Purpose: *** This is a batch file menu system that will, hopefully, make using the file list from PC-Ohio's BBS a little less daunting. When you make a selection from the menu(s), the program will "unzip" the appropriate directory from the archived file list and display it with Vernon Buerg's fine program, LIST.COM, (Renamed to LP.com to accomodate my 4DOS) but which also allows you to scroll up and down the complete PCOALPHA.ZIP filelist, and has a powerful search feature which will allow you to search for file names or key words. When you exit LIST, the program will return you to the submenu. Liability: *** Although I don't think use of this program will cause any harm to you, your computer, or the environment, you use it at your own risk. No guarantee is made or implied that this program will work properly on your computer. Requirements: *** 1. The file PKUNZIP.EXE must be present in the default directory or in your path statement.<(VER. 204e or g)>!!!! 2. The file LIST.COM must be present in the default directory or in your path statement. (Renamed herein to LP.COM) 3. The file PCOALPHA.ZIP from PC-Ohio or, as in my case, a version reconstructed from PC-OHIO(?).ZIP using PKZIP -a PCOALPHA *.* This is the master BBS file list for PC-OHIO in an archived form. 4. Since the screens are in color and use ANSI commands, you must be running ANSI.SYS. This is loaded by means of a statement in your CONFIG.SYS file which is usually located in the root directory of your boot drive (usually A: or C:) If you are not running ANSI, put the following statement in your CONFIG.SYS: DEVICE=[d:\][dir\]ANSI.SYS for example: DEVICE=C:\DOS\ANSI.SYS 5. A color EGA or VGA monitor. You can try it on CGA or mono, but I make no guarantee as to aesthetics . . . ansi.sys, however, is absolutely necessary. 6. The files NOCURS.COM, NORMAL.COM and REPLY.COM are included in the archive. Their authorship and ownership have become lost over the years, but I acknowledge the contribution made by these unknown persons. Installation: *** I would suggest you make a separate subdirectory for this program. Place PCOALPHA.ZIP, or a reconstruction, in the subdirectory (Do not unzip this file, the program will unzip the individual directories as they are needed) then unzip this archive file into the same subdirectory. Use: *** To start the menu, just enter PCOH at the DOS prompt. The main menu will be displayed from which you can choose a submenu or be returned to DOS. If you choose a submenu, another menu will be displayed from which you can choose the specific BBS file list you want to look at. The selected file list will be displayed by LIST.COM which will allow you to scroll up and down or use the powerful search feature to find a file name or key word. If you are not familiar with LIST.COM, enter h or H to display a help screen. When you exit LIST, you will be returned to the submenu. From here you can either select another menu or return to DOS. When you exit the program, your screen will be set to the default colors of bright white on blue. If you should you prefer some other default color, you may edit the file PCOH.BAT to change the default to any color(s) you like. Near the end of the file you will see the statement echo E[1;37;44m (E represents the ascii escape character 27) The ascii escape character 27 may display differently in your editor but it is ESSENTIAL to the proper functioning of the batch file . . . you may edit any of the numbers, but unless you know how to fix the ansi codes, don't mess with 'em. The ansi color codes are as follows: Color: Foreground: Background: Black 30 40 Red 31 41 Green 32 42 Yellow 33 43 Blue 34 44 Magenta 35 45 Cyan 36 46 White 37 47 Attributes: 0 = all attributes off (white on black) 1 = bold on (high intensity) 2 = normal intensity 4 = underscore on (monochrome text display only) 5 = blink on 7 = reverse video on 8 = canceled on (characters invisible) So, if you would like to change to bright yellow on red, you would change the above statement to read: : echo E[1;33;41m (don't forget the lower case m) Acknowledgements: *** PKZ204E.EXE is a product of PKWare, Inc., 7545 N. Port Washington Rd., Glendale, WI, 53217 LIST.COM is written and distributed by Vernon D. Buerg * Both programs are copyrighted material distributed under the Shareware concept of marketing. If you use these programs beyond a reasonable evaluation period, a registration fee should be paid to the authors. Misc: *** If you use the fine command.com replacement program, 4DOS, you can speed up the execution of these batch files by renaming all the .bat files to .btm. This is easily done with the DOS command REN *.BAT *.BTM As the file list from PC-OHIO BBS changes, I will try keep an updated version on the BBS. Because the program is all batch files, and thus uncompiled, it should be a relatively simple matter for you to upgrade the files yourself as the need arises. If you need to change the menu screens themselves (*.com, except LP.COM), this is easily done with the program THEDRAW which can be found on the PC-OHIO BBS. If you have any problems, suggestions or comments regarding this program, you can leave e-mail to me, Thomas Roth, on PC-OHIO's BBS. Happy BBSing!