LEGALITIES
This product is not FREE, it is being distributed as Shareware.
This means you are granted a limited license to evaluate this
product. If, after a 30 day trial period, you are still using
this program, you are required to register it. Registered users
will be advised of upgrades and changes in documentation.
While not INTENSELY complex, this program does constitute several
hours of developement on my part. I certainly don't think I'll
get rich via distributing this program, but I would appreciate a
small registration fee if you find this program of value.
Registration fees and suggestions for enhancements are gratefully
accepted. I don't think that a $5 fee is unreasonable, do you? I
can be reached via E-mail on Exec-PC, Milwaukee, which I might
add, in my personal "un-biased" opinion, is THE best BBS in the
country! (414) 964-5160. Thanks!
I claim no responsibilities for any damage incurred as a result of
using this program. I reserve all rights to this program.
(c) 1989 Gary L. Vandenberg
977 S. 56th St.
Milwaukee, WI 53214
RELEASE 2!
Yes, folks, I made it! The response to Version 1.0 was so
overwhelming that Release 2 is now available. It now prompts you
for sorting prior to performing the compare that gives the Up and
Down load opportunities. This should eliminate the step of
externally sorting your files prior to running the program.
I am using a "shell" sort algorythm to execute this. Any
performance tips for improving the sort time are greatly
appreciated. Enjoy!
OVERVIEW
This program is intended to assist the more-avid BBS'er. It reads
in the your file list and the BBS's file list, and then produces
three output files. The first file, UL.DAT, shows files that you
have and the BBS doesn't, showing your opportunities for uploading.
The second file, DL.DAT, shows files that the BBS has that you
don't, showing your download opportunities. The third file,
COMMON.DAT, is intended as somewhat of an audit trail and shows the
files that you have in common with the BBS.
While I don't run a BBS, I can certainly sympathize both with
SYSOP's trying to get users to upload, and also with users that
just want to "get those new files and try 'em out". This program
should help users more easily comply with upload/download ratios,
etc., by showing the exact files that are suitable in either
direction.
OPERATION
This program was written in QuickBasic 4.5 (Nice Language!). Many
BBS's seem to have standardized on the file directory display
format show below:
JACKSON1.GIF 49152 02-08-89 Le Toya Jackson VGA Gif #2 in Series of 5
JACKSON3.GIF 19456 02-08-89 Le Toya Jackson VGA Gif. #2 in series of 5
JACKSON4.GIF 26624 02-08-89 Le Toya Jackson VGA Gif #4 in series of 5
Given this format, it seemed simple enough to compare this list
type to my own computer's directory listing.
STEP 1
First, you need to create an input listing of your files that you
want to compare to the BBSs'. This can be obtained by by using
the command:
DIR >FILENAME
Or if you have a disk(ette) cataloging program that stores the
filename in ASCII, in positions 1 thru 12 or can export such a
report, that will do fine also.
STEP 2
The second step in using this program, is to capture or download a
BBS file listing that you are interested in. It again assumes the
above format, that is, at least the file name is expected to start
in column 1 and be no longer than 12 characters.
STEP 3
Simple enough, start the enclosed program called BBSCOMP2. You
will be prompted for YOUR directory file name and the BBS
directory file name. You will then have the option of sorting the
input files first. After the sort is complete, or you have
answered "no", the compare will start executing. The output of
the program will be stored in the current sub-directory as UL.DAT,
DL.DAT, and COMMON.DAT.
NOTES
File extensions are dropped during the compare since a program may
exist on your system in an excutable form (.EXE) and is most
likely in a compressed form on the BBS (.ZIP). Any records that
start with a space or period are dropped, this helps filter your
listing if you attain it via the DIR >FILENAME sequence.