opendoors/historic/ODTJ9304.TXT

The
OPENDOORS  TECH  JOURNAL
Volume 93, Number 4                                          June 21st, 1993

"The Greatest Thing to happen to Journalism Since Real People"
                                                                                                                                      	
This Issue:     A Word from the Editor - Scott Burkett
                The Open Door - Brian Pirie
                The OPENDOORS Echo
                Where's the Source? - John Kristoff
                Opendoors Tech Corner - Dropfile Location Logic
                Review: BFE v1.30.2à
                OpendDoors Snippets!
                OpenDoors Roll Call
                OpenDoors Distribution Network Sites
                OpenDoors Tech Journal Information
                                                                                                                                      	
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                        A Word from the Editor:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Another day, another fifty cents.  Welcome once again to that info-filled,
free-as-can-be periodical dedicated to the proposition that all C-based door 
libraries are not equal!

ODTJ is getting read worldwide.  Yup.  You know what that means?  Aside from
the fact that it provides a wonderful forum for OD coders to share ideas and
information, it provides:

                         FREE ADVERTISING!

Man!  With the distribution we are getting, ODTJ is the perfect place to
advertise that new door!  I'll leave the rest up to you guys....

All in all this is a decent issue.  It will probably be the last issue before
the 4.20 release of OpenDoors (it should be a doozy).  On a side note, our
BBS (Under the Nile) is not running on a USR 14.4 Sportster.  Too cool.

That's it.  No more words of wisdom this month.  No more ranting and raving
on and on about how RIP is inevitably gonna die.... :-)

Alles Klaar und spater!

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                     THE OPEN DOOR - By Brian Pirie
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

** Editor's Note **

Has anyone seen this guy?  Seriously, rumor has it that Brian is up to some-
thing *BIG*.  Of course, once the rumors have been resolved, our readers will
be the first to know!  Why?  Because we have inquiring minds.  Hrmpf!  Look
for Brian next month....or the next month....or the.....ad infinitum.

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                             OPENDOORS Echo!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                                      		
OPENDOORS is an internationally distributed echo designed for discussion of
BBS door/utility programming, and in particular, Brian Pirie's OpenDoors C
Library!

The OPENDOORS Echo was created by a group of dedicated BBS door and utility
programmers and designers, in order to promote discussions on BBS utility
programming techniques, tasks, standards, and trends. This echo is not just
for BBS door authors!  Discussion of practically any aspect of BBS programming
is encouraged.  Brian Pirie, the author of OpenDoors is available for tech
support, as are his beta-testers.

The echo is not currently on the FidoNet backbone, but a feed is more than
likely available at your favorite ODN Support Site.  Efforts are under way
to put OPENDOORS on the fido backbone...stay tuned!

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                        Where's the Source?
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          By: John Kristoff, The Crossroads BBS (1:115/743)

There seems to be a problem with source code for BBS related utilities and
door programs being released.  Why is this?  I know we have BinkleyTerm,
Maximus and a handful of others, but how many door games do you see that come
with actual source code?  I don't think I've seen any.  In fact, the only
door program that I've seen the entire source for is Brian's RAVote.

Not that I expect the source code for TradeWars (even if I wanted it), but I
find it surprising that so many door programmers are so greedy.  I started
teaching myself C because I'm sick of relying on other authors.  I wouldn't
be surprised if many other small time programmers have done the same.  I've
always thought that the BBS community, and computer networks in general, are
one of the most free, open and chaotic cultures our planet has ever seen.
So I can't understand why people request $10, $25 or more for a files list
generator, a simple voting booth door or those other 'dime a dozen' programs.

Don't get me wrong, I pay for quality software and I have at least a dozen
shareware programs registered.  However, if I was to register every program
I've wanted to use for more than 30 days, I would be in the poor house.
There are just simply too many trivial programs in which I feel their price
isn't justified for lack of programmer committment, exhorborant price, or
just simply the value of the product.  I'm not looking for a free ride, but
I am looking for quite a bit more respect from my fellow programmers.  For
users, the hobby is relatively cheap, but for sysops, it's a different story.
Well, at least if you're honest. Us sysops have enough to worry about in
terms of phone bills, trouble users, hardware, updates and upgrades... and so
on.

I'm including a text, simliar to this message with all programs I write to
encourage the programmers for sysops to write free or cheap software.  I plan
on releasing all my BBS related utilities and door programs as freeware or
public domain (even if that is all they're worth). It's my way of giving
something back to the community that has given me so much.  I encourage you
to do the same, or at the very least, with some of your less popular programs.

John Kristoff
The Crossroads BBS
(312) 587-8756
Chicago, IL
FidoNet: 1:115/743
Internet: [email protected]


** Editor's response:

While I am somewhat in agreeance with John on this subject, I must also play
devil's advocate, and come to the aid of door writers who produce solid
products, often without the availability of source.  Source code availability
for shareware products is simply not available, for obvious reasons.  The
author(s) of the product cannot make source available, as potential customers
could simply recompile the source, and effectively use the software without
properly registering it with the author(s).  In my own case, I choose not
to distribute source code for this reason.  For smaller, freeware titles, I
suppose I never considered the fact that other programmers would want to
peek at my code.  As far as price goes, I have a set $10 registration fee for
all of my door packages, a price which I consider to be extremely low for the
quality of my products.

Very interesting point, John...anyone out there have any feelings on this?

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
              OpenDoors Tech Corner: Dropfile Location Logic
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

At this time, OpenDoors searches for the door information file (aka dropfile)
in the following order:

   1.) First, if there was a custom door information file format
       defined in the OpenDoors configuration file, OpenDoors will
       begin by looking for this file. OpenDoors searches for the
       custom information file in the following order:
             A.) The path defined in the info_path variable
                 (which can be set by your door code and over-
                 ridden by the configuration file BBSDir setting)
             B.) The directory which was the current default dir
                 at door startup time
             C.) If any of the following environment variables
                 exist, OpenDoors will then search for the file
                 in the directories pointed to by these variables,
                 in the following order:
                              RA
                              QUICK
                              PCB
                              BBS

   2.) If no custom door information file was found / defined,
       OpenDoors will then search for door information files
       corresponding to one of the built in formats. It will search
       for these files in the same directories, and same order, as
       it does for the custom door information file (A - C). Within
       each directory, it will search for files with the following
       filenames:

                         CHAIN.TXT
                         SFDOORS.DAT
                         DOOR.SYS
                         CALLINFO.BBS
                         DORINFO1.DEF
                         DORINFOx.DEF, where x is the node number
                                       set by your program, if
                                       x != 1.

       As soon as it finds a directory containing one of these
       filenames, OpenDoors will stop it's door information file
       search phase. It then begins to decide what to do with what
       it has found. If more than one of the above filenames was
       found in the directory in question, OpenDoors will read the
       file with the most recent date and time stamp. This is intended
       to overcome abiguities that can arise when a door information
       file conversion program is being used, and a number of
       different door information files may still exist in the
       directory. In such a case, it is assumed that the most recently
       created file is the one that should be used. If more than one
       file exist with an identical date and time, OpenDoors will use
       the file that is closer to the beginning of the above list. (ie
       they are listed in their order of priority)

       Once OpenDoors has decided which file it is going to use, it
       may have still more decision-making to do. In the case of
       door information file names that correspond to more than one
       format (such as DOOR.SYS), OpenDoors will examine the file
       to determine which format it actually is. If a dorinfo?.def
       file is found, OpenDoors will then also search for an
       EXITINFO.BBS file. (An EXITINFO.BBS file is always acompanyed
       by a DORINFO?.DEF file, as it does not include all the
       information needed by even the most basic of doors). Again,
       if an EXITINFO.BBS file is found, OpenDoors must determine
       which of the many EXITINFO.BBS formats it is actually dealing
       with.

       This may all sound rather complicated, but it is a well thought-
       out strategy that is intended to asure that the correct door
       information file will be located and used in the vast majority
       of cases. (and to think - it does all this in the blink of an
       eye!)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          REVIEW: BFE v1.30.2à
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

BFE v1.30.2à, the flexible BBS front end system from Cairo Research Labs is
now available!  This is an alpha release of the upcoming 1.30 version of
BFE.

BFE is a BBS front-end system that was designed to provide sysops with a
method of running more than one BBS from the same line.  In addition, it has
a wealth of other options available to put in on the front-end of your BBS,
such as allowing file transfers, ANSI/ASCII file viewing, shelling to DOS
from remote, running external programs and batch files, and much more!

BFE was designed to be called from a front-end mailer, such as Frontdoor or
Binkleyterm.  Instead of spawning directly to the BBS system, it presents
a menu to the user, which details his immediate options.  These options can
range from several different BBS systems, remote jobs, literally anything
you can think of!  The BFE system can also be configured to be called
straight from your BBS software itself, in essence, running as a normal
door, using one of several popular BBS dropfile formats.  Read onward....

 ÚÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ¿
ܳ   Features  ³
ÛÀÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÙ
ßßßßßßßßßßßßßß

        * Complete support for ANSI/ASCII/AVATAR users (Auto ANSI detect!)
        * *TRUE* Multinode/Multiuser Compatibility!
        * DESQview aware!
        * Configurable for security concerns!
        * Custom multi-level menus with item-level password protection!
        * Complete carrier monitoring and timeout checking
        * Use any of 11 standard dropfiles, or define custom ones!
        * Run as a normal door or as a frontend!  Dropfile not required!
        * Complete BBS carousel - run multiple BBS systems
        * ASCII/ANSI/AVATAR file support
        * File transfer system with support for external protocols
        * Run remote jobs, such as batch files, programs, other doors, etc.
        * Remote OS shells!
        * Built in chat mode
        * Much more!
        
 ÚÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ¿
ܳ   What's New in This Release?  ³
ÛÀÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÙ     o New  * Change  ! Fix
ßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßß

        o *Major* code cleanup and internal re-documenting and optimizing.
          This will be done every periodically in order for the product to
          continue to grow.
        
        o New beta naming convention:   MAJOR.MINOR.REV (Staging Level)
          (i.e. this is 1.30.2à, v1.30, rev. 2, in alpha staging)

        o Custom user input using the new PROMPT keyword!  Now, you can 
          utilize custom input as the value for SECONDARY data fields for 
          *any* menu type in BFE!
        
        o New keywords: NOPASSPARMS and PROCESS.  These are used to directly
          manipulate the way that BFE performs calls to external processes.
          When used with the PROMPT keyword above, just about anything can 
          be called, in any order, with any arguments!
          
        o The COLOVERRIDE option has been added, to allow each individual
          menu option to use its own unique color.  This overrides the global
          DESCRIPCOL keyword in each .CTL file.  (Thanks to Chris Koziol)

        o Upload capability now in place!  This involved changes to the
          PROTOCOL.BFE file, and adding a new type "U" option.
          
        ! If BFE cannot locate ASCII/ANSI/AVATAR screens at display time,
          it will log an error entry into the logfile, and will no longer
          wait for a remote keystroke to continue. (Thanks to R. Guevarra) 

        o Generic File Transfer System now in place!  The new system allows
          the use of configurable external protocols (no more hardcoded DSZ!)

        o WELCOMESCREEN option added, to provide a global intro screen to be
          displayed upon entering the BFE system (shown once only).  As with
          all of the file display capabilities of BFE, the file can be in
          ASCII, ANSI, or in AVATAR formats.  BFE will display the one which
          best fits the user's terminal settings.

        o The "time to next event" option has been put back into the system,
          and is now passed via a new "-t" switch. (i.e. -t60, -t%3, etc).
          This value is passed to external procedures (Type "R").

        * The "O" type (Remote OS Shell) now utilizes the COMSPEC environment
          variable to locate the command processor.  The command processor
          was formerly specified in the SECONDARY field.  Previously, if
          this value was keyed in wrong, it resulted in BFE locking up
          the system.  Using COMSPEC should make this a bit cleaner.

        o Still more documentation changes!

FREQ:  BFE from:  Under the Nile! 14.4/v.32   1:3613/12 (706) 596-8126
       93K                      
                
Scott Burkett,
Cairo Research Labs

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                       OPENDOORS SNIPPPPPPPPPETS!!!!!!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

By: Mark Williamson, Software Solutions (1:214/54)

Here's yet another way to center your favorite text string:

void str_center(int line,char *string,char *color)
{
    int col = 40 - (strlen(string) / 2);

    /* This method uses the length of the string to center it.  So,
       you would get strange results if you embedded control codes
       in your string.
    */

    if(od_control.user_ansi) {         // This way allows you to specify
       od_set_cursor(line,col);        // the line to put the text on.
       od_printf(color);               // Use the `white on blue` code types
       od_disp_str(string);
    }
    else {
       od_repeat(' ',col);             // This method uses the CURRENT
       od_disp_str(string);            // line the cursor happens to be on.
    }
    return;
}

Mark Williamson
Software Solutions BBS
1:214/54
Lemoore CA
(209)997-0224
v32/v42bis
Open access to first time callers.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

By: Mark Williamson, Software Solutions (1:214/54)

/******************************************************
* fill_box() by Mark Williamson, Software Solutions BBS
*               Fidonet 1:214/54, (209)997-0224
*
* This code will paint a box in the
* specified color using the specified
* character using ansi/avatar graphics.
* Note that this does not make a border!
* Only 'fills' a block on the screen.
* Can be used to clear just parts of a screen.
*
* Call the function with the following parameters:
*
*   int srow,scol:  Starting row,col of the box
*   int erow,ecol:  Ending row,col of the box
*   int attrib:     od_set_attrib() style color code
*   char fill_char: The character to use to paint the
*                   block.  Use ' ' to clear a block.
*
*   This code is placed in the public domain.
******************************************************/

#include <stdio.h>
#include "opendoor.h"

void fill_box(int srow, int scol, int erow, int ecol,
              int attrib, char fill_char);

void main(void)
{
    fill_box(3,10,13,40,0x1f,'°');
}

void fill_box(int srow, int scol, int erow, int ecol,
              int attrib,char fill_char)
{
   int line_len,x;
   if(srow<1) srow=1;
   if(erow>24) erow=24;
   if(scol<1) scol=1;
   if(ecol>80) ecol=80;
   line_len=ecol-scol;
   od_clr_scr();
   od_set_attrib(attrib);
   for(x=srow;x<erow+1;x++) {
      od_set_cursor(x,scol);
      od_repeat(fill_char,line_len);
      }
}


----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 OpenDoors Tech Journal Information
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Editors: Scott Burkett
         Under the Nile BBS
         1:3613/[email protected]
         56:101/[email protected]
         (706) 596-8126 14.4     
         1113 29th Street
         Columbus, GA 31902

         Brian Pirie
         BP ECOMM Systems
         1:243/[email protected]
         [email protected] (Internet EMail)
         (613) 526-4466 14.4
         1416 - 2201 Riverside Drive
         Ottawa, Ontario
         Canada
         K1H 8K9

Published by and for programmers and users of the OpenDoors C Communications
Library and BBS Interface Kit by Pirie Enterprises.  It is a compilation of
tips, reviews, and tidbits pertaining to BBS programming and general usage.
The opinions expressed in this publication do not necessarily represent those
of its editors, the OpenDoors author, or other contributors.

OBTAINING COPIES:  The latest copy of the OpenDoors Tech Journal will always
be available under the magic name of TECHD (for the DOS version), and TECHW
(for the Windows .WRI version) at both of the systems listed above.

SUBMISSIONS: You are encouraged to submit articles for publication in the
journal.  Please send all items to one of the afore-mentioned systems via BBS
upload or mailer file/attach.

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   ->< End of The OpenDoors Tech Journal - Volume 93 Issue Number 4 ><-
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