ANSI CONTEST AND ART GALLERY ============================ Copyright 1995, CR Software. All rights reserved October 22, 1995 TABLE OF CONTENTS ================= I. Downloading ANSI CONTEST from The Modem Connection. II. Introduction III. Warranty Information IV. Configuring ANSI CONTEST V. Running ANSI CONTEST VI. Registering ANSI CONTEST VII. Registered vs. Unregistered Version VIII. Distribution Files ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ I. DOWNLOADING ANSI CONTEST FROM "THE MODEM CONNECTION" ==================================================== Downloading the latest ANSI CONTEST version is easy. Simply do the following: * Call The Modem Connection at (909)-925-1480 * After logging on, choose the File Area from the Main Menu. * Choose TBBS/TDBS 3rd Party Programs. * You will be asked if you are a TBBS sysop, and will be prompted for a PASSWORD: Enter: MSGHDR.BBS Enter the password in CAPITAL LETTERS ONLY! DO NOT EXIT WITHOUT ENTERING PASSWORD! * Select CR Software TBBS/TDBS programs * Select ACDEMO.ZIP to download, and press ^D. (Note: This is the latest UNregistered version of ANSI CONTEST) * Now enjoy ANSI CONTEST and ART GALLERY! II. INTRODUCTION ============ Welcome to the ANSI CONTEST! We at CR Software certainly hope you enjoy using this quality program, designed to bring out your user's creative drawing skills for fun, and maybe even profit! The ANSI CONTEST allows your callers to upload ansi pictures they have created using such programs as theDraw, or others. Callers then vote on these pictures, and the current leaders may be displayed. Callers may change their vote on pictures, or remove their vote entirely. The artist may opt to delete his picture from the contest. The top vote-getters are continually updated, so users can see who's ahead at any given time. The top three winners may be added to the Hall Of Fame, for a future grand prize contest. The ANSI CONTEST allows only the original artist to remove his/her picture. However, you, the sysop, are also able to delete any pictures. This ensures that any pictures you deem inappropriate may be deleted. When uploading their picture, the artist may choose not to allow others to download their picture. They simply type 'N' in the field asking if they will allow others to download thir picture. This will keep others from modfying an original picture, then re-submitting it as their own. III. WARRANTY ======== This product is distributed without warranty. CR Software will not be held responsible for any real or imagined, present or future consequences arising from its use. IV. CONFIGURING ANSI CONTEST ======================== ANSI CONTEST is a TYPE = 200 menu command. The OPTDATA for the UNREGISTERED program is :\\ACU.TPG *NOTE*: The database files ansipics.dbf, voterlog.dbf, and hallfame.dbf *MUST* reside in the same directory as the program! Select a hotkey of your choice which will be defined on your menu as the key that will execute the ANSI CONTEST. As Sysop, you have a special menu item unseen to others that allows you to configure such areas as: starting and ending dates of contest, which directory ANSI CONTEST should look to to find the pictures, etc. These are detailed below: * BEGIN DATE: Enter the date you wish the voting to begin, as mm/dd/yy. * END DATE: Enter the date you wish the voting to end, as mm/dd/yy * PICTURE DIRECTORY: Enter the directory where ANSI CONTEST should upload the caller's picture to, as c:\tbbs\ansipics\ NOTE: ANSI CONTEST will look for the pictures in this directory. If you relocate the pictures, be sure to update this field. The demo ansi's included in this archive should also be placed in the directory that you designate as the upload directory or an error will occur if the files are accessed and ANSI CONTEST cannot find them! * BBS NAME: (Registered version only): Enter the name of your Board to have ANSI CONTEST display at the opening splash screen. The default is "This BBS". * USER SECURITY LEVEL TO VOTE: (Registered version only): Enter the minimum security level callers must have in order to vote on pictures. NOTE: ANY caller may upload pictures, but only those with a security level at or above your set limit may vote. * CHANGE COLORS: (Registered version only): Mark this field 'Y' or 'N'. If you choose 'Y', you will be presented with the change color screen (after you complete the following field). * GENERATE HALL OF FAME: (Registered version only): Enter 'Y' to have ANSI CONTEST generate a Hall of Fame for the past contest. The top 3 entries will be entered. NOTE!!! - This option is only visible AFTER the date entered under "End Contest Date" above. There is no point generating a Hall of Fame during the contest. V. RUNNING ANSI CONTEST ==================== The ANSI CONTEST is fairly straight-forward. The actions are highlighted on the Main Menu screen. The user simply presses the associated 'hot-key', and the requested action is performed. NOTE: The database files ansipics.dbf, voterlog.dbf, and hallfame.dbf MUST reside in the same directory as the program! The following 'conditions' are built into the ANSI CONTEST: * UPLOADING of contest pictures must take place BEFORE the date set by you, the Sysop, for the contest to begin. That way, all entries are ensured of equal voting and viewing opportunities. Uploading may also take place after the contest ends, and before the next one begins. * VOTING on picture entries is only allowed BETWEEN the contest begin and end dates. * OPTIONAL SET OF RULES included with this archive can be used at SysOp's discretion. A suggested use for these rules would be to set up ANSI CONTEST where the user would not be allowed to enter the program until they have read the rules first. You can do this by setting up a Q&A (Questionaire) that will be executed upon entry to the program that will change a users flag setting to allow them to enter the contest only after reading the rules first! I use this to warn users not to enter in comercial ansi art and to instruct them that the ansi's they upload should be of their own originality! Again, this is optional! VI. REGISTERING ANSI CONTEST ======================== The ANSI CONTEST may be registered by a check or money order for $45.00 (U.S. currency only, please) to: CR Software 591 Cypress Ave. San Jacinto,Ca. 92583 Simply print the REGISTER.TXT file, fill in the information, and mail it along with your payment. You may choose to have CR Software send you the ANSI CONTEST on disk, or CR SOFTWARE will upload it to the BBS of your choice (your name, and BBS phone number required). NOTE: You will NOT be sent new database files ( as these would overwrite your current ones ). Instead, you will be sent 2 utility programs that will allow you to remove (1) all the pictures from the ansipics.dbf database, and the voters/votes from the voterlog.dbf database; and (2) the hall of fame entries from the hallfame.dbf database. VII. REGISTERED VS. UNREGISTERED VERSION =================================== The registered version of ANSI CONTEST has the following additional features: 1). Allows the SYSOP to configure colors for windows and text used in the ANSI CONTEST to match his/her personal color scheme or tastes. 2). Allows the sysop to set the user privilege level needed to vote on pictures. 3). Allows the user to change his/her vote, or to remove his/her vote from any picture. 4). Allows unlimited number of pictures to be entered. Unregistered version allows a maximum of 30 pictures (1 page). 5). Allows a Hall Of Fame to be kept for each contest, to be able to hold a grand prize voting contest, if desired. VIII. DISTRIBUTION FILES ================== The following files should be in the ACDEMO.ZIP package: 1). ACU.TPG The unregistered version of ANSI CONTEST 2). ANSIPICS.DBF The picture database file 3). VOTERLOG.DBF The voting results / voters database 4). SCRN.ANS The main menu screen (general) 5). SCRNSYS.ANS The SYSOP's main menu screen with configuration option. 6). SPLASH.ANS The opening screen. 7). DEFCOLORS.MEM Window / text color file 8). SAMPLEx.ANS Sample ANSI screens (2) 9). SYSOP.TXT This file 10). REGISTER.TXT Order / registration form for ANSI CONTEST 11). CONTEST.TXT These are the rules used on "THE MODEM CONNECTION!" they are optional, but are included as a sample set in case you wish to run the contest with rules! Again, they are OPTIONAL and are not required for ANSI CONTEST to run. 12). SAMPLE1.ANS Sample Ansi screen 13). SAMPLE2.ANS Sample Ansi screen 14). SAMPLE3.ANS Sample Ansi Screen 15). FILE_ID.DIZ Description of program 16). ACDEMO.DIR The .DIR file for approved distributors of ANSICON.ZIP The right to distribute ACDEMO.ZIP is at the sole discretion of CR SOFTWARE! This file may not be distributed by anyone other than those designated by CR SOFTWARE! Only distributors approved by CR SOFTWARE and those approved by E-Soft to distribute TBBS\TDBS 3rd party programs and E-Soft products may freely distribute this product. Please support the developement of TBBS\TDBS products and add-on's by registering them! If you have any questions, call "The Modem Connection", and leave a message for "CR Software". Thank you for trying ANSI CONTEST!