Overview:

Bltcap2 is a script that will automatically capture any BBS bulletins that
have changed since your last session on a BBS. In addition, it has the ability
to always include or exclude specific bulletins as well as capture conference
specific bulletins.

Bltcap2 does so by searching your icom.cap file for references to new
bulletins, and then generates the appropriate commands to enter the bulletin
section of the BBS and capture each bulletin individually. The main logic for
bltcap2 has been written to make the script as BBS independent as possible.
Much of the relevent BBS specific information is obtained on the fly as the
script executes. For the few items that cannot be determined from an Icom BIF,
variables are used. These variables are located at the top of the script and
are fully commented to suggest appropriate values. By default, the script is
configured for operation on CRS Online. Customization details follow.

Bltcap2 relies on the support script, grep.scr to perform the text search
through icom.cap to find new bulletins. You may find this a useful utility
script to be called by your own scripts. See the script comments for an 
explanation of how to call grep.scr.


Customization:

Unless you need to modify the script for use on a BBS other than CRSO, only
three variables need to be customized. They are: always_include,
always_exclude, and include_special.

always_include is used to list all bulletins which should be captured whether
they are listed as new or not. A typical use for this would be to collect a
bulletin which changes daily, especially when multiple mail runs are
performed each day. always_exclude is used to list any bulletins that are
of no relevence, and therefore should not be captured. 

Finally, include_special is used to list any conference specific bulletins
that are to be captured. The format for this variable is x:y, where x is the
conference number and y is the number of the bulletin to be captured.

All bulletins are captured into icom's cap directory and use the file naming
convention BLT-x.y where x is the conference number and y is the number
of the bulletin. If desired, you can modify postjob.bat to add these bulletins
to your mail packets so that they can be read by your mail reader.


Installation:

This install script will automatically copy bltcap2 and the support script,
grep, to your script directory. You can override the default script directory
by selecting the Change Install Directory option from the main menu.
By default, the script will be copied to Icom's default script directory.

Optionally, the install script will create an entry in your postjob.bat
file to show how to automatically add bulletins to a mail packet. The entry
is commented out so it won't actually run, but it at least gives you an idea
of what needs to be done.


Sample Operation:

Using bltcap2 is very simple. Just add the following line to your icom
job: CC: @BLTCAP2.

It is recommended that run bltcap2 when you first log in or when the
job is at a main board or conference prompt. Starting bltcap2 while in
a mail or deposit door could cause unpredictable results. I'll fix this in
a later release...maybe.

Well, that's about it. And now for the payment details...


Payment Options:

As a lot of work went into this script, please send me:

A) A billion dollars
B) Your winning Lotto 6/49 ticket
C) 10,000 shares of Newbridge stock
D) One beer truck (full)
E) Your tax refund (ha, ha, ha, ha...)
F) Canadian Tire money
G) Monopoly money

Oh forget it! It's yet another FREE script.

Enjoy!

P.S. Please send any comments, criticisms, enhancements to:

Internet/Usenet:   michael.livsey@canrem.com
FidoNet:           1:229/15
RIME/RelayNet:     ->CRS