CONVERT! v1.1 by ViGilante [PWA] on 7/7/94
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Whats new in version 1.1
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
CONVERT! now lets you decide which type of color codes to convert, either
PIPE codes, @X codes, or both via a command line switch explained later
in this document, or just run CONVERT! by itself for instructions.


Introduction
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Let me just start by saying:  YOU WON'T BELIEVE HOW FAST THIS IS!!! :)

This is the successor to PIPE2PCB.  It is MUCH MUCH faster, and should work
for just about everyone now.  Also, it now converts @X codes to ANSI in
addition to PIPE codes, so forum-hack/renegade sysops can now join in the
fun! ;)


Requirements
~~~~~~~~~~~~
DOS 5.0+, enough memory to run the archivers when CONVERT! shells
to it (leaves about 11k resident), and a good disk cache.

A total of SIX archive types are supported, all detected automatically by
CONVERT!.  You must have the corresponding ARCHIVE/UNARCHIVING programs
somewhere in your path so CONVERT! can do its thing:

.ZIP: pkunzip.exe, pkzip.exe
.ARJ: arj.exe
.LZH: lha.exe
.ARC: arce.com, arca.com
.ZOO: zoo.exe
.PAK: pak.exe


INSTALLATION                                                  
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Just put CONVERT!.EXE somewhere in your path, and make sure all the archivers
you will be using are in your path also.  Next, find the area in your
batch file used to start your mailer where the actual tossing takes place.
I use QFRONT, here is that section of my STARTER.BAT file:

 :TossFido
 C:
 CD \QFRONT
 QScan /CC:\QFRONT\NODE1 /TOSS
 Goto Start

What you want to do is make CONVERT!.EXE the _first_ thing you run after you
receive mail, before any tossers do their thing.  CONVERT! needs the location
of your INBOUND directory (where your mailer places incoming packets) as it's
first paremeter, the second paremeter is an extra option.  Here is the
modified version of my previous example:

 :TossFido
 convert! c:\qfront\inbound [option]             <--Line to add
 C:
 CD \QFRONT
 QScan /CC:\QFRONT\NODE1 /TOSS
 Goto Start

[option] must be the SECOND parameter, and can be one of these:

-PIPE         Convert PIPE codes ONLY
-ATX          Convert @X codes ONLY              

By default (no option), it converts both types.

Note that you must specify the complete drive and path to your inbound mail
directory (C:\QFRONT\INBOUND in my example).  Don't worry about other files 
that may be in your INBOUND dir (nodelists, files from SDN, or whatever), 
CONVERT! will only process files with standard FIDO packet extensions of 
.SA?, .SU?, .MO?, .TU?, .WE?, .TH?, and .FR?.

If any of this is too hard for you to comprehend you really shouldn't be
running a mailer in the first place.


Registration
~~~~~~~~~~~~
This PPE is totally free, no registration required.
Donations are certainly accepted if you feel so compelled, and I won't even
mention the many hours of programming/debugging/testing/whatever spent on
this thing. :)  Cash, old hardware, or even a good leech account on your
board is always appreciated.

Velvet Underground (1) 516-826-0412 USR Dual 16.8k
Velvet Underground (2) 516-Pri-Vate USR Dual 28.8k


Enjoy
~~~~~
Thats about it, if you have any questions or comments you can reach me
on my board, many other quality boards and nets, Internet address
vigilante@156.image.linet.org, or Prodigy @bwvr36c.


Other ViG! Utilities:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
WACKOPROMPT: Floating "SLAM ENTER" prompt replacement.  Very unique, and
             completely configurable.
             Current version: 1.0     Filename: VIG-WP10.ZIP

APPCENTER  : Light Bar Application Center.  Have your users apply for dist
             sites, couriers, networks, anything.  Completely configurable.
             Current version: 1.0     Filename: VIG-AC10.ZIP

PROMATRIX  : Light Bar Logon Matrix.  Many features, incredibly configurable.
             Companion to ProVote.
             Current version: 1.0     Filename: VIG-PM10.ZIP

PROVOTE    : Light Bar New User Voting.  Better than any NUV that is BUILT
             IN to a BBS software, much less a PPE.
             Current version: 1.2     Filename: VIG-PV12.ZIP

PROMPTS    : Replaces 52 of your PCBTEXT prompts, totally revamping the entire
             application procedure, logon procedure, F6 Online user editor
             function, and the (C) subcommand form the (7) User Edit sysop
             command.  100% configurable.
             Current version: 1.0     Filename: VIG-PR10.ZIP

PROEDIT:     Light Bar User Editor.  For sysops to edit all users, or as the
             (W) command for a user to edit himself.  Emulates PCBSM.
             Current version: 1.0     Filename: VIG-PU10.ZIP

SUPERLOGON : "Forum hack" features: broadcast logon to nodes, turbo login,
             random stats, last callers, automessage, one liners, more.
             Current version: 2.0     Filename: VIG-SL20.ZIP

CONVERT!   : Successor to PIPE2PCB.  Converts pipe color codes on incoming
             fido mail into standard ANSI color codes on the fly.
             Current version: 1.1     Filename: VIG-C!10.ZIP

RUMOURS    : Forum-hack style rumours, completely configurable.  Source
             code included.
             Current version: 2.0     Filename: VIG-RU20.ZIP

PCRENFORCER: Enforce Post Call Ratios the RIGHT way.  Totally bars non-PCR
             compliant user from downloading until they post enough messages.
             Current version: 2.0     Filename: VIG-PE20.ZIP

SUPERCHAT  : Really nice split screen chat, with a few unique and very handy
             features.
             Current version: 1.1     Filename: VIG-SC11.ZIP

MORETIME   : Give more time to users who know the correct password, totally
             independant of security levels.  Source code included.
             Current version: 2.0     Filename: VIG-MT20.ZIP