2. Packaging | +-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+ Your zip file should contain the following files: EBL.CFG The main configuration file. EBL.DOC Documentation (you are reading it now). EBL.PPE The PPE itself. EBL.PPS Source code. INSTALL.BAT Installs STUFF.ME for PCBTEXT Prompts #224 and #611 SAMPLE.BLT Sample BLT menu file for use with default config file. STUFF.ME Text file to replace Prompts #224 and #611 STUFF.PPE Used in STUFF.ME STUFF.PPS Source for STUFF.PPE OTHERDJP.DOC Other stuff I've written. FILE_ID.DIZ File (zip) description. PWA.NFO PWA info file. TSP.NFO My bbs ad. If any of these files are missing, be warned that you may have a copy that has been tampered with. If you have any extra files, they are extraneous and unnecessary. Typically, my bbs ad may not be there, which is not a problem. However, the idiots who contribute this to the fidonet backbone (usually originating from the Clipper Workshop BBS) edit the FILE_ID.DIZ, remove PWA.NFO and OTHERDJP.DOC, and insert their own bbs ad which is bigger than most ppe's. Just be aware, since who knows what other stupidities they may pull. +-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | 3. Installation | +-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+ Add EBL.PPE to your CMD.LST as a replacement for the "B" command. Also, you will need to have PCBTEXT Prompts #224 and #611 point to the STUFF.ME text file. Ie: "%C:\PPE\EBL\STUFF.ME". If you wish, you may run INSTALL.BAT and have this part done semi-automatically. +-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | 4. Configuration | +-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+ Assuming you have conferences defined with bulletins via PCBSETUP, you will need to edit EBL.CFG for configuration options. Note that the same menu file (SAMPLE.BLT) is totally ficticious. I have only included it so that you can see how the configuration file's information matches with this particular menu. If you have really dull looking BLT menus, you might want to use the the sample one instead. :) Also, you will need to edit the file "STUFF.ME", and have the correct directory paths listed in there. Obviously, in all normal cases, it is up to you to draw your own BLT menu files and make sure the starting row and column positions for the lightbars is entered into the config file for that particular conference. You will also need to specify the BLT file as you would normally do inside of PCBSETUP for each particularconference. +-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | 5. Last Words | +-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+ The reason I made this PPE is because I lacked a bulletin ppe that was simple to configure. I really dislike typing in bulletin names for each bulletin since that made it PPE specific (compared to just reading it from BLT.LST). Also, PCBoard has a nice feature where it can automatically check and inform the user if any bulletins have been updated. Most all other bulletin PPE's bypass this feature. Lastly, it has a hotkey feature, so you can just "A" for first bulletin, "B" for the second, and so on. Otherwise, if you need to reach me for some reason, you can send internet email to "drew@xinet.com", or leave me a message on Attitude Net, or call my board: The Silicon Phalanx at 310-575-8567 and apply for access. Peace, --Drew