UsageLog

                                   Version 1.3

                            BBS Usage Bulletin Maker

                       (C) Copyright 1991 Brian K. Piersel

             This program takes the activity log file from a PCBoard  BBS
        or a Wildcat BBS and produces two bulletin files summarizing  the
        board  usage for the past week. One file contains  only  standard
        ASCII characters, while the other contains IBM graphic characters
        and ANSI escape sequences for color.

             Before running the bulletin maker, you must run the configu-
        ration program. Run the configuration program by typing USAGECFG.
        Select the option you want to change by moving the selection  bar
        with the cursor keys and pressing enter. Enter the new value  for
        that  option.  When all options are set to  your  liking,  select
        "Exit and Save." I recommend using full paths for all file names.

             The bulletin maker itself, USAGE.COM, requires no parameters
        on the command line. Type "USAGE" from the DOS prompt to generate
        the  bulletins. To have the bulletins updated automatically  each
        day,  set  your BBS to run an event every night that  calls  this
        program. The event should run after midnight for best results.

             USAGE  and USAGECFG both look for the USAGELOG.CFG  file  in
        the current directory. If you'd like, you can set an  environment
        variable, USAGELOG, to indicate the directory the config file  is
        located in. Example:

        SET USAGELOG=C:\BBS\BLT

        would  cause  the programs to look  for  C:\BBS\BLT\USAGELOG.CFG.
        Putting the SET command in the AUTOEXEC.BAT file will insure that
        the bulletin maker will always be able to find the  configuration
        file.

             The  bulletin maker logs its activity in the  "BULLETIN.LOG"
        file,  located in the same directory that the configuration  file
        is located. Normally, the log file will indicate when the program
        ran, and what bulletin files it produced. If any errors occurred,
        it  will  log those, as well. The program should always  make  at
        least two log entries every time it runs.

        Revision history:
        Version  1.0 - original version - supported Wildcat  and  PCBoard
        systems.
        Version 1.1 - added log file "BULLETIN.LOG".
        Version 1.2 - fixed bug that appears during the first week of the
        month. Bug resulted in a report of 0% usage.
        Version 1.3 - Fixed bug that caused reports of usage in excess of
        100%.



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             This  program is shareware, which means you can copy it  and
        give  it  to  your friends (or enemies, if  you'd  like).  Please
        include this documentation file and "REGISTER.TXT" with the  pro-
        gram file if you distribute it. If you like this program and find
        it useful, please register it. For your $10 registration fee, you
        will  receive  a  registered copy of the latest  version  of  the
        program, along with a printed copy of the instructions.

        Let me know what you think of this program, and if you'd like  to
        see others like it.

        Author:
        Brian K. Piersel
        227 Santee Pass
        Brookings, SD  57006-3722
        (605)692-7752

        or  you  can reach me on The Dakotan BBS, (605)693-4477,  or  The
        What It Is BBS, (605)697-6047. (Leave mail for Brian Piersel).






































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