Documentation for Applying Fixes to RBBS
by Ken Goosens, 6-24-92

Fixes to RBBS-PC are distributed in a file RFIXmmdd.ZIP.
These are modifications to existing files. In the case of Basic
source code fixed, they are distributed as merges. In other
cases, such as .HLP files, a replacement file is given.
Simply copy the replacement files over the original.

Details documenting the fixes are in file BULLET6. The name comes
from the tradition of distributing fixes as a bulletin in RBBS-PC.

How to Apply Merges

Merges can be applied "by hand". Meaning you go in with an editor,
and replace the sections of code with the new one. This is necessary
if you are running with unofficial modifications to the code.

You cannot use the editor built into Basic, because the RBBS files are
too large to hold in memory with the program. Good external editors
are SLED, Program Editor, and Personal Editor.

Hand applying merges is error prone. A better way to apply the
merges is to use BLED (Batch Line Editor), available as BLED22.ZIP.
BLED will apply the merges to the current release and produce new
code for recompiling.

Merges come in the format:

filename apply to
------------ ------------
R-PCmmdd.MRG RBBS-PC.BAS
RSB1mmdd.MRG RBBSSUB1.BAS
RSB2mmdd.MRG RBBSSUB2.BAS
RSB3mmdd.MRG RBBSSUB3.BAS
RSB4mmdd.MRG RBBSSUB4.BAS
RSB5mmdd.MRG RBBSSUB5.BAS
CNFGmmdd.MRG CONFIG.BAS
CSUBmmdd.MRG CNFG-SUB.BAS

filename replaces
------------ ------------
RVARmmdd.MRG RBBS-VAR.BAS
CVARmmdd.MRG CNFG-VAR.BAS

A batch file for applying merges is supplied called MERGE.BAT.
To set it up,

o put your original source code in a subdirectory, say C:\174

o put the files in RFIXmmdd.ZIP into another subdirectory where
you will recompile, say C:\SOURCE. Make this your current
directory.

o edit MERGE.BAT to reflect where you put the original source
and merges.

o invoke the batch file with the mmdd on the command line, i.e.
"merge mmdd", e.g. "merge 0624". This will update your -VAR
files and produce new code by applying the merges.

How to Recompile

o Obtain a suitable Basic compiler.

QuickBasic ($70) or Professional Basic ($300) from Microsoft.

o Obtain the assembler .OBJ files.

These are in the RBBS distribution file RBBS-ASM.ZIP.

Assuming you have the revised code ready to recompile,

o Recompile to produced new executables (RBBS-PC.EXE or CONFIG.EXE)

You cannot compile the source code an loading it into the interactive
environment. You must "batch" compile the code.

The exact procedure for recompiling depends on the version of the
compiler. Sample batch files for recompiling are included as follows:

Compiler Batch for RBBS Batch for CONFIG
-------- -------------- ----------------
QB 1.02 MRBBS1.BAT MCNFG1.BAT
QB 2.01 MRBBS2.BAT MCNFG2.BAT
QB 3.00 MRBBS3.BAT MCNFG3.BAT
QB 4.5 MRBBS4.BAT MCNFG4.BAT
PB 7.1 MRBBS7.BAT MCNFG7.BAT

Versions of the compiler other than these are NOT recommended, e.g.
QuickBasic 4.0, 2.0, 1.0.

Note: if you are using DOORS with RBBS, you must patch a library for
the compiler. Else, upon return from a door, carrier may be dropped.
Directions for patching the compiler are given in RBBS-DOC.ZIP in an
appendix.