Welcome Rotator v1.0 Copyright (C) 1995, by Cutting Edge Online All rights reserved. Programming and Documentation by John Marx Cutting Edge Online (318) 537-7089 Voice 6372-B Kucinski Street (318) 537-7746 BBS Fort Polk, LA 71459 Hayes Optima 28.8k U.S.A. FidoNet: 1:3817/9 Welcome Rotator v1.0 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- System Requirements The requirements for using this PPE are as follows: a. PCBoard 15.21+ (This program was created with PPLC v3.0 and will not work with any version less than 15.21.) b. Enough space on your hard drive for installation of the program. c. It's not needed but placing this PPE and all your PPE's into different subdirectories is helpful. This allows you to more easily update or remove a PPE with it's accompanying files. Plus if you place more than one PPE in a directory you may run into the program trying to use a file it shouldn't. This is all that is needed to run this program. Welcome Rotator v1.0 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Program Overview A simple program to display a random background to your callers. This is the most complete random file rotator available. The program is fast, easy to use, and 100% configurable. No crippled capabilities built into this program. Some of the many features include: ž Works as a welcome screen rotator ž Upto 999 welcome screens with an unlimited number languages ž Display randomly or in a sequential order ž Mandatory option for language display only ž Easy installation Welcome Rotator v1.0 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Program Installation If you need a more complete installation help see the GUIDE.ME file provided. This file was created to more easily guide new SysOps through the process of installing FileMenu. To install this program you will need to do the following: 1. First unZIP the archive into its new subdirectory. 2. Goto the new subdirectory and create your configuration file. I've included a SAMPLE.CNF which is commented and gives an example of what the configuration file should look like. The configuration file must bee called WHOCALL.CNF 3. Edit the WELC-????.??? files to suit your system needs. We've included a SAMPLE.ZIP file which has a good plenty assortment of welcome screens from our system. 4. Add the following line to your welcome screen. You will not need the language screens anymore, unless you would like them to be used instead of the Welcome Rotator: ![drive]:\[path]\welcome.ppe That's all there is to it. Enjoy! Welcome Rotator v1.0 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Below are a listing of the available %variables% for use with this program. Along with these variables you may use any combination of @variables@ which PCBoard supports, this may either be color, variables or positioning. It is strongly suggested that you refrain from using @more@, @wait@, etc within the PROMPTS file but are easily implemented within the headers and footers. The reason for this is simple. In a network environment this could reck havok by making it so that the file cannot be read/written to. The variables which are available to you are: Variable Width Description ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ %ALIAS% 25* Users alias %CARRIER% 3-7 Users baud rate without commas %CARRIERC% 3-8 Users baud rate with commas %CITY% 25* City/state user is calling from %DATAPHONE% 13 Data/work phone number %DATE% 8 Todays date %EXPDATE% 8 Users expiration date %EXPDAYS% 1-3 Users expiration in days %EXPERT% 1 Users expert mode %FUNCS% 7 Functions %MODE% 1-?? Users graphics mode as defined in the PROMPTS file %HOMEPHONE% 13 Users home phone number %NODE% 1-3 Node number %NUMCALLS% 1-?? Users baud rate without commas %NUMCALLSC% 1-?? Users baud rate with commas %PAGELEN% 1-3 Transfer Protocol Letter %PROLTR% 1 Transfer Protocol Letter %SECURITY% 1-3 Users Security Level %TIME% 5 Todays Time %USER% 25* Users name %YESDATE% 8 Yesterdays Date %YESTIME% 5 Yesterdays Time * - The width may be changed in the configuration file NOTE: If no width is specified than the width is not fixed and may changed based on the information that the user has. We've tried our best to provide you with a range of what can be expected in the width area. We suggest that your separate each % with an @pos:##@. PCBoard @x color codes make no difference in the width of the character as they are automatically taken care of by PCBoard. Welcome Rotator v1.0 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Possible Error Codes There are several reasons for error codes. The main reason is something went wrong in the program. Even though all efforts have been made to remove any and all possible errors there still may be some configuration we haven't thought of. As such we've included extensive error checking in all of our programs to eliminate any and all possible errors. Errors will be shown to the caller on the screen explaining what went wrong and why if the program can determine without a doubt what it was. All errors will be logged to the callers log! This allows you to correct any problems that your users might not tell you. A lot of times when an error occurs the users like "that's nice." We feel that even as nice as it would be for the user to explain to the SysOp what they were doing when such errors occur, we know not to expect it so we've added this to the code as well. When it logs this information to the callers log it also logs the exact saying that it gave to the user. This gives you the most complete information we can. You may also wish to check out the "Frequently Asked Questions" at the end of this document for it may cover a question you are currently having about PCBoard and PPE's. Welcome Rotator v1.0 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Contacting the Author I can be reached on either my BBS or through my home phone number at any time. If I'm not home and you receive the answering machine just leave your name and number with a short explanation, if you can, of the problem. I WILL call you back as soon as I can and if you gave me a description of your problem will more than likely have an answer for you when I do call you back. When you do call us with information about a bug in the program please give us the following information. This information will help us determine what the problem is: 1. Program name and version number. 2. Type and brand of computer, hard disk, plus any peripherals. 3. Version of DOS plus any TSRs or device drivers in use. 4. Explanation of your AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS files. 5. Description of what is in memory from the MEM command (DOS 4 and above users only) or a similar utility. 6. The exact problem you are having. Please be as specific as possible. Having a printout of the screen and/or being at your computer will be helpful. The Cutting Edge Online BBS operates 24 hours a day, is using a Hayes Optima 28.8k modem, PCBoard 15.2/10 and the number is (318) 537-7746. You will be able to download if you wish on the first call. There are no callback doors. We do use CALLER-ID for just this purpose. I personally don't like callback doors and am sure many others feel the same. We've recently upgraded the system bringing the system to 13.2 Gigs online with 5 CD-ROMs. I'm available also on the PCBoard Support BBS, Salt Air. I only call once a week, normally on Saturday so the replies won't be as quick as you may like. I'm also in the FidoNet PCBoard, PCB-Net conferences. Our FidoNet address is 1:3817/9. If you have a problem, suggestion, comment, download or just wish to talk please call and we will be more than glad to serve you. We're not happy until YOU are happy so let us know if we're doing something wrong. If we're doing it right tell your fellow PCBoard SysOps, if not tell US!