KASAWARN - A PCBOARD V15.21+ UTILITY PURPOSE ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- To display a text file to callers who may have accidentally changed the following user options: - Expert Mode ON - No Protocol Selected - ONE LINE FILE Descriptions (PCB 15.3 AND ABOVE) Also to show text to first time callers in places other than in the NEWUSER. file. BACKGROUND ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- I've often noticed users in Expert mode fumbling around the BBS system, obviously very lost. What has usually occured is that the caller has pressed X at some stage unwittingly and put themselves in Expert mode. Since all the menus have now disappeared, they don't know how to get them back again! Thus was born, KASAWARN ... Insert this PPE as an included file in one of your logon text files (like the security display files 10. 20. etc) and if the user is in Expert mode they see a short display at logon telling them what has happened and how to get out of it! After only a few days, I noticed lots of callers switching out of Expert mode and leaving heartfelt thanks to the Sysop. Aw, shucks . So I extended the PPE to cover those who selected "N" as their default protocol and also to allow displays to first time callers in places other than NEWUSER. HOW IT DUZZIT WORK? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- KASAWARN first checks to see if any of the warning states exist, if not then it exits quickly. CONFIGURATION ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- All the configuration options(01) ONE are contained in the file KASAWARN.CFG which must be in the same directory as the KASAWARN.PPE itself. This INI file operates on the same basis as the Windows style INI files that we are all used to these days. Any unformatted text editor can make any changes required. KASAWARN.CFG is fully documented internally, so have a look there for configuration details. INSTALLATION ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- It is suggested that you create a separate directory for each PPE you run, it makes it a lot easier to find and sort them out later on. I suggest a directory like: C:\PCB\PPL\KASAWARN\ Extract the files KASAWARN.PPE, KASAWARN.CFG files into that directory. Then insert the PPE in a text file that is displayed wherever you want the warnings to be shown like this: !c:\pcb\ppl\KASAWARN\KASAWARN.ppe The line must start with a ! mark in column 1 followed by the full drive/path/filename of the PPE. You can insert this PPE in any PCBoard text file, NEWS. the security specific logon files (eg 10. 30. 60. etc), you could put it in your main menu BRDM file, but that's not recommended (it would operate every time the main menu is displayed). TEXT FILES The text files displayed by KASAWARN are fully editable by the sysop, sample files are included in this archive for you to edit as you see fit. The base file names are fixed as follows: Expert warning ....... XPRT. No Protocol .......... NOPR First Time Caller .... 1ST. SHORTDescroptions......SHORT All the files can accept Security, Language and Graphics variants, if required. (eg for French language XPRT.FRE NOPR.FRE and 1ST.FRE) MULTIPLE CONFIGURATIONS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- You can run multiple copies of KASAWARN, with different configurations at various places on your BBS displays. Just copy KASAWARN.PPE and KASAWARN.CFG to new names (same extensions) Example: If you wanted to have a special text file only displayed to first time callers, but still have KASAWARN working elsewhere, copy the PPE and CFG to a new name like: 1STIMER.PPE 1STIMER.CFG TESTING ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- If you want to try out KASAWARN before putting it online, then insert this line in your CMDS.LST file (from PCBSetup | File Locations | Configuration Files ) Charges Per PPE/MNU File Specification -or- Command Sec Minute Use Keystroke Substitution ÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ ÍÍÍ ÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ ÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ KASAWARN 110 0 0 C:\PCB\PPL\KASAWARN\KASAWARN.PPE You can then logon as Sysop and type KASAWARN at the BBS main menu. Change your Expert status and/or T)ransfer Protocol then run KASAWARN again to see how it operates. REGISTRATION NONE it's FREEWARE COMMENT'S/PROBLEMS/GRATUITIES MR. E. Ken KASA ENTERTAINMENT-Presents 810-228-7496 6pm - 12am daily 43121 Carlyle 203A Clinton TWP., MI 48038 U.S.A. INTERNET KASA2@JUNO.COM FIDONET SYSOP@1:120/563 USNETMail SYSOP@587:120/0