===============================================================================
                Mike Jones and On The Spot Communications
                                present

                         D O N A T E . P P E
===============================================================================

Background
----------
When OTSC was started in 1993, it began as a free BBS to support the local
community, that did not have a "full-service" BBS.  As an effort to help
pay the bills, I encouraged callers to send a small donation.

A short time after my donation policy went into effect, nobody seemed to heed
my bulletins and posts.  Upon a search of a local support board, a freeware
utility was found that would place a 5 second delay in the logon, with a
reminder to send a donation.  With the switch to PCBoard, a utility could
not be found to replace that program.

Without a program like the original, it was decided to break in the PPL
compiler and write my own.  That is how donate.ppe came to be.

Instalation
-----------
First, edit the DONATE.CFG.  The copy enclosed has additional comments
added, but I will explain here:
        Line 1 - Name of the BBS, as registered on OTSCBBS.
        Line 2 - Sysop's First and Last Names
        Line 3 - Registration Number.  Can be any number of digits,
                 and must be obtained from the support sites listed
                 below.
        Line 4 - If the caller calls in less than this number of times,
                 donate will not nag them for a donation.  On my setup,
                 if they call in 5 times or less, it will not nag them.
                 But, if they call in the 6th time, they get the nag.
        Line 5 - This overides the number of times, so a caller who
                 calls three times in one day will not get requests for
                 him to send a donation until after a certain number
                 of days... Whichever comes later.
        Line 6 - Anyone who has this security level or higher will not
                 receive the donation messages.  On my board, it is
                 reserved for Visiting Sysops, Co-Sysops, and of course,
                 Sysops.
        Line 7 - This is the amount of time to delay the user for.  Be
                 sure to change the screen so it reflects different.
        Line 8 - If the caller has an amount greater then or equal to
                 this in the PCBACCOUNT PSA module, it will not nag them.

Second, make sure that the PCBACCOUNT PSA is installed.  DONATE.PPE will
not function without it.

If you are going to use the minimum number of days before sending the
nag, as defined on line 5 of the config file, you must have the PCBSTAT
PSA installed.  If you don't want this feature, set line 5 to 0.

Third, place donate.ppe in your File Locations/Logon-Logoff
Questionaires/Logon Questionaire location.  Be sure that the answers file
is not defined.

Fourth, edit the DONATE file to your design, or add additional versions
for additional languages (i.e. RIP)

Operation
---------
The program is self-operating.  When a caller calls in, it will check and
see if all the conditions are met.  If the registration number on line 3
of the configuration file is invalid or 0, then internal defaults will be
used.

Revision History
----------------
Version Alpha-1, April 14, 1995, basic program code completed.  First
     working version.
Version Alpha-2, May 12, 1995, added support for configuration file.
Version Beta-1, June 20, 1995, added registration support, finished support
     for configuration file.
Version Beta-2, June 25, 1995, minor bugfix, first release outside local
     testing.
Version Beta-3, July 7, 1995, added days to wait and security level limits.
     Cleaned up code for smoother operation.

Future Plans
------------
Nag limits, so a caller will get a 5 second delay on call 5, a 10 second
     delay on calls after the 10th.
Possibly insert this into my full-featured logon program, with Birthdays
     and other daily-changing bulletins in it.  This is still in early
     alpha (Alpha-1), and I am working on it as time permits.
RIP Graphics for my version, as well as to ship with future releases.
Full Release.

Registration
------------
DONATE.PPE is freeware.  I only ask that you contact me, so I know you
are using it.  You may contact me by any of the following means:

                Fidonet: 1:2801/22, username: Mike Jones
                Internet: mjones@otscbbs.com
                Direct BBS:  (913)242-0678

I will fill most registration code requests and return them via the same
method sent to me, within 24 hours.

Support
-------
Support is available through all the sources listed above.  In addition,
I can be contacted through the RIME/FIDO PCBoard support area.

Updates
-------
Updates may be received from my BBS, Salt Air, or other sites.

If you have an idea for an additional feature to this, let me know via my
normal Support channels.  I welcome outside input on my projects.

Source Code
-----------
Currently, I do not make my source code available to others, as it is still
in development.  When I release this program (Version 1.0) I might have a
source code option.

DISCLAIMER
----------
This product is sold AS-IS without any warranties.  Support will be given
to any user who contacts the author as defined above.

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