| Virtual Reality Data Systems BBS | \--------------------------------/ | 1-(703)-323-0236 BBS/FAX | +----------------------------+ What is this?: ------------- After several years of running telegard and then Renegade I have always disliked the authors defult installed menus. I don't mean to knock them - they are hard working folks. However no programmer can spend the time to tinker with the finner points of a system when it is as flexable as renegade. So I eventualy sat down over the course of a week and read the rather archane documentation and designed a menu structure on paper as a flow chart of functions. Then I deleted the stock menu data files and started with the main menu. After a time I did a lot of tinkering and made use of the %DF% MCI to get around the rather short strings provided for menu prompts and headers. I prefer to use more then one color and many MCI pipes in my menu system, and the internal editor is rather simple. Many external editors make use of better editing functions, however they cannot get around the string lenght limit. This archive containes the menu structure and support files for my BBS. These files will only work with Renegade 10-05exp or higher. They require the %DF% MCI pipe codes introduced in 10-04. An archive summery follows: README.TXT This file MNUPMTS.ZIP The Menu Prompt text files VRSMENU.ZIP The Menu Data files. FILE_ID.DIZ Discription file A note about this structure: --------------------------- In this archive I have removed the second and third level security codes that are in my operational menus. Renegade allows you to use special menu commands that will prompt for a password. I have that on my sysop menu, since if I am calling in remote it's a rare time I need to use sysop commands. So I added two more passwords to enter the sysop menu. I would suggest you do the same if it fits your sysoping style. I have also removed the Archive manipulation commands. These are in the stock archive menu that comes with renegade. They can however become backdoors to your system. If you want to keep your archive viewing commands I sugest you set your filebases to upload to a directory that is set to sysop clearence only. That way any uploads go to one directory, were you can scan them as well as preventing a hacker from uploading them, then viewing them - with a virus or trojen horse. In my system I have a System Announcement Sub as BASE #1, and a new user introduction sub as BASE #2. The menu's will auto-scan these two bases. If you wish to remove this function, edit the START menu and remove the commands. Installation: ------------ First make sure you exit Renegade, do not use a command prompt shell as several menu datafiles are still open when you exit. I suggest you make backups of your entire renegade installation, or try these menus out on a base install to see if you like them. Installation is simple. Change to your MENU directory were the *.MNU files are located. Delete all .MNU files (as noted, make backups). Then unzip the VRSMENU.ZIP archive into the MENU directory. Change to the MISC directory. Unzip the MNUPMTS.ZIP file into this directory. The .PMT files for the menu headers are still from my BBS, however you may edit the .PMT files and change them to what you would like. You do however have to change them from my bbs name. Legal Appendix: -------------- As with any shareware item, I make no warrenties about this product. All I can promis is it will take up space on your hardrive. If it works to your satisfaction great! If it takes over your computer, grabs a gun and kills your cat - I suggest you go for a walk and get some fresh air, all the ozone from the computer is getting to you! Registration: ------------ Now I'm not going to be pompus about this. After all it's just a dam menu set. If you like these menu's and find them useful as is, or as pointers for things you might use in your existing menus, let me know. My e-mail addresses are below. If you want, I do accept donations. Running a bbs can be expensive as you know. I'll take anything you fell you want to give to my bbs. Be it money or hardware. Heck if you have intersting things you have collected and want to get rid of - send them our way. If you have old games or Music CD's I'll take those as well. I am quite a pack rat afterall :) Snail-Mail: Inet E-mail: FTS Networks: ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- James Keller jmkeller@radix.net James Keller @ 1:109/344 FidoNet 5509 Beaconsfiled Ct James Keller @ 88:4202/1 MufoNet Burke, Va. 22015 James Keller @ 50:520/604 RGSNet James Keller # 93:9810/3 PODNet Make checks payable to James Keller. Please enclose your name and addresses so I might send you X-Mass cards or something somtime. If you mail something as a gift - put Virtual Reality Data Systems C/O James Keller so I know it is not a bomb or something :)