Simple Time Bank Documentation This PPE is freeware and may be distributed freely, but I do retain all copyrights. It is free of any backdoors or trojan code, it works for me and should for you, but I make no guarantees. You assume all responsibility for use of this code. Now that that's out of the way: This PPE is a simple time bank- no frills, no gambling, no transfers - just a place for users to store time and/or bytes for later use. It will honor all PCBoard restrictions you set, and the amounts allowed for deposit/withdrawal on a daily/maximum basis are sysop configurable. Installation ============ 1. Extract the PPE and accompanying files to a directory. 2. Edit any of the display files to suite your own style. 3. To your CMD.LST, add an entry to make the bank available to your callers. See your PCBoard Manual if you are unsure how to do this. Thanks all there is to it. The first time the PPE is run, it will create the necessary database files it needs. FILES ===== The following files should be in your directory: FILE_ID.DIZ - archive description STB.DOC - this file HISTORY.TXT - History file containing changes/updates STB.PPE - Time Bank PPE STB.CFG - Sysop Configuration file (commented) HELP - Help display used by the PPE STBWELC - First time user display MENU - Main Menu Display PROMPTS - Prompts used by STB.PPE Files that the PPE will create and maintain: STB.DBF - Database file with bank information for each user who uses the time bank. NAME.NDX - Index of names for fast lookup and retrieval Files that may exist, but don't have to: STBTWIT.LST - List of users names, 1 per line, that aren't allowed access to the time bank. If these users try to enter, they will displayed a short message and returned to the BBS. Config File =========== The STB.CFG file is commented at the end. Only the first six lines are important and are required. This file will allow you to set the limits on the number of minutes and bytes allowed to be stored in the Time Bank, and withdrawn later, as well as maximum amounts that can be stored. Display Files ============= There are 3 display files used by STB. All can have Graphics, Language, and security specific versions (or combinations of them). STBWELC - This file is displayed when a user has never been in the time bank before. You can use it to list the limits you have set, rules, whatever you feel is important. MENU - This is the main menu display of the Time Bank. You can edit it to make the bank appear seemless with the rest of your BBS. HELP - This is the file displayed when the user requests help in the time bank. It should display all the choices available. Twit File ========= You can prevent specific users from accessing the Time Bank by placing their name in the special STBTWIT.LST file. Use their real name, 1 per line. They will be displayed a quick message, then sent back to the BBS. Prompt File =========== The PPE has an editable PROMPT file that can have Language specific variations. I will Warn you that I recommend AGAINST editing the Report Lines. The OPTEXT macro is used heavily, and specific lines will contain specific information. Now a Brief description of the lines. Line 1 - Displayed to STBTWIT.LST users Line 2 - Database Error message Lines 3-9 - Menu if MENU file doesn't exist Line 10 - Expert Mode Main Prompt Line 11 - Normal Mode Main Prompt Line 12 - Used with other lines. Line 13 - Displayed when user quits the time bank Line 14-34 - REPORT LINES (see below) Line 35 - User can withdraw time due to upcoming Expedited BBS Event Line 36-37 - Displays minutes/bytes in bank before a transaction Line 38-39 - Time/Bytes transaction prompt Line 40-41 - OPTEXT for prompts 38, 39, and 43 Line 42 - Part 1 - Indicating unable to complete request due to CFG limits Line 43 - Part 2 - " " " " Line 44 - Part 3 - This and the above 2 lines create the full prompt Line 45 - Indicates PCBoard didn't allow the change in time Line 46 - Display when user has unlimited bytes and attempts a byte transaction Reports lines 14-34 These 21 lines should be edited very carefully if at all (I'd recommend leaving them alone). But if you're daring, heres the format. Note: BLANK indicates you can do whatever, there is nothing special about the line. LINE(s) DESCRIPTION 14-17 BLANK 18 Current formatted Date and time in OPTEXT, field length is 22. 19-20 BLANK 21 Date of last Time Transaction in OPTEXT, field minimum of 12 22 Time in Bank & Max allowed - in OPTEXT, field length is 20, right justified if you want things to line up all the time combination fields will be in the format ###### / ###### min 23 Time Deposited today so far & Daily maximum - in OPTEXT field length is 20, right justified 24 Time Withdrawn today so far & Daily maximum - in OPTEXT field length is 20, right justified 25-26 BLANK 27 Date of last Byte Transaction in OPTEXT, field minimum of 12 28 Bytes in Bank & Max allowed - in OPTEXT, field length is 20, right justified if you want things to line up all the bytes combination fields will be in the format #######/####### KB. and the values will be converted to kilobytes 29 Bytes Deposited today so far & Daily maximum - in OPTEXT field length is 20, right justified 30 Bytes Withdrawn today so far & Daily maximum - in OPTEXT field length is 20, right justified 31-34 BLANK Support ======= Support for this, and all my PPE's can be obtained on my BBS. I will provide support and accept bug reports via Fidonet Netmail and internet e-mail, but can only answer BBS and e-mail messages. Netmail replies will be placed on the BBS unless an e-mail address is included. Herbert Bushong BBS : 318-468-3385 Internet: herbert.bushong@bbread.pecan.com Fidonet : 1:19/19 or on Intelec and U'NI-net