*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*
T2T v2.7bß (Beta) Copyright 1994, All Rights Reserved
(c) MurSoft Inc -- Jonathan G. Murray @FidoNet (1:345/28)
Jon's LateNite BBS (808) 834 - 1261
T.A.G. Structures Provided Courtesy Of "Those Awesome Guys", Thanks Guys!
*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*
History:
Version 0.0α, First 'Alpha' Release, 19 Apr, 1992 (An idea in the making!)
Version 2.0α, First Release, 18 Jan, 1993 (Been a long time coming, eh?)
Version 2.6fß, Public, 31 Oct, 1993 * Happy Halloween *
Version 2.6fπ, Not-So-Public, 21 Feb, 1994 * President's Day * (A Trend?)
Version 2.7bß, Public, 24 Nov, 1994 * Thanksgiving Day! * (I'm on a roll!)
Alpha/Beta Releases ongoing as features are added, bugs are squashed, etc...
Note: Version Update Information is listed at the end of this document.
* Beta Testors Please Note: Version Information will be current and correct
on all aspects of T2T for PUBLIC RELEASES ONLY - Betas may see a discrepancy
between Docs, Logs, and Screens - The Logs are the most important, so they
get the most reliable updates on quick-fix beta versions. If uncertain of
what version you have, check the log!
Disclaimer:
This program is guaranteed to do nothing more than take up a bit of your
precious drive space, and maybe some of your time as well. I run it on my
system, and that's the best assurance I can offer that it is not harmful or
malicious. If it breaks (or breaks something), you get to keep the pieces.
Registration:
I ask for nothing except your undying gratitude and your everlasting
admiration and respect for my omnipotent foresight, talent, and knowledge.
Lacking that, a few bucks and/or a letter of thanks would be more than
enough. My address is listed at the end of this document if you are feeling
generous (winning lottery tickets are always happily accepted as well!)
Explanation:
TIC2TAG is designed to read your *.TIC and *.FLE files from your inbound
files directory, and add the descriptions to your T.A.G. BBS *.DIR files.
TIC2TAG also generates a file named TEMP.OUT that can be imported into your
message base for a handy little notice of what's been received.
Note:
TIC-2-TAG, TIC2TAG, and T2T may be used synonymously within this document.
(They all refer to the same thing)
Quick Installation:
Read and edit the TIC2TAG.CFG file, and run TIC2TAG!
Normal Installation:
1) UnZIP T2T*.ZIP into any directory (I recommend a directory on your path,
but if you have one place you like to put all your T.A.G. utilities,
that directory will be fine)
2) Edit TIC2TAG.CFG to match your system information
3) Add "[d:\pathname\]TIC2TAG" to your regular maintenance BEFORE you process
your *.TIC/*.FLE files (T2T reads the *.TIC/*.FLE files and takes it's info
from those files)
4) Add a routine to convert the TEMP.OUT file to a message (I use
"File2Msg", a public domain program by Jack Decker), but you could also
use "FEUTIL POST TEMP.OUT", or whatever.
5) Sit back and watch it work!
Sample Batch File:
=======================================
@Echo off
Echo Processing Inbound Files
TIC2TAG
TICK
FEUtil Post ANNOUNCE.MSG #90 -From Jon! -To All -Subj New_Files_Received
=======================================
Sample Configuration File (TIC2TAG.CFG)
=======================================
; TIC2TAG.CFG
; Tick-To-TAG Configuration File
;
; IN { Inbound Files Directory }
IN c:\binkley\inbound
;
; One default option may be selected, this will be used for all areas
; where the *.DIR file is not individually defined. If neither option
; is selected, each 'AREA' _must_ have the *.DIR defined! ( If more than
; one default is selected, only the first will be used )
;
; DEFAULT FILES.DIR ; Default *.DIR ( Files.Dir )
DEFAULT AREANAME.DIR ; DEfault *.DIR ( Same as TIC AreaName.Dir )
;
; LOG c:\logs\TIC2TAG.LOG ; If no LOG defined, none produced
LOG TIC2TAG.LOG
;
; ANNOUNCE [PATH]\FILENAME.EXT ; FileName to be used for Tic-2-TAG's
; "Announce" Message of files received.
; If not defined, defaults to NUL.
ANNOUNCE Z:\FLAGS\ANNOUNCE.MSG
;
; FILEDATE [ACTUAL/UPLOAD] ; Choose whether the date used in the *.Dir file
; will be the date of the file, or the date the file
; was received (added to the directory)
FILEDATE UPLOAD ; Default is 'UPLOAD'
;
; AREA definition must be the LAST item in the configuration file!
; No options listed after an AREA line will be recognized.
;
;AREA Path AREATAG ANNOUNCE [ Uploader_Name, or ORIGIN ]
; 1 2 3 3
; [----+--8] [YES/NO] [----+----0----+----0----+----0----+6]
;AREA f:\files1\files.dir FILES1 ORIGIN ; Owner is Origin Address
;
; Path = Drive:\Path\[DIRFILE.DIR] of upload area REQUIRED
; AREATAG = Tick AREA (From Tic.Cfg) REQUIRED
; ANNOUNCE = [YES/NO] Add this area to Announce.Msg? REQUIRED
; Uploader = Name to add to "Owner" Field, Keyword "ORIGIN" places REQUIRED
; the Origin Address from the .TIC File in this field
;
; AREA lines with no *.DIR defined will assume the default.
;
AREA f:\tag\tagmulti.dir TAGDIST YES T.A.G._Distribution
AREA f:\tag_util TAGDOORS YES T.A.G._Distribution
AREA f:\tag\tagmulti.dir TAGMULTI YES T.A.G._Distribution
AREA f:\tagbeta TAGBETA NO T.A.G._Distribution
AREA f:\tag_util TAGUTIL YES T.A.G._Distribution
AREA g:\sds\softdist SOFTDIST YES Software_Distribution
AREA g:\misc\utilnet UTILNET YES Origin
AREA g:\xds\hms XDS_HMS YES Xpress_Distribution
AREA g:\xds\rdr XDS_RDR YES Xpress_Distribution
;
=======================================
Configuration File Notes:
- TIC2TAG assumes it's configuration file name will be TIC2TAG.CFG. If
TIC2TAG finds TIC2TAG.CFG in the current directory, it will use that file.
If TIC2TAG doesn't find TIC2TAG.CFG in the current directory, it will look
in the directory TIC2TAG.EXE is located in. As an alternative, you may
specify the configuration file on the command line, ie: "TIC2TAG
c:\config\T2T.CFG". (Command line overrides default configfile search!)
- Anything on a line after a semicolon (;) in the configuration file is
ignored.
- Spaces are used as dividers on a single line, extra spaces are ignored.
- TIC2TAG can either default to "FILES.DIR", or the TIC AreaName (.DIR) for
the TAG *.DIR file. Only one may be used, and only the first default
option defined will be used.
- The TIC2TAG.LOG is optional, and if not defined, will not be produced.
- The trailing backslash (\) on any path statement is optional, and will be
added if left out
- All configuration options must be placed before the 'AREA' statements.
Any options defined after the 'AREA' statements will be happily ignored.
- Each area that you receive files in should be defined. TIC2TAG will
simply not process any files for undefined areas (You will be notified in
your log, if the 'LOG' option is defined).
- If the word "ORIGIN" is used as 'Uploader Name', the origin address of the
file will be placed in the *.DIR file as the Owner.
- The FILEDATE configuration KeyWord determines whether the upload dat in
the .DIR file will be the actual date of the file, or the date the file
was added to the .DIR; Options are "ACTUAL" or "UPLOAD".
- Define the Keyword "ANNOUNCE" with a valid filename for the announce
message. Use this in conjunction with the ANNOUNCE [YES/NO] Field of
the AREA lines for complete control over your NewFiles Announcements!
Contacting the Author:
For the next few years (at least until summer '95 when the Marine Corps is
scheduled to send me elsewhere) I can be reached via FidoNet Netmail at
1:345/28, or via Jon's LateNite BBS (808)834-1261. Voice calls who pay
attention to Hawaii Standard Time are welcome from 5 to 10pm at (808)
834-1044. No collect calls, please!
If you prefer the old-fashioned kind of mail, send it to:
Jonathan Murray
1660-E Hilo Holly Place
Honolulu, HI 96818-1345
Final Notes:
All comments/suggestions/bitches/gripes/complaints (and even thanks!) are
welcome any time. I am of the belief that a program is never "finished", so
if something doesn't work right, or you think a new feature would enhance
this program, let me know!
*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*
Updates / Bug Fixes
*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*
20 Nov, 1994 - Cleaned up (and made nicer) the screen and log output. Spent
HOURS cleaning up code and updating procedures/routines... Sure hope I didn't
break anything!
19 Nov, 1994 - Incorporated SHARE awareness! Should have been there a long
time ago, however it's been some time since I worked on this source. NO files
are now opened unless T2T has full access to them. This may cause the program
to abort more often than we'd like, but it will also help prevent corrupted
data files!
06 Mar, 1994 - Added Keyword 'ANNOUNCE' to the configuration file. This
allows the User to define where the output file will be created and what it's
name will be. Also added field 'ANNOUNCE' to 'AREA' statement. This allows
the User to define areas that will not be added to the output file; Especially
useful for Beta file areas and such.
20 Feb, 1994 - Added the keyword 'FILEDATE' to the configuration file. This
is implemented to correct a problem pointed out by Mike Cross (1:3807/100
@FidoNet) where files added to the directory by T2T were not showing up as new
files in TAG. SysOp's now have the option of using the actual date of the
file, or the date the file was uploaded. The default (if not defined) will be
the date uploaded, as this seems to make more sense.
31 Oct, 1993 - Finished minor changes to the source, found this doc file,
brushed off the dust, and will now attempt to run through all the little
problems that were found since the first release.
- Files were being left open <argh> causing T2T to bomb under certain
conditions. This should no longer be the case.
- Some *.TIC file creators are using slightly diffent information. T2T now
works and has been tested with both Barry Geller's TICK and the ALLFIX program
that is becoming so popular.
- The original *.TIC files were all named 'TK*.TIC', as the original *.FLE
files were 'FL*.FLE'. With the advent of so many new processors, about the
only thing that can be relied on is the existence of the .TIC and .FLE
extensions on these files. From here out, that is all T2T will look for.
- Some minor screen and log output corrections made.
- Author decides to try being more fastidious with his documentation.
- Unless a major bug is found, I will try to keep T2T's version number the
same as the _major_ release of TAG it is compiled for. The 31 Oct 93 release
(T2T 2.6ß) is compiled using TAG v2.6f record structures.