A I C O N F I G (A Smart Conference Setup Utility for PCB 14.5a) Version 1.11 06/15/1992 by: Keith Luken PHANTASM Software A I C O N F I G INTRODUCTION AICONFIG is a utility for PCBoard(tm) SYSOP's to help in making configuration changes to conferences. With the advent of PCB 14.5 a SYSOP can now support more than 39 conferences within PCB itself without the use of DOORS such as PRODOOR. One nice feature in PRODOOR that is unfortunately missing( at least for now) in PCB 14.5 is the ability to GLOBALLY update conference fields. Well that is how AICONFIG was born. The need to make changes to numerous conferences at once can be a tedious and time consuming job under PCB if you have numerous conferences. AICONFIG is a FLEXIBLE utility to allow you to make GLOBAL or partial GLOBAL changes to your conference configuration without all the time and typing! AICONFIG supports updating a field with just the DRIVE, DRIVE/PATH, FILENAME, or FULL DRIVE,PATH, and FILENAME across one, some or ALL conferences! In addition to changing file names it allow global updating of the other status flags. And when updating a file name field you have the option to copy that file to it's new name/location. REQUIREMENTS AICONFIG will support up to 32767 conferences(including MAIN BOARD). AICONFIG will run on any IBM or compatible system with at least 256K of RAM. The more conferences you have the more memory AICONFIG needs to operate. AICONFIG itself uses approximately 120K of memory with conferences requiring an additional 32 bytes of memory per conference. AICONFIG leaves 16K of additional RAM as work space. AICONFIG automatically determines your monitor and adjusts accordingly. AICONFIG requires enough free disk space as the size of your present CNAMES.@@@ file to use as work space while you are editing the conferences. FULL SUPPORT I have made every attempt to thoroughly test and debug this code. Since I can not possibly duplicate every type of environment and configuration there is always the possibility of a remaining quirk or two. Unregistered copies will be supported as my time permits, while REGISTERED copies get full support and if the problem is with my code and cannot be resolved then a refund will be made! Support will be given via my BBS which can be reached at (908) 291-2302 (USR DUAL) or at (908) 291-4134 (HAYES ULTRA). AICONFIG is written in BASIC 7.1 with the help of some excellent assembler routines from QUICK PAK PRO from Crescent Software! 1 (C)1992 PHANTASM Software A I C O N F I G WARRANTY Well here is that legal disclaimer you all know all too well- I supply AICONFIG with NO warranty either expressed or implied! While I have made every effort possible to assure the integrity of this program I can NOT be and will NOT be liable for any damage incurred by the use or misuse of this program. Due to the possibility of a virus I can only suggest that to keep the highest integrity possible that you get AICONFIG from my BBS or those mentioned in this document. The latest version of AICONFIG can be found on my BBS or any of the following: Modem Zone(HST) (513) 424-7529 Vernon(HST) (201) 827-6441 Arrackis(HST) (908) 730-7328 FEEDBACK I am extremely interested in anyone who wishes to try this program and would greatly appreciate ANY feedback GOOD or BAD! If you have any suggestions for future features or improvements please let me know. I can be reached on my BBS listed in this document or on Intelec(tm) at ID PHANTASM. Mail through E-MAIL should be left either in the SYSOP or ADMIN conference. GETTING STARTED AICONFIG is rather straight forward and contains online help for proper usage of commands. AICONFIG and it's associated files can reside anywhere on your system. AICONFIG should be located and run from the directory where your CNAMES.@@@ file is, but that is not mandatory. Simply copy the files to the directory you choose and you are all set. to run AICONFIG just type in AICONFIG and hit enter. AICONFIG is smart enough to know where it was run from so it can find it's associated files even if run from a directory that is not current. AICONFIG will look in the CURRENT directory for your CNAMES.@@@ file. If the CNAMES.@@@ file is NOT located an error will occur unless you tell AICONFIG on the command line where to find it. To tell AICONFIG where to find your CNAMES.@@@ file just add a /C: switch followed by the drive/path/filename of CNAMES.@@@. ex. AICONFIG /C:L:\PCB\MAIN\CNAMES.@@@ The /C: switch MUST be the last switch used on the command line. This is the only switch that must be in a specific location. Other switches may be in any order prior to the /C: switch. If for some reason AICONFIG does not properly sense a monochrome monitor on your system you may add the /MONO switch to the command line to force AICONFIG into monochrome operation. If you have registered your copy of AICONFIG and have received a key number you may generate a key file by entering the /REGISTER switch to enter your key number. 2 (C)1992 PHANTASM Software A I C O N F I G USING AICONFIG Once you have started AICONFIG from the command line you will see an opening screen which shows the version number along with registration information. Registered copies have all delays removed and perform much faster than unregistered copies. Also unregistered copies will only make changes on the first 100 conferences. All information for conferences above 100 will be preserved as is and not altered by AICONFIG unless your copy is registered. After the opening screen AICONFIG will inform you that it is making a work file for your CNAMES.@@@ file. To prevent changes from immediately altering your CNAMES.@@@ file and losing your previous configuration AICONFIG makes a working copy of it and changes are made to that file until you save it at the end of operation. Once the work file is made AICONFIG will display that main board information in a manner very similar to that of PCBoard's own setup. You navigate around the conference fields by using the TAB, ENTER and/or CURSOR Keys. To switch between conferences you use the (CTRL)PG-UP or (CTRL)PG-DN key combinations to move either on conference or 20 conferences. While in any field hitting the F1 key will display a short description of what that field is used for and if appropriate the possible choices or ranges for that field. Hitting F2 while in a conference displays a list of the AICONFIG commands and the proper keys to activate them. The individual AICONFIG commands will be described in detail later in this manual. It should be noted that if you make changes to a field and then move to another conference those changes are written to the work file. This is important since if you select a command to copy a file AICONFIG uses the name stored in the work file as the source, so select the copy command before leaving the conference you wish to copy. When you select a configuration command for AICONFIG to perform you are presented with a message asking if you want that command to be performed on ALL conferences or to TAG the conferences to make these changes to. If you select YES to perform on ALL conferences then AICONFIG will go ahead and make those changes to ALL conferences. If you select NO then you will be presented with a menu of all your conferences and may use the ENTER or SPACE keys to TAG conferences for update. PG-UP and PG-DN moves 40 conferences in either direction. If you have previously TAGGED conferences during this session of AICONFIG you will be asked if you want to CLEAR PREVIOUS TAGS. This allows you to tag numerous conferences and make individual field changes to the same set of conferences each time to prevent missing amy. If you keep previous TAGS you may also add new TAGs at this time without losing the previously tagged conferences. If you are copying a file you will be asking if the source file should be deleted after a successful copy. This allows you to in essence move the file without having to go back and do a lot of file maintenance. 3 (C)1992 PHANTASM Software A I C O N F I G When AICONFIG is done with the updates for the field you selected you are then left back at the conference and field where you selected the AICONFIG command. When you are done with the updates you desire to make you simply hit the ESC key and AICONFIG will ask if you wish to save the changes. Answering YES will now copy the work file back to CNAMES.@@@ and then create a corresponding CNAMES file for compatibility and use with PCBoard's own setup utility. If you answer NO then AICONFIG will delete the work file and do nothing to your CNAMES.@@@ or CNAMES files. WARNING! The CURSOR MUST be in the field to be updated before you enter AICONFIG COMMAND KEY(s) or the wrong field will be updated! This is a common problem on the single character fields or when you use every space in a field since the editor moves to the next field when one is filled.I have made every attempt to trap most common errors and to inform you if one occurs. AICONFIG expects filename fields to contain a VALID DRIVE, PATH and NAME. If the target of source are not valid then AICONFIG will not perform the copy functions, a field without a valid target name will show an error, but if you answer YES to continue the new field information will NOT be written to the conference configuration. Most errors occurring during operation will display an error message asking if you wish to continue. Some critical operational errors will terminate the program regardless of how you answer and only post the error for your own information. If the error will allow the program to continue then only that function is skipped on that conference. REGISTER Once you have registered your copy of AICONFIG simply start AICONFIG with the /REGISTER switch. This will bring up the registration screen. While AICONFIG will find it's own files from wherever you start it, the registration procedure will generate in the current drive and directory! Registered copies can process have the 100 conference limit and all delays between conferences removed! MAIN BOARD AICONFIG shows every conference including the MAIN BOARD the same. Some fields are not used by PCBoard in the MAIN BOARD's configuration. Fields not used by PCBoard for the MAIN BOARD will be always saved at their normal DEFAULT. This will not affect any GLOBAL changes you make while in those fields, but will be saved to the work file for the main board as their normal default. 4 (C)1992 PHANTASM Software A I C O N F I G COMMANDS GLOBAL UPDATE of CURRENT FIELD (F3) This command will take the changes made in the current field and applies them globally across ALL or SELECTED conferences. No checking of file existence or path existence is made and changes are made with no verification in any way. This is the ONLY command that can be used on Non-File Fields! COPY OLD FIELD FILE to NEW FIELD FILE (F4) This command will take the changes made in the current field and applies them to the PRESENT conference ONLY. In addition to updating the conferences configuration AICONFIG will take the OLD file (from the work file) and copy it to the NEW file made in the conference configuration. If the source file for a conference is not found or the target path/name is invalid then it will not will be copied. If the target path does not exist it will be created automatically. GLOBAL COPY OLD FIELD FILE to NEW FIELD FILE (F5) This command will take the changes made in the current field and applies them GLOBALLY across ALL or SELECTED conferences. In addition to updating the conference(s) configuration AICONFIG will take the OLD file (from the work file) and copy it to the NEW file made in the conference configuration. If the source file for a conference is not found or the target path/name is invalid that conference will be skipped. If the target path does not exist it will be created automatically. (FULL PATH/NAME) This option for a AICONFIG command will take the changes made to the entire field of a conference and apply them to ALL or SELECTED conference(s). (DRIVE/PATH ONLY) This option for a command will take only the NEW DRIVE and the NEW PATH entered in a field and apply it to the OLD file name for ALL or SELECTED conference(s). (FILENAME ONLY) This option for a command will take only the NEW FILENAME for the entered field and apply it to the OLD DRIVE and OLD PATH for ALL or SELECTED conference(s). 5 (C)1992 PHANTASM Software A I C O N F I G *HISTORY* Version 1.00 01/29/1991 - Initial Release Version 1.01 01/31/1991 - Fixed Copy file info flashing too quickly over conference name. - Added skipping conferences with no names when updating. Version 1.02 06/23/1991 - Fixed incompatability with some changes made in 14.5a CNAMES file - Added prompt if ESC is hit while editing if you really want to end Version 1.10 12/03/1991 - Fixed problem if data was changed in a field and conference was changed while still in field, data was not saved. - Fixed problem with global updating of the PUBLIC/PRIVATE upload file locations Version 1.11 06/15/1992 - Recompiled and updated text to reflect my new address 6 (C)1992 PHANTASM Software A I C O N F I G REGISTERED OWNER REFERRAL DISCOUNT PAID Registered owners of AICONFIG automatically become eligible for commissions of referral sales of AICONFIG! When you refer a new REGISTRATION of AICONFIG and that person submits your name and serial number you will receive a $5 rebate on that registration! There is a $50 limit on the total rebates you can receive. If you get the max it's like getting paid $25 for registering your copy! WOW! Getting paid to use shareware! So spread the word about AICONFIG and make some money while you're at it! MULTIPLE DISCOUNT PROGRAM Registering any one product from PHANTASM Software entitles you to discounts on any additional products at large savings! The first product registration is $25 and each additional product can be registered for $10. This is available on any present or future PHANTASM Software products unless otherwise stated in the products documentation. REGISTRATION Registering AICONFIG will assure you of having a fully featured copy! AICONFIG will only be FULLY featured to those that have registered it! To register your AICONFIG send a check for $25 made out to : Keith Luken at the below address. Please fill out all of the information below and enclose with your check! Thanks! Send $25 to: Keith Luken 3930 Shoemaker Court Marietta, GA 30062 7 (C)1992 PHANTASM Software A I C O N F I G Name - ________________________________________ Age-_________________ EXACT Name of person to show on registration -________________________ BBS Name and Phone # - ______________________( )_____-___________ ADDRESS - ____________________________________________________________ City - _____________________________ ST - _________ ZIP - ____________ PRODUCT TO REGISTER -_________________________________________________ Pick one: For this program I feel $25 is - ______ Too Much ______ About Right ______ A Bargain Comments/Suggestions - _______________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ REGISTERED OWNER REFERRAL DISCOUNT INFO - NAME OF REGISTERED REFERRAL - ________________________________________ REFERRAL USER's SERIAL NUMBER - ______________________________________ MULTIPLE DISCOUNT INFO - PREVIOUSLY REGISTERED PRODUCT(s) - ___________________________________ ADDITIONAL PRODUCTS TO REGISTER NOW - ________________________________ 8 (C)1992 PHANTASM Software