QBBS2PCB: Run PCBoard 14.x doors under QuickBBS 2.xx!
Version 1.2
by Mr. Zarniwoop
Megadodo Publications, (708) 423-4852, 300/1200/2400 (MNP 3/4/5)
******************** YOU MUST READ THIS! *********************
DISCLAIMER AND WARRANTY STATEMENT:
This software is provided "as is" without any warranty of any kind, either
expressed or implied, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of
merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. The entire risk as to
the quality and preformance of the software is with you. Should the software
prove defective, you (NOT DARIUS VASKELIS) are responsible for any and all
damages that may arise.
In no event shall Darius Vaskelis be liable to you in any way for any damages,
including lost profits, lost savings, or other incidental or consequential
damages arising out of use or the inability to use the software even if Darius
Vaskelis have been advised of the possibility of such damages, of for any
claim by any other party.
NOTICE:
QBBS2PCB is offered as shareware. You are free to distribute this program in
unregistered form to ANYONE provided that all files within the package are
complete and unmodified and no special fee is charged for the package. If any
type of fee is charged for QBBS2PCB for the package, contact Darius Vaskelis
for permission first.
Files within this package: (intially distributed as Q2PCB120.ZIP)
QBBS2PCB.EXE - The QBBS2PCB program itself.
QBBS2PCB.DOC - This documentation!
REG_Q2P.EXE - The registration program, really useless unless you have sent
in for registration.
BRUN45.EXE - Microsoft BASIC Runtime, Version 4.5; needed by QBBS2PCB.EXE
and REG_Q2P.EXE.
QBBS2PCB.REG - The handy-dandy registration form.
I call the program pesterware because it pesters you to register it. This is
NOT crippleware! It is a fully functional program, with NO features disabled
or inaccesible! The unregistered version differs from the registered version
in these three respects:
1. When QBBS2PCB is run, a short tune is played locally for the sysop, and it
is also sent in the form of an ANSI music sequence to the caller.
2. The PCBoard caller alarm is enabled. This usually allows doors to make
noise locally.
3. The -m parameter of QBBS2PCB is ignored.
If QBBS2PCB is registered, no tune is played locally or remotely, and the
PCBoard caller alarm is disabled so doors should run silently. The -m
parameter is allowed.
Registration costs $10.00 US, and applies to all current and future releases
of QBBS2PCB. To register QBBS2PCB, send your $10.00 (feel free to send more
if you REALLY like the program) to:
Darius Vaskelis
2745 W. 94th Street
Evergreen Park, IL 60642-2520
Make all checks payable to Darius Vaskelis.
If you register, you'll make a college student very happy. And your karma
will go up. And everyone will like you. (maybe)
You MUST include ALL of the following information:
1. Your name
2. Your full mailing address
3. A voice telephone number where you can be reached
4. Your BBS name and number
5. Your name as the sysop of your BBS, EXACTLY as it appears when displayed by
the QCONFIG program! This is VERY important! So be sure you get it right,
eh?
Now included is a handy-dandy registration form to simplify life as we know
it.
WHAT IS QBBS2PCB?
Quite simply, QBBS2PCB is a program that allows almost all PCBoard 14.x doors
to run on QuickBBS 2.xx BBS systems. It was developed because DoorMaster and
RUN-14 had a few shortcomings with PCBoard 14.x doors in my eyes. For running
PCBoard 12.x (11.8 to 12.1) doors, I heartily recommend DoorMaster (by
DataPoint Consulting/Michael P. Otto) or RUN-14 (by Steve Calvert). Also,
DoorMaster can run doors for MANY other BBS systems... if you don't have a
copy, you don't know what you're missing!
QBBS2PCB was developed specifically for QuickBBS, in that is uses not only the
generic DORINFO1.DEF file created by QuickBBS, it also uses the QuickBBS
specific EXITINFO.BBS file for the most possible information about the caller.
Everything, from name, location, phone numbers, etc. is passed to the PCBoard
door, along with a correct time limit.
USING QBBS2PCB:
The program was designed so that only one copy of QBBS2PCB would be needed for
all PCBoard 14.x doors on your QuickBBS system. Note that this program
REQUIRES a copy of BRUN45.EXE! Either place BRUN45.EXE in the same directory
with QBBS2PCB when it is run, or make sure the directory with BRUN45.EXE is
included in your PATH statement. (recommended to place BRUN45.EXE in your
PATH...)
When QBBS2PCB is run, it reads the QuickBBS files DORINFO1.DEF, EXITINFO.BBS,
and USERS.BBS. It uses the information in these files to create the PCBoard
files CNAMES, PCBOARD.DAT, PCBOARD.SYS, and USERS. By default, all files are
read and written from/to the default directory.
Also by default, all information is passed as-is. This means that the name
"John Doe" from QuickBBS will be passed as "John Doe" to the PCBoard door. If
there is a problem with lower-case data, use the "-u" switch from QBBS2PCB. A
list of all command lines switches follows:
ALL COMMAND LINE SWITCHES *MUST* BE SEPERATED BY SPACES!
-1 Use this only if the door has a problem with one-word names. With this
parameter, a user with a one-word name gets a last name of "." in the
door. Normally, names are passed as-is.
-b Use this if you want QBBS2PCB to use a locked baud rate, and your FOSSIL
is set to use a locked baud rate. Basically, this parameter should only
be used if your FOSSIL is flaky and you are using the "-d" switch. Ex:
-b38400 would force a baud rate of 38400.
-c Use this if you want to have the page-bell enabled in the PCBoard door.
Normally, the page-bell is disabled. (the caller alarm, seperate from the
page-bell, is disabled for registered copies, enabled for unregistered
copies, you get what you pay for!)
-d Use this if you are having problems with your FOSSIL driver, and QBBS2PCB
cannot correctly read the baud rate with your FOSSIL. (Buggy FOSSILs DO
exist... more reason to always keep up with the latest FOSSIL for your
computer) Using this parameter forces QBBS2PCB to read the baud rate from
the DORINFO1.DEF file. (By default, QBBS2PCB reads the baud rate directly
from the FOSSIL driver.)
-h Use this to disable CTS handshaking. With the FOSSIL enabled: depending
on the FOSSIL driver and how it was loaded, QBBS2PCB may or may not use
CTS flow control intially, -h will disable CTS flow control no matter how
the FOSSIL driver was loaded. With FOSSIL disabled (with the -d
parameter): QBBS2PCB expects CTS flow control, -h will disable it.
-m Use this to disable the "Opening a PCBoard door..." message normally sent
to the modem. ONLY AVAILABLE ON REGISTERED COPIES!
-q Use this to tell QBBS2PCB where to look for the QuickBBS DORINFO1.DEF,
EXITINFO.BBS, and USERS.BBS. If "-q" is not used, it defaults to the
current directory. Ex: -qC:\QuickBBS\ NOTE: IT MUST END IN A "\"!
-p Use this to tell QBBS2PCB where to put the PCBoard CNAMES, PCBOARD.DAT,
PCBOARD.SYS, and USERS. If "-p" is not used, it defaults to the current
directory. Ex: -pC:\QuickBBS\Door\ NOTE: IT MUST END IN A "\"!
-s Use this to turn snoop mode off. It normally defaults to on. With snoop
mode off, most PCBoard doors will generate no screen display.
-t Use this to tell QBBS2PCB where your QuickBBS text file directory is. If
"-t" is not used, it defaults to the current directory. Ex:
-tC:\QuickBBS\TxtFiles\ NOTE: IT MUST END IN A "\"! (I have yet to see a
door that NEEDS this switch... but hey, it's here if you need it!)
-u Use this only if the door has a problem with names in lower-case. If this
parameter is used, all names, passwords, and locations are converted to
upper-case before they are passed to the door. Normally, names are passed
as-is.
-x Use this ONLY if you are using Ray Gwinn's X00 FOSSIL driver, AND you are
using a multitasker! It allows QBBS2PCB to access the X00 FOSSIL driver
directly without allowing the multitasker to reroute the FOSSIL call. It
will NOT work with any other FOSSIL except X00!
So some examples:
QBBS2PCB -pC:\QuickBBS\PCBDoor\ -qC:\QuickBBS\ -s -d -b19200
Creates PCBoard files in C:\QuickBBS\PCBDoor and looks for QuickBBS files in
C:\QuickBBS. Snoop mode is off, so the PCBoard door will probably not make
a screen display. Serial port parameters are read from DORINFO1.DEF, NOT
the FOSSIL driver! A locked baud rate of 19200 baud is used, no matter what
DORINFO1.DEF says.
QBBS2PCB -tC:\QBBS\TxtFiles\ -u -qC:\QBBS -1
Creates PCBoard files in the default directory and looks for QuickBBS files
in C:\QuickBBS. The QuickBBS text files can be found in C:\QBBS\TxtFiles.
All names and passwords are converted to upper case, and users with one-word
names are given a last name of "." Serial port parameters are read directly
from the FOSSIL driver.
INSTALLING PCBOARD 14.x DOORS:
There are plenty of ways to install PCBoard 14.x doors in your QuickBBS 2.xx
system, so it is understood that the following is simply the way I recommend
it be done.
1. Create a PCBDoors directory under your QuickBBS directory.
2. Place BRUN45.EXE in your QuickBBS directory and make sure your PATH
command includes your QuickBBS directory.
3. If you will be running DoorPatch doors:
A. Place the DoorPatch BRUNxx.EXE files in your QuickBBS directory. (many
non-DoorPatch doors will ALSO require this!)
B. Place the DoorPatch DORPCHxx.EXE files in your PCBDoors directory.
C. Make sure "SET LIB=C:\QuickBBS\PCBDoors" (or whatever the full path to
your PCBDoor directory is...) is included in your BBS.BAT file.
4. Create a directory under PCBDoors for each PCBoard door. Place all door
files in each directory.
Ok, now say your door is called WOWDOOR.EXE. When WOWDOOR is run, it creates
scoreboard files called WOWDOORG (ANSI version) and WOWDOOR (non-ANSI). Make
a batch file called WOWDOOR.BAT in your QuickBBS directory:
@Echo Off {or CLS and ECHO OFF if your DOS is earlier than 3.3}
CD PCBDoors
QBBS2PCB -pC:\QuickBBS\PCBDoors\WowDoor\ -qC:\QuickBBS\
CD WowDoor
WowDoor WowDoor.Cfg
Del CNames
Del PCBoard.Dat
Del PCBoard.Sys
Del Users
Copy WowDoorG C:\QuickBBS\TxtFiles\WowDoor.ANS
Copy WowDoor C:\QuickBBS\TxtFiles\WowDoor.ASC
Del WowDoorG
Del WowDoor
CD ..\..
The reference to WOWDOOR.CFG is simply a common way PCBoard doors use
configuration files. Your door may be different.
The deleting of the PCBoard files created by QBBS2PCB is optional.
The copying of the WowDoor scoreboard files is shown, so that the WowDoor
scoreboard files can be accessed by QuickBBS. The scoreboard files are now
in the QuickBBS textfiles directory and can be accessed from a bulletin menu
with a type 45 menu command.
The above batch file would be run from QuickBBS using a type 7 exit, with the
optional parameters: *C /C WowDoor.
PCBoard doors will all have to be installed differently. The above is a
short example for those that have NO IDEA what's going on or how to install
doors... it's really not as hard as it looks.
USING REG_Q2P:
If you register QBBS2PCB, you will receive two numbers, a registration number
and a serial number.
When you run REG_Q2P, it will prompt you for the full path of QBBS2PCB.EXE,
your name as sysop EXACTLY as defined in your QCONFIG program, and your
registration number and serial number.
A copy of QBBS2PCB.EXE registered to you will be created. Your old
unregistered copy of QBBS2PCB.EXE will be renamed as QBBS2PCB.BAK. YOU ARE
NOT ALLOWED TO DISTRIBUTE REGISTERED COPIES OF QBBS2PCB!
PROBLEMS:
ProKit 2.8 Beta doors (NFL Pool, old Hang 'em High versions, etc.):
These doors have problems with long paths specified on the command line, for
example:
PCBDOOR PCBDOOR.CNF C:\QUICKBBS\DOORS\PCBDOOR
May bomb with an error 105. Try using:
PCBDOOR PCBDOOR.CNF .\
Also, ProKit 2.8 Beta doors seem to ignore hardware (CTS/RTS) handshaking
and may not work on modems with high-speed locked baud rates that need to
use hardware handshaking.
Later ProKit versions (such as 2.9) do not seem to have these problems.
DoorPatch 3.3, 3.4, and 3.5 doors:
These doors do NOT handle 38400 baud! 19200 is the maximum. Life is hard.
Deal with it.
Also, if you are using a locked baud rate, you MUST use the -b parameter.
Reno Keno 3.3:
REQUIRES the -1 parameter if your BBS supports one word names.
Odd FOSSIL drivers:
If the door doesn't seem to work correctly over the modem, but works fine in
local mode, use the -d parameter from QBBS2PCB. Your FOSSIL driver may be
flaky.
QBBS2PCB locks up with "Sending message..." or "Flushing buffer...":
Try using the -h parameter to disable CTS checking.
Other problems:
If using a locked baud rate, and the door isn't working correctly, try
using the -b parameter.
If the program locks up at the FOSSIL routines, you may have an oddball
FOSSIL driver. You can make QBBS2PCB not use the FOSSIL driver by using the
-d parameter. (forcing QBBS2PCB to get all information from DORINFO1.DEF)
If you are using a multitasker (like Desqview) that likes to steal interrupt
14h, which FOSSIL uses, AND you are using Ray Gwinn's X00 FOSSIL, you can
force QBBS2PCB to call X00 directly (without using INT 14h) with the -x
parameter.
ANY PCBoard door that "rewards" the caller:
Any door that 1) alters the time limit of the caller by "rewarding" time, or
2) changes the users download or upload bytes as a "reward", will only be
partially supported. The door should run correctly, but any such "rewards"
will NOT be carried over when the door is finished! If enough people bitch
to me about this, I COULD add limited support for doors that "reward"
callers. So if gobs of registered users beg for this feature, it may be
added in the future.
I get the input runtime module path prompt:
HEY! Read the documentation! This program REQUIRES that BRUN45.EXE be in
the directory where QBBS2PCB is run from, OR that BRUN45.EXE be in a
directory specified in your PATH statement!
HISTORY:
Version 1.2 - added message over modem, added support for 4DOS extended command
line, cleaned up minor bugs
Version 1.1 - modified FOSSIL routines slightly, includes seperate code for Ray
Gwinn's X00 FOSSIL
Version 1.0 - first public release
(Too many beta versions to list! Ranged from 0.1 to 0.96, a total of about
twenty versions...)
Many thanks to:
For help with understanding PCBoard 14.x file structure:
Sheldon Pasciak..Late-Nite (11pm-6am!)..(312) 723-7815..300/1200
Chuck Valecek....Suburban Software......(708) 636-6694..300/1200/2400
(708) 636-6697..300/1200/2400/HST*
Paul Chartraw....Time-Out...............(708) 481-2620..300/1200/2400
For help with testing beta versions of QBBS2PCB:
Batman...........Gotham City............(708) 599-9895..300/1200/2400*
Stan Pifer.......Gator..................(708) 578-1701..300/1200/2400/HST*
Mark Shaum.......Emporium...............(708) 551-9275..300/1200/2400*
Steven S.........R N'R..................(617) 267-2332..300/1200/2400
* MNP supported
For the X00 routines, used only with the -x switch:
Ray Gwinn
For the non-FOSSIL serial port routines, used only with the -d switch if the
modem message is not disabled:
Jeff Sumburg
For a decade of service:
Steve Dahl
Garry Meier
November 11, 1989
Mr. Zarniwoop
Megadodo Publications
(708) 423-4852
300/1200/2400 bps (MNP 3/4/5)