S-VER
COPYRIGHTED 1990
BY
STEVE GABRILOWITZ
A CALLBACK VERIFIER FOR REMOTE ACCESS OR QUICKBBS
Table of Contents:
Item of Information Page #
---------------------------------------------
Reason S-VER was written ................ 1
Beta Testing Cycle ...................... 2
Registration ............................ 2
Installation ............................ 2
Control of Phone Numbers ................ 3
Convert.exe Program ..................... 3
Support Files ........................... 3
S-INTRO.A?? ........................... 3
S-TRASH.A?? ........................... 4
S-DUPE.A?? ............................ 4
S-LOGIN.A?? ........................... 4
S-VALID.A?? ........................... 4
S-LONGD.A?? ........................... 4
S-VERM.ASC ............................ 4
S-VERM.MNU ............................ 5
Operation of S-VER ...................... 5
Warranty ................................ 5
Progess Report / Updates ................ 5
Special Mentions ........................ 5
CopyRights .............................. 5
REASONING FOR WRITING "S-VER"
-----------------------------
S-VER is a callback verifier written specifically for use with the
Remote Access bulletin board system. As far as I know, this is the
only program of its kind that is designed with a multi-node RA system
in mind. The reason I wrote it is because I couldn't get any of the
other callback systems to work right on my multi-node system and figured
that there must be other Sysops having the same problem! Of course,
it will also work on a single node RA or QuickBBS system and also has
features intended to make it as flexible and easy to set up as possible.
S-VER.DOC PAGE 1
BETA TEST CYCLE
---------------
S-VER has currently been tested on computer systems ranging from the
slowest XT to a 25 Mhz 386, and with modems ranging from 2400 baud
internal to a 14.4 HST, and has performed well on all.
REGISTRATION
------------
THIS IS NOT FREE SOFTWARE!
If you like and use S-VER on your system, please show your appreciation
by registering. Until you are registered and recieve your registration key,
the software will make a note in your log reminding you to register. It will
also inform your users that it is not registered, and subject them to a 10
second delay before asking them which phone number to dial.
If you try it and it doesn't work for you, or if you decide you don't like
it, then please drop me a note telling me why. This will help me make
improvements as needed in future versions.
I have just heard of a new concept in software marketing called DinnerWare.
If you like this program, you can treat me and my wife out to dinner. We
like to eat at Burger King and Pizza Hut, but also really enjoy Red Lobster
and Olive garden <grin> Seriously, send what you feel you can afford, or
what you think the program is worth. Also, if you have any bug reports or
suggestions for improvements, please send them electronically (1:363/1701)
1-407-380-1701 or via US mail to:
Steve Gabrilowitz
122 North DeerWood Avenue
Orlando, Florida 32825
INSTALLATION
------------
First UnZip the S-VER.ZIP package... Inside you will find a menu, support
files, questionnaire, config & Exe. files. All Text files will be placed in
the Text files directory defined in your BBS configuration. The Menu goes
into the Menus directory defined in your BBS configuration. All other files
are placed in The Main BBS directory.
When install S-VER, you must first run the configuration program SVER-CFG.
It will create the configuration file in the current directory. This may
be either your main BBS system directory as pointed to by the environment
variable RA on a RA system, or one of the multi-node sub-directories. On a
QuickBBS system, it must be in your main BBS directory. If in the main
directory, the configuration will apply to all nodes that don't have their
own configuration. This allows you to customize the setup as much as may be
necessary.
SVER-CFG is pretty much self explanatory, but a few comments on the
modem specific portion are in order. First, try the default setup. It has
worked on every system I've tried it on so far, so why mess with success? ;-)
If you need to modify the init string, settings higher than X3 have been
observed to cause problems when it tries to dial out. In the current version
I think I have fixed this, but if you have problems that is the first place
to look. On some 1200 baud modems, you may need to use X1 or X2. The modem
must return verbose status codes for this program to work, numeric ones won't
be recognized. To toggle the settings between Yes and No, use the space bar.
Also, the long distance Calling hours will not be displayed unless you have
long distance set to Yes - set them both to the same time (doesn't matter
what time you put in) if you want to allow long distance calling 'round
the clock.
S-VER.DOC PAGE 2
CONTROL OF PHONE NUMBERS
------------------------
The phone number setup is done in a manner similar to what you are probably
familiar with in your nodelist processor. The control file for this purpose
is called PHONE#.CTL and may reside either in your main directory or a node
directory. Each line in the file looks like this:
Prefix_From_User Prefix_To_Dial Cost
The cost field may be omitted, and will be taken as 0 if blank.
The prefix_to_dial may also be omitted as of version 0.91, if it is then the
corresponding prefix supplied by the user will be stripped out before dialing.
For example, if I wanted to be able to call other systems in the Orlando
380 exchange no matter whether the user entered an area code or not, I would
put the following lines into my PHONE#.CTL:
407-380 380
380 380
Phone numbers will be dealt with based on the first match in the
PHONE#.CTL file. Therefore if you had a sequence like:
407 1-407
407-380 407
Then 407-380 would be dialed as 1-407-380 which is probably not what you
wanted. If a number is not found, it is treated as long distance. Otherwise
you can control whether each number is long distance or local by using the
cost field. This scheme should provide you with enough flexibility so that
you can make the program do what you need no matter where in the world you
are ;-)
CONVERT.EXE
-----------
This little program will help you convert the LOCAL.CTL file used with
other callback verifiers to the phone#.ctl needed by S-VER. LOCAL.CTL
Varies slightly in the first few lines depending on which program it was
set for. And all of these lines must be deleted before using CONVERT.
You must specify the local area code on the command line. IE:
CONVERT 407
SUPPORT FILES
-------------
You completely control the look of S-VER by placing these files in your
text files directory (each may have .ANS and .ASC flavors). You may create
your own or edit and use the ones provided.
S-INTRO.A??
-----------
The first file the user sees. After this file is displayed, a prompt is
made to get phone number selection/confirmation. S-Intro.A?? can be a
short intro into the S-VER system to explain uses.
S-VER.DOC PAGE 3
S-TRASH.A??
-----------
This file is displayed if the phone number the user has selected is found
in the PHONENUM.CTL file. This would indicate that you have blocked the
number out for some reason.
S-DUPE.A??
----------
This file is displayed if another user has the same phone number as the one
currently chosen by the user, and you have selected dupe checking in the S-ver
config. A good idea here is to tell users to Leave a message to the Sysop
if they are requesting access and inform them of Duplicate Phone Number.
S-DISC.A??
----------
This file is displayed after the prompt, and before hanging up. The
purpose of S-DISC.A?? is to inform the user that they are about to be
disconnected. Good idea here is to remind the users how to make their
modem answer for them.
S-LOGIN.A??
-----------
This is file that is displayed after the user answers the callback.
S-LOGIN.A?? should be edited to customize the look and style of your board.
S-VALID.A??
-----------
This file is displayed after the user properly enters his or her password.
S-VALID.A?? is a welcome back to the system after completing the Callback
verifier. A lot of Sysops tend to create custom screen here.
S-LONGD.A??
-----------
This file is displayed if the user is long distance, and you have configured
no long distance calls or it's the wrong time of day for a Long distance
callback. If you have configured for long distance during limited hours, you
will want to indicate in this file the time period when the user should call
back and try again. Please be specific as to the Hours the user can call,
IE: 10pm to 3am East Standard Time. Do not assume that everyone is on your
time zone when allowing long distance call backs.
S-VERM.ASC
----------
This file contains the Users Manual for on-line help to the user. The
S-VERM.ASC is called in from the S-VERM.MNU, as a list ascii file option.
S-VER.DOC PAGE 4
S-VERM.MNU
----------
This is a sample menu ready to run.. just edit the necessary areas
and colors to customize for your system. The return to Main menu calls
an option 3, but to be safe you can use an option 2 and give the menu
name.
OPERATION OF S-VER PROGRAM
--------------------------
S-VER may be run either as a type 15 or a type 7 on a RA system. On a
QuickBBS system, it must be run as a type 15. On multi-node systems, if
there is no CONFIG.RA in the current directory, you must specify the comm
port number to use. This is easily done by using the *P parameter on a type
7 command. If CONFIG.RA is in the current directory, S-VER will take the
comm port from there and ignore anything on the command line. Command line
parameters are completely ignored on a QuickBBS system as it is always
possible to get the comm port from CONFIG.BBS.
WARRANTY
--------
If you break it, and tell me as much as you can about the circumstances, I
will do my level best to make it work. No other warranty is offered or
implied. You assume all responsibility for any damage to your equipment or
data as a result of using this product. I may feel bad about it, but I'm not
responsible or liable. Use of the product constitutes acceptance of this
agreement.
PROGRESS REPORT / UPDATES:
--------------------------
7/2/90
Version 0.90
Initial Release for S-VER090.ZIP. This was the First release of
the Beta Copy of S-VER.
8/20/90
Version 0.91
Fixed problem where file is not displayed fully before hanging up.
Fixed long distance calling hours bug.
Added capability for sysop to abort call during dial process.
Changed delay after modem initialization.
Fossil advertisement no longer trashes the screen.
Added support for higher X settings, let me know if this works right ;-)
Added errorlevel exit depending on results of validation:
1: Validation successful
2: Validation failure
3: Validation not attempted
4: Sysop error
5: Program error
Added registration key system.
9/17/90
Version 0.92
QuickBBS support added!!!
Fixed problem where user was allowed back on BBS, even if S-VER
configuration said not to!
S-VER now waits for a carriage return from the user before displaying
S-LOGIN.A??, this should fix the problem where S-LOGIN was not always
displayed after connect.
Minor bug in phone dupe checker fixed.
SPECIAL MENTIONS
----------------
A thank you goes out to Peter Kling; Computer Group,Ltd (tm) 1:267/169.
For all of his work with this Fine Documentation, and Alpha Bashing...
Printed copies of S-VER Doc's and Files are available through Peter Kling...
COPYRIGHTS NOTICES
------------------
S-VER (tm) is Copyrighted by STEVE GABRILOWITZ.
REMOTE ACCESS (tm) is Copyrighted by CONTINENTAL SOFTWARE, LTD.
S-VER.DOC PAGE 5