-=- Remote Utilities v2.25
Copyright (C) 1989 by Jeremy Slade
All rights resereved
Written by Jeremy Slade of Delta Software Productions
-=- Disclaimer
Although I have taken every precuation I can think of to make
this program safe to use, I cannot be held responsible for
any damage that occurs as the result of any use or misuse of
this program.
-=- Overview
Remote Utilities v2.25 is intended to be a utility to allow
remote users who act as co-SysOps of a BBS system to have a
controlled-access drop-to-dos replacement. This program can
be set up to allow certain users access to different commands
and to even limit what subdirectories can accessed. This is
accomplished through the use of a control file, which can
have any name, thus allowing for as many separate control
files as are necessary.
-=- Setup
First of all, the FOSSIL communications driver needs to
present in memory. Refer to the documentation on your
particular driver for info on ding this.
Next, you need to have the ability to call the program from
within your bbs software. Remote Uitlities was mainly de-
signed to be used with the QuickBBS bbs package written by
Adam Hudson. To use Remote Utilities with QuickBBS, add a
type 7 menu entry to which ever menu it is to be called from,
and use the following line for the data line:
*C /C REMOTE.EXE <port> *B -A*G
where port is the communications port to be used for
communications. See below for additional parameters that may
be used.
-=- Operation
- Parameters
When running in remote mode, the first parameter must contain
the number of the communications port to be used, and the
second must contain the baud rate. For example:
REMOTE 2 1200
means to use COM2 at 1200 baud. All other parameters are
optional.
Parameter Meaning/Function
-L Local Mode. Remote is always assumed unless
this parameter is specified. It may be any-
where on the command line.
-A<val> Specifies use of ANSI/VT100 control codes. If
<val> is 0, then these codes are suppresed.
Any other value allows these codes.
-B This parameter suppresses the use of any color
codes. If ANSI/VT100 is turned off, then this
has no effect.
-C<full path> This parameter is used to specify the location
and name of the control file to be used. This
file can be used to control access to certain
options of the program. See the 'Control File'
section below for description on the format
of this file. This must be the last paramter
on the command line if it is used.
-D<full path> This paramter is used to specify the full path
to a batch file that is invoked when the Dos
Shell command is called. See 'Operation - dOs'
for a discussion on the contents of this file.
The default is RMTSHELL.BAT in the directory
the Remote Utilities was started from.
* <Port> This value has the range of 0..4, and speci-
fies the communications port to be used(0
means local). Any value out of this range will
result in an error, and the program will
terminate and exit at errorlevel 1. This must
be the fist parameter on the command line
whenever it is used.
* <Baud> This value specifies then baud rate to be
used. Allowed rates are: 0 (local), 300, 1200,
2400, 4800, 9600. Values greater than 9600
will result in an error, and the program will
terminate and exit at errorlevel 1. This must
be the second parameter on the command line
whenever it is used.
<work path> This parameter specifies the initial work path
to start from. If not is specified, or it is
invalid, the user will be prompted to enter
the work path to be used.
-=- Operation (continued)
- Parameters (continued)
If no paramters are given, or there is a fatal error
detected, the program will print the message 'Invalid
Parameters' on the local screen, and exit at errorlevel 1.
If the program terminates normally, it will exit at
errorlevel 7. If the carrier is drop during remote operation,
the program will terminate at errorlevel 255.
* Required, but only for remote mode.
-=- Operation (continued)
- Commands
Path - Change Path
This command is used to change the Work Path. Pressing Tab
will abort any changes. After entering the new work path,
Remote Utilities will attempt to change to the new path. If
this attempt is unsuccessful, it will print an error message,
and then repeat the input process. The work path is the path
that is used in all directory listings, and is the location
of the source/object files for all View, Rename, Delete, and
Copy operations. This is also the path that is made current
when using the Dos Shell. After the program terminates, the
original directory is restored (i.e. The directory the
program was executed from is made current).
List - List Files
This operates the same as a Dos DIR command. After entering
the filespec (name(s) of files to list), the program will ask
whether to use the Extended or Normal(default) list. With the
normal list, files are listed 4 to a line, separated by an
'|' character. Info displayed is the name, extension, and
size (in Kilobytes). At the end of the listing, a line will
be displayed containing the total number of files listed, and
the total size of these files in Kilobytes. In Extended list,
files are displayed one to a line with the following info:
Name, extension, size (in bytes), date (MM-DD-YY), time, and
attributes. The attributes can be any combo of the following:
Read Only, Hidden, System, and Archive, or Subdir. After
listing the files, a line will be printed containing the
number of files listed and their total size in bytes.
View - View File
This command will display the contents of any file to the
screen. For local mode, ANSI processing is used. After
entering the file name (must be in Work Path), the file is
read and printed to the screen. To abort the display, press
'S', or press 'P' to pause.
Rename - Rename File
This command first asks for the file to be renamed. It then
searches the Work Path for the specified file. If it is found
it then asks for the new name. If the new name is valid (i.e.
doesn't already exist), then the first file is renamed to the
second one.
Delete - Delete Files
This command can be used to delete multiple files in the Work
Path. The program prompts for the filespec (wildcards valid)
of files to be deleted. It then searches the Work Path for
any matching files. If any are found, then it asks to verify
the deletion of the files. Upon verifying the deletion, all
files found to match the filespec are deleted, and a line is
printed that tells the total number of files deleted.
Copy - Copy File
This file can be used to copy a file in the Work Path to any
other directory/drive. It firsts asks for the name of the
source file, and if it is found, then asks for the destin-
ation path. If both names are valid files names/path names,
the file is source file is copied to the new path.
dOs -
In order to use the Dos Shell command ('dOs'), it is neces-
sary to first reassign the standard input/output devices to
the communications port (COM) you use for telecommunications.
This is done so that Dos will get input from and send output
to the remote system, and is accomplished using the standard
Dos command CTTY. The syntax for this command is:
CTTY <device name>
<device name> must be one of the pre-defined Dos devices: CON
(default), COM1, COM2, etc.. For this purpose it must be the
name of one of the COM devices. This command should be run in
a batch file that first reassigns standard i/o to the com port,
executes the specified command, and then returns the standard
i/o to what it was before, usually CON (console). This batch
file is called whenever the Dos Shell command is run. An
example of a batch file that I use for this is as follows:
CTTY COM%1
%2 %3 %4 %5 %6 %7 %8 %9
CTTY CON
EXIT
The value of '%1' is used as the port number to which
standard i/o is assigned. Remote Utilities will ALWAYS send
this as the first parameter. '%2' parameter is the command to
execute, and '%3'..'%9' are passed as parameters. The EXIT
command tells Dos to return to whatever program initiated the
current shell. In this case, it would return control to
Remote Utilities. If, when in the dos shell from remote, the
carrier is dropped, the fossil driver will reboot the system.
A Sample RMTSHELL.BAT is included in with the Remote
Utilities program.
-=- Miscellaneous
- Control keys for entering strings
Key Name Actual Value Function
Home ^B/0;71/Esc[H Moves to beginning of string
End ^E/0;79/Esc[K Moves to end of string
Left ^L/0;75/Esc[D Moves left one column
Right ^R/0;77/Esc[C Moves right one column
Togle Insert ^V/0;82 Toggles insert mode
Delete 0;83/Asc 127 Deletes char at cursor
BackSpace ^H Destructive backspace
CarriageReturn ^J Terminates input, normal
Tab ^K Terminates input, abort
Erase Field ^Y Erases entire string
- Keys valid during List and View commands
Key Function
P Output will be paused until another key is
pressed.
S Output is terminated.
-=- Miscellaneous (continued)
- Control file
The control file is a standard ascii text file, and can be
named anything that is a valid dos filename. Information
contained in the control file overrides any parameters given
on the command line.
The control file can be used to turn any of the eight avail-
able commands on or off, restricting the user's access to
that command. It can also be used to set ansi on/off, and
color on/off. The following is a list of all commands
supported in the control file:
<command name> - This command has the syntax '<command>
<val>', where command is the name of the command (eg Path,
List, View, ect) to be turned on/off, and value can be any of
the following: On = on,1,+; Off = off,0,- When the command
is off, the user cannot select that command. All commands
that are off will be displayed as white, and those that are
on are green. This applies to ansi/color only.
ANSI - This command will determine whether or not ANSI/VT100
cursor/color control codes are used. It takes precedence over
the '-A' command line parameter. Syntax is 'ANSI <val>'.
COLOR - This is used to determine whether or not to use ANSI
color codes. It takes precedence over the '-B' command line
parameter. Syntax is 'COLOR <val>'. This command is ignored
if ANSI/VT100 codes are not being used.
INITIAL - This command sets the initial work pat hused when
the program is started. It overrides whatever path is entered
on the command line. Syntax is 'INITIAL <path>'. NOTE: Do not
put the path in quotes.
DIR - This command is used to control access to certain
subdirectories on the system. The syntax is 'DIR <path>
<val1> <val2>'. <path> is the path name to be controlled,
<val1> says whether that path is allowed or disallowed, and
<val2> says whether or not to allow access to all subdirec-
tories of <path>. The second <val> is optional, and if it is
not included it defaults to true(allow subdirs).
UNLISTED - This command specifies whether or not to allow all
subdirectories not specified using the 'DIR' command. The
synatx is 'UNLISTED <val>'. If it is true/on, any path that
is not one specified as disallowed using the 'DIR' command is
assumed to be accessable. If this command is not specified in
the control file, it is assumed to be true/on.
*** NOTE *** All command in the control file must begin on
the first column of the line, and all parts of the command
must be separated by exactly one space. Any other formatting
of the control file will cause problems when the file is
read.
-=- Registration
Remote Utilities is meant to be distributed as a SHAREWARE
software package, which means that it is NOT free. You are
granted a trial period of up to 15 days to test and evaluate
the program, after which you are required to either register
it or erase it and never use it again.
Registration costs $15, upon the receipt of which you will be
sent the most up-to-date version I have in distribution. I
will try to have the most current version available for
download from various BBS's, but I cannot say how many or
where they will be located. The most recent version should
always be available for download from Foxx Empire (Fido
306/16), or it may be file-requested from the same place.
To register Remote Utilities, send me your full name,
address, and phone number, along with the required $15 and
any comments/suggestions you may have to the following
address:
Jeremy Slade
1308 Alford Street
Fort Collins, CO
80524
All information will be known only to me and others involved
with Delta Software Productions (this is done so that you can
be sent information about other products being distributed by
Delta Software Productions).
-=- Credits
I would like to thank the following people for their
comments, suggestions, and help in developing and testing
Remote Utilities:
Andrew Boardman,
SysOp of Foxx Empire QuickBBS - (303)484-4359
Home of Delta Software Productions
Fido 306/16
Ray Randolph,
SysOp of Adventures Unlimited QuickBBS -
(303)223-4534
Fido 306/15
Ron Gile,
SysOp of Camelot QuickBBS - (303)493-4139
Fido 306/18
Mark Bossard,
SysOp of The Program Connection QuickBBS -
(303)482-7215
Brett Dodds,
SysOp of BBS KAOS QuickBBS - (303)226-5654
Fido 306/19
Chris Yoder
-=- Bugs and Future Enhancements
There may still be some bugs that have either not been discov-
ered or that I not been able to fix yet. Please let me know
whenever you see something that needs fixing.
Some additions I will consider making in future versions are
listed below:
Time Checking - Right now, the user can remain in
Remote Utilities for as long as they want. I can make
it so that it supports a parameter that says how much
time in minutes the user has left.
Text File Editor - I might add a simple editor that
will allow editing of batch files and other simple
text files like that.
Attribute Command - I might add another command which
will allow users to change file attributes.
Some people would find these additions helpful. I will consider
adding them IF I receive feedback from users telling me that
these changes are desired. I do not want to spend all my time
working on this program if no one is using it. So, if I don't
receive some feedback, I will probably discontinue any work on
this program, and I may even stop distributing it.
If you have any ideas for other enhancements I might make.
please send them to the address listed above.