ProMatrix v1.1 by ViGilante on 6/13/95 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A Light bar matrix, highly configurable, reliable, bug-free, backdoor-free, and maintenance-free. This PPE is a companion to ProVote, a new user voting PPE for PCBoard. It was designed to work in conjunction with ProVote, but will work just as well without it. Please note that this PPE has been compiled with PPLC v3.10, so PCB v15.21 is absolutely required. Upgrade Installation ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ If you are upgrading from v1.0, be advised that the formats for STRINGS.DAT and PROMAT.CNF have been altered slightly; you will need to either use the ones included here or mofify your current ones for this version to work properly. Make sure to jot down your reg code if you overwrite your old PROMAT.CNF file. Quick Setup ~~~~~~~~~~~ Create a separate directory, perhaps c:\pcb\ppe\promat, and unzip everything into this directory. Do NOT unzip it to the same dir as ProVote, if you are running it, as some files WILL conflict. You should install this in your WELCOME display file, usually found in the \PCB\GEN directory. All you need is one line in this file: -----Start--------------------- !c:\pcb\ppe\promat\promat.ppe -----Stop---------------------- If you have some sort of ansi you want to be displayed in the WELCOME file that's OK, just add the above line to the bottom of the WELCOME file. Put @WAIT@ (in uppercase) as the second to last line so that people have a chance to see the text in the WELCOME file before ProMatrix loads. Also, put a @QOFF@ at the TOP of the file so they cant abort the display of your ansi, effectively aborting the execution of PROMATRIX in addition. Make sure PCB is set to allow one name users (G,C from PCBSETUP), and put a FAKE.PPE (or similar) into PCBTEXT record #260. If you don't already have one, it should consist of a single line: KBDSTUFF CHR(13). Detailed Configuration ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PROMAT.CNF: Line 1: Registration code, or 000000 if not registered. Line 2: Number of matrix screens to randomly display. You must have a MATRIXx.PCB and a MATRIXx.CNF for each, and numbering must start at 1. Line 3: System Password; NONE to disable. Password needed to gain entry into the BBS. Line 4: New User Password; NONE to disable. Password needed to apply as a new user. Line 5: Security level needed to find out the system password. Line 6: Number of password failures (any type) before the user is automatically disconnected. Line 7: Timeslot password. Here you can define a time of day during which only people with this password can logon. Line 8: Time to begin, format HH:MM in military time. Line 9: Time to end, format HH:MM in miilitary time. Line10: YES if you are using PROVOTE.PPE. If this is the case and you put YES here, then they will be allowed to logon (without knowing the system password)... as long as you have PROVOTE installed correctly, when they run PROVOTE, it will detect that this is a newuser being voted on and show his (her?) current stats, and then hangup on them. Your systems' security cannot be breached at any time. Line11: YES if you would like ProMatrix to create and maintain log files detailing all actions performed at the matrix. Line12: Minimum baud rate required to access the matrix. Even though PCB has a similar feature built in, by using this you can control who gets in with a low baud rate via a password. Line13: Password for low baud restriction. Line14: Number of additional minutes to give a user when composing feedback. By default, PCB only allows (5) minutes before actually logging in which might prove inadequate when trying to write a letter. STRINGS.DAT: Almost any string can be replaced with a file or another PPE, by simply placing the path and filename (preceded by either ! or %) on the line you want to replace. This works EXACTLY like PCBTEXT. Just make sure that if you replace a string where input is required from the user, it is YOUR responsibility to leave the cursor in the spot you want to get input from once control returns back to ProMatrix. CARPET.RED: Put the names of people you would like to 'bypass' the New User Password check in here, they will be allowed to apply as if there was no NUP if one is installed. MATRIXx.PCB: These are your logon screens, randomly displayed. It can be a straight ansi or straight PCB @ codes file, just look at the ones that are included and I am sure you can figure out what to do. MATRIXx.CNF: Every logon screen needs its own .CNF file. The format is: Line 1: Metacommand for first lightbar. This may be a little confusing... there are 5 built in metacommands: LOGON, APPLY, CHECK, FEEDBACK, and LOGOFF. In addition, you can create your own commands by putting the PATH\NAME of a ppe you would like to run or a file you would like to display, just like in PCBTEXT. Don't try to use color codes with the 5 built in commands,they never get displayed, they are just "directives" to tell the PPE what to do when a user chooses this lightbar. Line 2: X position (space) Y position (space) number of chars of this lightbar (not including any color codes). This is where you want the lightbar to appear, and the length of displayed characters. The coordinates should coincide with the text in the corresponding MATRIXx.PCB file. Line 3: Text (including color) for this lightbar when it is HILITED. Note that the UNHILITED text and colors are (should be) built into the corresponding MATRIXx.PCB file. Line 4: Blank line. You must separate each 3-line block with a blank, makes it much easier to edit also. Repeat lines 1 through 4 as necessary for each lightbar you want. You can have a maximim of 9. While this all may seem a little complicated, you should also realize that you have before you an unmatched level of configurability; you can have each lightbar appear anywhere you want, be as long or as short as you want, in any color you want, and do whatever type of command you might want by integrating other ppe's into the matrix. If it still seems confusing just look at the samples provided, and see how I installed the "Chat with Sysop" option into each matrix screen. It is set up by default to load my OCOMMAND.PPE (included in SuperChat) in K:\PCB\PPE\SCHAT, you will most likely want to change the path if nothing else. Registration ~~~~~~~~~~~~ This PPE is totally free, all you need to do is call Velvet Underground and use the "Reg a ViG! PPE" option from the Matrix. Be prepared with your NAME or HANDLE and BBS NAME _exactly_ as it appears in pcbsetup, double check by looking in PCBOARD.DAT. Line #2 is your name, and line #94 is your BBS name. If you are running a cracked version, GOOD LUCK! I hope you are very confident that the person who cracked this knows exactly what he is doing, the 'protection' routines are tied into a lot of other functions, and if altered could produce unpredictable (at best) results. All you need to do is make a 30 second phone call. 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 33.6k Velvet Underground (2) 516-785-8187 USR Dual 33.6k Velvet Underground (3) 516-PRI-VATE USR Dual 33.6k 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 vigilant@liii.com, or Prodigy @bwvr36c. Other ViG! Utilities: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PROMATRIX : Light Bar Logon Matrix. Many features, incredibly configurable. Companion to ProVote. Current version: 1.1 Filename: VIG-PM11.ZIP LOGTAME : Keep those CALLERx logs under control! Saves you money by freeing up untold meggage! :) Current version: 1.0 Filename: VIG-LT10.ZIP 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 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 PROUSEREDIT: 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