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INTRODUCTION
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I've been programming for the fossil driver for 2 years. It
originally started with portions of a simple program, all built-in code.
Whenever I needed the routines, I would copy them from program to program.
About a year ago I optimized all the code and it became a .TPU unit. I've
been using those routines since then, until I recently decided I would
optimize the code even MORE with what I had learned since (it's forever an
experience).
At any rate, some of the biggest complaints of some programmers is
the lack of decent fossil routines, and even that fossil routines that
exist are far too costly. If you're in need of a small program then you
also don't want to pay for the routines. Since I rewrote my routines, I
decided that they would make a very good, powerful .TPU unit for
programmers -- and I decided that I would surpass as many products as I
could in price and quality. I think I've managed to do both.
The Forbidden Knights Fossil Routines are absolutely free except for
one condition; If you use these routines in ANY of your programs, you must
give credit for their use. Forbidden Knights Systems maintains copyright
on the fossil routines contained in this unit, which should also be stated
upon program execution or clearly in your documentation. Please
understand this clause -- if you do not agree with this then you must
delete the unit from your harddrives. If people begin to abuse this
right, future versions will not be made available to the public. While
the copyright is maintained by Forbidden Knights Systems, we are not
responsible for damage due to use or misuse of these routines.
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FEATURES
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FKFOSSIL is to be used with Turbo Pascal 6.0 or 7.0. To use with
TP6.0, copy the FK6.TPU to FKFOSSIL.TPU and place into your TPU directory.
To use with TP7.0, copy the FK7.TPU to FKFOSSIL.TPU and place into your
TPU directory.
FKFOSSIL is a tool for all programmers who wish quick, reliable
fossil communication routines. FKFOSSIL will provide the novice user with
a insert-and-run level that can be easily understood, and the expert user
with many advanced configuration and control units. Some of the
highlights include;
o Insert and run -- all variables are pre-defined so that even the
novice programmer can quickly get things started. The more
advanced users will like the configurability of most of the
internal options.
o It's free to use! A note saying that the FKFOSSIL routines are
being used, and that they are copyright Forbidden Knights
Systems must be displayed, and that's all that is required.
(however donations are always welcomed by anyone who would like
to send anything in).
o Full support for TTY, ANSI and Avatar/0 commands. From clearing
the screen to setting the text colour, all the ANSI commands and
Avatar/0 commands are supported.
o Internal ANSI and Avatar drivers -- ANSI.SYS is not required to
view/display ANSI lines. Because of this built-in code, ANSI
keyboard remapping isn't possible which provides a safeguard for
ANSI displayed in the door against "trojans" and other pranks
(ever had YOUR terminal turned into a 300x200 mode by an ansi
file...?)
o OS/2, DESQview and Windows detection - FKFOSSIL releases all unused
timeslices to improve CPU usage. This is done whenever keyboard
polling occurs automatically by FKFOSSIL.
o Configured to read from DOOR.SYS or DORINFO1.DEF drop files, or the
information can be manually set/read from other places so that
the FKFOSSIL unit is completely portable. If drop files need to
be created, FKFOSSIL will create drop files DOOR.SYS and
DORINFO1.DEF.
o Automatically keeps track of time (including time rolling over
midnight), and the last time user pressed a key. These counters
can be disabled or changed quickly, and are displayed on the
status line. Keyboard inactivity timeouts warn the user and
then automatically shut down when violated.
o ANSI Music Interface -- Will send ANSI Music string to remote side,
and disassemble and play on the local side.
o Definable functions -- Local and Remote Input Processing, Carrier
loss, Inactivity Timeout, No Time Left, Open and Close. These
are used if you want to have the standard routines replaced, for
example; the carrier loss routine currently sends a string to
the screen saying the carrier was lost, then it deinitializes
the fossil driver. If you want to have it write to the log,
then close a few files, then say the carrier was lost and exit
-- the definable function makes it easy to do without having to
trap all of the stuff yourself.
And those are just SOME of the highlights of the routines. There are big
plans to improve these routines and add even more -- I've already started
with the coding and some of them are even at the testing stage right now.
I get the full use out of the routines that I expect, so I hope that you
enjoy using the routines and get some good use out of them as well.
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DISTRIBUTION
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The routines are F'REQable from any of my node numbers, at speeds of 2400
through 16,800 HST/v.32bis.
The file is 96,072 bytes in size. The filename is FKFOSS100.ZIP. Includes
comprehensive 75k documentation, two reference charts, an example program
'WHICHBBS', and TPU's for both TP6 and TP7.
;FILE D:\FKS.OTH\FKFOS100.ZIP