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


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.  Use any common sort utility to sort 
    this file in ascending sequence.  (The next release of this program 
    may sort the files for you!)

    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.  Also use any
    common sort utility to sort this file in ascending sequence.

    STEP 3
    Simple enough, start the enclosed program called BBSCOMP.  You will
    be prompted for YOUR directory file name and the BBS directory file
    name.  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.