BBS DBMS v1.0 (c) 1994 Documentation Edward G. Tracy II Introduction: The product you are about to delve into is a revolutionary new BBS door that will provide your BBS with user-contributable databases. Provide your users with specialty databases. Maybe your BBS has a special interest in cooking, if so, using BBS DBMS you may configure a recipe storage database door. Maybe your BBS is like my BBS, Cheers, users with many different interests, and therefore I have BBS DBMS program installed a couple different times to provide my users with databases on Cooking, Local Restaurants, User Profiles, Movie Reviews, Software Reviews, and Music Reviews. (Each of these databases are independent of each other.) Your users may have more diverse interests which may also be handled by BBS DBMS. BBS DBMS is revolutionary because it process the information based upon an overall screen of data, and not just data in an individual fields. You have the freedom to specify the fields on the screen by drawing the screen using a text editor. While entering the data, your users tab from field to field to and enter the corresponding data. If a user would like to add another field to that particular record, the only need type in the field name and a colon, and voila, that field now exists for that specific record. In addition, you may change the help file within each database to instruct your users on the specific details of the version they are using. Provided in this demonstration version are examples of the layout screens I use at Cheers. You are welcome to use them for your BBS. Registration (please fill out the form below): Just $20.00 and this will provide you a key that will allow you to -delete records beyond the 25th record -display the title of the database on the status line and not my name -the file layout so you may write programs to convert data into the system or out of the system. -removes the reminder message to register Installation: 1. Create a subdirectory to place the DBMS files in. 2. Unzip the file into the subdirectory. 3. Edit BBS_DBMS.CFG file. Line 1: Registration number if registered else any number. Line 2: BBS Path to the location of the DORINFOx.DEF file. Line 3: Delete other users records minimum security level. Line 4: Title for the database and main menu. Line 5: Line 1 of the intro screen introduction of the database. Line 6: Line 2 of the intro screen introduction of the database. Line 7: Line 3 of the intro screen introduction of the database. Line 8: Line 4 of the intro screen introduction of the database. Line 9: Line 5 of the intro screen introduction of the database. Example 10000 C:\BBS\ 200 Detroit Restaurants A guide to Detroit's finest restaurants. Note: If your description is does not require 5 lines, you may leave them blank. 4. Edit the BBS_DBMS.CTL file. 1. Change the BBS name. 2. Change the first name. 3. Change the last name. 4. Identify the board type, ie. RBBS. 5. Write a batch file to call BBS_DBMS. This batch file should copy the DORINFOx.DEF file or DOOR.SYS file to the Password subdirectory. If you use DORINFOx.DEF you must rename the file to DORINFO.DEF. (Hope to rectify this problem in the next version. This will then allow multi-node access.) Example. RESTAUR.BAT @echo off copy c:\BBS\dorinfo1.def c:\BBS\doors\restaur\DORINFO.DEF cd\BBS\database\restaur\ BBS_DBMS cd\BBS 6. Add the menu option to call the batch file from your BBS. FOR TAG USERS: Set your options to Program Type : (A colon for dorinfo1.def.) Program Name *RESTAUR.BAT (The name of the bat file.) Sysop Notes: Limited details on the files. If you notice the List feature does not correspond with the data in the database, simply add a new record and the key file will be recreated. The key file is a text file which is updated and sorted with each add, it is called DATABASE.IDX. You will notice once a record is deleted, its record number is recycled. Technically, knowing the file layout will provide you the necessary "data" to write programs that can dump information into this database from other database, or extract information from this database for other purposes. If you notice your LIST command does not display the data sorted by alphabetical by title then you need to ensure that you have a version of DOS SORT available in the path. If it still doesn't sort, in the mean time make an addition to the batch file that calls the DBMS program and have it sort the DATABASE.IDX file. (If you mess up your index, remember, just add a record and your index will be recreated.) The HELP file is known as DATABASE.HLP. Simply edit using a text editor it if you would like to add some changes. User Instructions From the main menu most of the common option required in database use are available to you. Adding a Record -upon adding a record, you will be prompted to enter a "title" for the record itself. This title is used simply describe the record when other users LIST the records to the screen. If you choose not to enter a title, and just press the ENTER key, today's date will be used in place of a title. Please note: if you attempt to place a comma within the title, it will be removed. -you will then be placed into the EDITOR. The title of the database on the top line, the title of your record on the second line, and your cursor at the first field. Here you may press Tab to move to the next field (colon) Shift-Tab to move to the previous field (colon) Home to move to the first position on the line End to move to the last character on the line CTRL Z to abort the record entry process CTRL S to save the record Backspace to move back one character DEL to delete the current character Up to move one row up Down to move one row down Left to move one character to the left Right to move one character to the right CTRL R to redraw the screen if you get line noise -if you find the need to add another field of information to this screen, simply place your cursor where you would like the title of the field to go, and enter the name of the field. Place a colon after the name and this new field will exist on this screen. You may then Tab or Shift-Tab to this new field. Neat eh! -to get off of this screen you must either CTRL-Z to abort or CTRL-S to save the record. Deleting a Record -upon selection of this option, you will be prompted to enter the record number to be deleted. If you do not know the record number, you will have to obtain it by LISTING the records to the screen using the LIST option specified below. -if the record has been previously deleted, or is beyond the number of records in the database, you will be informed that the record was not deleted as it did not originally exist. -if you would like to abort the deletion process, type Q to quit and then press ENTER. -if you are operating a non-registered version, you will not be able to delete records that go beyond record number 25. -if you do not have the Sysop specified security level to delete another persons record, you may find that you are only allowed to delete your own records. Changing a Record -upon selection of this option you will be required to enter the record number of the record to be changed. If you do not know the record number, you may obtain it from the LIST process. -make your changes using the editor keys that are available during the Add a Record process. -once again, you must use the CTRL Z to abort or CTRL-S to save your record, to get out of this mode and back to the Main Menu. Listing/Viewing Records -this is the primary function most users will select to see a list in alphabetical order by title of all the records in the database. As the records scroll down the screen you may enter the record number, which is in the R# column on the far left side, and that record will be displayed on the screen for your viewing pleasure. -if you would like to scroll to the next screen of records, press the ENTER key once. -if you would like to abort scrolling through the list of records, type Q to quit and press ENTER once. Viewing Help -select this option and a text file will be displayed with helpful information Quitting -had enough, this option will return you to the BBS. Registration Registration is just $20.00. Your registration code will be useful for this and all future upgrades. Registration removes the reminder message, allows deletion beyond record number 25, provides for you the layout of the databases for custom programming and displays the database title on the status line. BONUS: For a total of $35.00 you will get registration codes for BBS_DBMS, PASSWORD and BOGIGGLE. Name:____________________ Address:_________________ City:____________________ ST:__ ZIP:__________ Voice #:_________________ BBS Name:________________ (where installation will be) BBS Number:______________ (if existing, and area code too) BBS Software:____________ Compuserve ID:___________ FidoNet #:_______________ Mail to: Edward G. Tracy II 18704 Gainsborough Detroit, MI 48223 Technical Support Cheers BBS, 313-838-4172. 300-9600 bps. Compuserve ID: 75000,2755 FidoNet 1:2410/217 For questions or the latest version. Full access first call and no ratio's. Credits Technojocks, for the great libraries. Scott Baker, and his great library too. Version History --------------- 1.0 January 4, 1994 Initial release. Password is copyrighted to Edward G. Tracy II BOGIGGLE is copyrighted to Edward G. Tracy II BBS_DBMS is copyrighted to Edward G. Tracy II DOORDRIV utils are copyrighted to Scott Baker