BBSFAX V1.0

Copyright (c) 1992 Richard D. Fothergill



























Richard D. Fothergill
the Oak Hill BBS
141 Oak Hill Road
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Data/FAX - (413) 499-7245












WHAT IS BBSFAX?

When I purchased my ZyXEL U-1496 Modem/Fax I wanted an easy way
to be able to accept fax and modem calls on the same line. This
would allow me to continue to operate my BBS software as well as
be in a position to receive faxes. I tried BinkleyTerm and
FrontDoor. Both excellent programs, but way more than I needed
or wanted, not having a need for network mailers nor needing a
built in terminal program. I wanted something simple, small,
easy to setup and maintain. Thus the beginning of BBSFAX.

WHAT CAN I DO WITH BBSFAX?

You run BBSFAX instead of your BBS software. BBSFAX will answer
the phone, determine what the incoming call is and exit with an
errorlevel which you can use in a batch file to determine
subsequent operations. In the case of a BBS call it will also
create a batch file to call your BBS software. In addition you
can program up to 10 events with a preset time of execution and
exit errorlevel. When BBSFAX encounters one of these it will
exit with your predetermined errorlevel. Again, you control
further processing in your batch file.

REQUIREMENTS

BBSFAX must have a FOSSIL driver loaded. It has been tested with
both BNU and X00. Either one will work.

DISCLAIMER

IN NO EVENT WILL I BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR ANY DAMAGES, INCLUDING
ANY LOST PROFITS, LOST SAVINGS OR OTHER INCIDENTAL OR
CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF YOUR USE OR INABILITY TO USE
THE PROGRAM, OR FOR ANY CLAIM BY ANY OTHER PARTY.





















BBSFAX V1.0 -1-
Copr (c) 1992 Richard D. Fothergill









INSTALLATION

There are three files that must be created to run BBSFAX. They
are BBS.BAT, BBSFAX.CFG, BBSFAX.EVT. I will discuss each one
individually.

BBS.BAT

This batch file is the heart of your BBS/FAX system. It controls
all activity and execution. You do not have to use the name
BBS.BAT, it can be any name of your choosing. The following is
the BBS.BAT file I use.

@ECHO OFF
bnu /R=3072 /T=1024 /L:1=38400,8N1 /F
:loop
cls
bbsfax
if errorlevel 40 goto event
if errorlevel 30 goto fax
if errorlevel 20 goto spit
if errorlevel 10 goto spitl
if errorlevel 0 goto end
:event
call sfmaint
goto loop
:fax
rcvfax 1 f:\sf\fax
goto loop
:spit
call bbsexe
goto loop
:spitl
spitfire 0
goto loop
:end
bnu /u

There are four hardcoded errorlevels. They are:

0 - Terminate
10 - Local Logon
20 - BBS/Modem Connection
30 - FAX Connection

BNU is loaded at the start of the batch file. The loop: label is
where execution of the batch file will return to after any
activity other than a normal exit. BBSFAX is started and awaits
a caller. If a call is received or a scheduled event occurs
BBSFAX will exit with the corresponding errorlevel. Control then
returns to this batch file. This is relatively straight forward.




BBSFAX V1.0 -2-
Copr (c) 1992 Richard D. Fothergill









BBSFAX.CFG

This is the configuration file you setup to inform BBSFAX of
certain parameters it needs to function. The following is a
sample configuration file.

CM=2
MI=ATZM0V1E0S2=1X7#B1+FCLASS=6
AS=ATA
MO=ATH1
MR=ATZ
BB=SPITFIRE
CP=/C
ST=120
RC=2

There are no spaces allowed in this file between the parameter
and the = sign. The items should appear in the sequence listed
and each parameter must have a value. The parameters and the
meanings are a follows:

CM The communications port you have your modem on.

MI Your modem initialization string. This should be for both
modem and fax reception.

AS Modem answer string.

MO Modem offhook string.

MR Modem reset string. This is sent to the modem upon normal
termination.

BB The name you would like placed in the BBSEXE.BAT file.

CP The text you would like to preceed the com port parameter in
the BBSEXE.BAT file. Spitfire specifies that the parameter
read /C. Check your BBS software.

ST Sleep time out seconds. This is the amount of time BBSFAX
will wait before blanking the screen. A display of the
program name and current time will appear at random locations
to remind you of the program running. If ST=0 then screen
blanking is disabled.

RC The number of rings on which you would like BBSFAX to answer
the call.








BBSFAX V1.0 -3-
Copr (c) 1992 Richard D. Fothergill









BBSFAX.EVT

This file is used to define your events. It is a comma delimited
file consisting of three parameters. The first is a 40 character
description. This will be written to the log file when the event
is executed. The second is the time you want the event to occur.
The format is HH:MM and is in 24 hour time. The last item is the
errorlevel. This can be any value except one of the hardcoded
errorlevels mentioned earlier. Each event must appear on a
separate line in the file and you are limited to 10 events. A
typical line in the event file is as follows:

DAILY MAINTENANCE,01:00,40

This line would cause BBSFAX to exit with an errorlevel of 40 at
1:00 am.

FILES CREATED BY BBSFAX

There are three files created by BBSFAX. A discussion of each
follows.

BBSFAX.LOG

If this file is not found at start-up BBSFAX creates a new one.
Each time an activity occurs, an entry is written to this file.
The entry will consist of the date, time, description of activity
and either the errorlevel for an event or the CONNECT string for
a modem connection. Local logons are not recorded in the file.
This file has no interaction with your BBS log file. A modem
connection may be made and control passed to your BBS software
and the user might hang up with out logging on. In this case,
there would still be a record of the connection in the BBSFAX.LOG
but in all probability, not in your BBS log.

BBSFAX.STS

This is a file used strictly by BBSFAX. Each time BBSFAX
releases control back to DOS, BBSFAX writes control data to this
file. When it restarts it reads this information back in.

Although not required, it is suggested that each time you erase
the BBSFAX.LOG file to clear that, you erase BBSFAX.STS to reset
the call statistics at the same time. You do not have to
recreate these files. BBSFAX will create new ones if existing
files are not found.









BBSFAX V1.0 -4-
Copr (c) 1992 Richard D. Fothergill









EXEBBS.BAT

When a BBS call is received, BBSFAX will create a batch file
which contains the name you assigned to the BB parameter in the
configuration file, followed by the baud rate as parameter 1, the
CP string and CM value you entered in the configuration file.
The parameters you specify in the configuration file will allow
you to construct an entry that should allow you to start your BBS
software. A typical entry in EXEBBS.BAT reads a follows:

SPITFIRE 1200 /C2

In your BBS.BAT file you can call EXEBBS to start your BBS
software.

GENERAL DISCUSSION

As you can see from my sample BBS.BAT file I am set up as
follows.

Errorlevel Action
0 Normal program exit. Modem reset.

10 Local logon to BBS. Spitfire requires that you
call it with a baud rate of 0 to let it know that
it is a local log on and not try to detect a
carrier.

20 Remote call BBS logon. Spitfire requires that you
call it with a baud rate and com port to notify it
that a connection has already been made and to
proceed to the user log on.

30 Remote call FAX transmission. The batch file
passes control to ZyXEL's RCVFAX program which also
assumes a connection has been established.

40 User specified event. I have this set to occur at
1:00 am. This is routine BBS maintenance. Please
remember, running in a system such a this, in all
probability events scheduled in your BBS software
will never occur. Your BBS software is not the
program controlling the flow, BBSFAX is, so events
should be schedule through BBSFAX.











BBSFAX V1.0 -5-
Copr (c) 1992 Richard D. Fothergill










MENU AND HOT KEYS

From the Waiting for Caller screen you have two possible key
strokes. Alt-X will close BBSFAX and execute a normal exit.
Alt-M will bring up a pop menu with the following selections
available:

View Activity Log
Local Logon
Drop to DOS
Terminate BBSFAX

Within this menu your mouse will be active to locate the
highlight bar or you can use the arrow keys. Either press the
left mouse button or the enter key to make a selection. Pressing
the right mouse button or the Esc key will return you to the
Waiting for Caller screen.

View Activity Log - This selection will pop up a window and
display the BBSFAX.LOG file. All the direction keys are active
as well as the mouse. Press the Esc key or the right mouse
button to return to the menu.

Local Logon - This will exit the system with an errorlevel of 10.
This does not have to be a local log on. You can have your
BBS.BAT file execute any program you wish or none at all.

Drop to DOS - Self explanatory. The DOS prompt is amended to
remind you to EXIT back to the BBSFAX menu.

Terminate BBSFAX - Same as the Alt-X key press. Executes a
normal exit back to dos.























BBSFAX V1.0 -6-
Copr (c) 1992 Richard D. Fothergill