Excellent set of utilities for TELIX 3.xx. | |||
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File Name | File Size | Zip Size | Zip Type |
$TOC | 880 | 415 | deflated |
T3DARWIN.EXE | 15456 | 7657 | deflated |
T3EDIT.EXE | 17408 | 8850 | deflated |
T3GLOBAL.EXE | 14688 | 7718 | deflated |
T3PRINT.EXE | 12560 | 6784 | deflated |
T3SORT.EXE | 12560 | 6791 | deflated |
T3TOOLS.DOC | 25711 | 8251 | deflated |
Download File T3TOOLS.ZIP Here
Contents of the T3TOOLS.DOC file
76-53 271 Street
New Hyde Park, NY 11040
Note: this file is not set up in pages. You may wish to run it through a
word processor and page it out before printing it.
The author can be contacted by mail, or via the White Tiger PCBoard BBS at
1-718-962-2628 (PCPursuit via 212 node).
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The legalities
--------------
As far as I know, this set of programs does exactly what I claim it will do.
However, I am definitely NOT guaranteeing that. You are using the package
entirely at your own risk. If it does cause problems that appear to be
program related, contact me at the BBS number above. Please cage and
forward any error messages or other manifestations of the errors.
My address is supplied at the beginning and end of this document.
This is NOT a free, or public domain, package. This is shareware. In order
for you to be using the package legally, you must register the program with
me. The registration details are explained later in this document.
No changes, revisions, deletions, or additions to this package may be made by
anyone but the author. If you have an idea on how I can make this package
better, write me. Don't patch files. I will not be responsible for, nor can
I support, other people's modifications.
Third-party shareware distributors (BBSes, user groups, etc.) may distribute
this package freely, as long as they do not charge a fee which is more than
their cost of distribution. The author is the only person authorized to make
a profit on this package.
I retain all copyrights to this program.
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The package
-----------
...consists of five short executable programs. They are:
T3DARWIN.EXE - program to adapt Darwin BBS lists to Telix 3.xx.
T3EDIT.EXE - program to edit Telix 3.xx dialing directories.
T3GLOBAL.EXE - program to globally change all entries in a
Telix 3.xx dialing directory.
T3PRINT.EXE - program to print some or all of the data in a
Telix 3.xx dialing directory.
T3SORT.EXE - program to sort a Telix 3.xx dialing directory
on one of several key fields.
There should also be two other files in the package:
T3TOOLS.DOC - which you are now reading.
$TOC - which is a PKUNPAK (tm) view of the Telix 3
Tools package. If you suspect you have a
corrupted (or illegally modified) archive, run
PKUNPAK -v and save the output. Then send me
both your output and $TOC. I can use the two
files to verify your copy of the package.
It's designed for IBM PC's and close compatibles. It uses the DOS and CRT
units of Borland's Turbo Pascal 5.0 (tm). If your computer cannot run TP5
programs, these won't work, either. Otherwise, you should have no problems.
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Assumption
----------
If you do not have Telix 3.00, 3.10, or 3.11 (tm) (and if you have any,
it should be version 3.11), this package is useless to you. Therefore, I
am going to assume you have Telix 3.xx, and know a little about it.
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Usage
-----
I have tried to make the programs as self-documenting as possible. Entering
the program name alone (or with only the /H switch) on the command line will
give you a short help screen.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
0. Syntax
InFile -- the input file for that program.
OutFile -- the output file for that program.
[stuff] -- bracketed selections are optional.
stuff -- non-bracketed selections MUST be provided or the program will
abort.
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1. T3PRINT
Command line: T3PRINT [/op] InFile [OutFile]
[/op] - A slash, followed by up to five option letters from the following
list:
[DEFAULT: Standard data shown. See 'OutFile' below for what is
displayed and its format]
H - show help screen [must be only option, remainder of command
line is ignored].
A - use all extra options [must be only option].
C - show date of last call and number of calls.
P - show passwords. This is optional so that you don't
accidentally give all your passwords to your best friend
when you give him/her your list of numbers.
T - show the settings for the five (or four in Telix 3.00) toggle
switches. The output in this column is a 10-character string.
Decoding the toggle string:
Option: 1 2 3 4 5
True: HiDlNoLfFd
False: --BsDe--Hd
1 - Strip High Bit: 'Hi' means high-bit stripping is on.
'--' means it's off (for Telix 3.00 directories, this
should always be off).
2 - BS key sends: 'Dl' means Delete (ASCII 127). 'Bs' means
Backspace (ASCII 8).
3 - BS translation: 'No' means non-destructive (cursor left),
'De' means destructive backspace (backspace key).
4 - Add line feeds: 'Lf' means line feeds are added. '--'
means they're not.
5 - Local echo: 'Fd' means Full Duplex (local echo off). 'Hd'
means Half Duplex (local echo on).
S - show linked script names for each BBS.
M - show the default terminal type for each BBS.
InFile - the Telix 3.xx dialing directory you want printed. InFile must
exist, and exactly as shown. If you are running T3PRINT from a
different directory than the .FON file, specify a full enough
pathname for the program to find it. If the dialing directory
cannot be found, the program will abort.
[OutFile] - the file which will receive the list. If not specified, it
will be 'standard output' -- which means the output could be
redirected to another program. For example, you could use
Vern Buerg's LIST (tm) to view the output as part of a pipe:
T3PRINT /A TELIX.FON | LIST /S
would allow you to see a full printout of TELIX.FON without
permanently tying up disk space.
If OutFile is a disk file, and it exists, it will be appended
to. Otherwise, it will be created (if possible).
The output file format, without any options, shows the dialing
directory entry number, name, phone number, baud, data bits,
parity, stop bits, default transfer protocol, and dialing
prefix across the page from left to right. The additional
fields are added from left to right in the order shown above.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. T3SORT
Command line: T3SORT [/op] InFile [OutFile]
[/op] - A slash, followed by up to two option letters from the following
list:
[DEFAULT: /A]
H - show help screen [must be only option, remainder of command
line is ignored].
A - sort the InFile by BBS name, in A-to-Z (ascending) order.
C - sort the InFile by last call date, most recent going first and
the ones you've never called going last. The secondary sort
key is the total calls field.
D - sort the InFile by BBS name, in Z-to-A (descending) order.
L - sort the InFile by the BBS's 7-digit local number, in ascending
order. The program skips embedded long distance prefixes. For
this option to work correctly, numbers outside your area code
must start with the sequence '1-xxx' (where xxx is the other
area code) or a long distance prefix.
N - sort the InFile by the Phone Number field. This will sort
based on whatever the first character of the phone number is.
T - sort the InFile by the total number of calls made, in descending
order. The secondary sort key is the BBS Name field.
F - the OutFile will be overwritten without confirmation if you
use this switch. If you leave this out, and the OutFile exists,
you will be asked at run-time to confirm that you really do
want to do this. If you choose not to overwrite the OutFile,
you can specify another filename -- which will also be checked
and verified if necessary.
InFile - the Telix 3.xx dialing directory you are sorting. See the 'InFile'
entry under 'T3PRINT' above for pathname rules.
[OutFile] - the sorted Telix 3.xx dialing directory you are creating. If
an OutFile is not specified, the InFile will also be the
OutFile. See the 'F' switch above for how the OutFile is
handled if it already exists.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3. T3EDIT
Command line: T3EDIT [/H] [/F] InFile [OutFile]
[/H] - show help screen. Do not enter any other command line data, as it
is ignored.
[/F] - force OutFile to be overwritten regardless of its prior existence.
InFile - the Telix 3.xx dialing directory you are editing. See the
'InFile' entry under 'T3PRINT' above for pathname rules. For this
program, however, a non-existent InFile yields a one-blank-entry
OutFile. This allows you to create new dialing directories with
T3EDIT.
[OutFile] - the edited Telix 3.xx dialing directory. If OutFile is not
specified, it is assumed to be InFile. If OutFile already
exists, and you don't force an overwrite with /F, you will
be asked to confirm that you really wanted to do that.
What to do when the program is running:
The menu and display is all on one screen. The top line shows the number
of records in the file, as well as the number of the current record.
All commands and menu entries are one-key entries. That's why the menu
letters down the left side of the screen jump around a bit -- the commands
are designed to be as obvious as possible. Requests for data or keystrokes
are displayed on line 24 of your screen (one line above the bottom of a
CGA/MDA screen). The valid choices for T3EDIT are the letters A to S,
X to Z, and the <#> key:
[NOTE 1: I have not been able to design a good interactive edit in Pascal.
Therefore, you'll have to completely re-type any entries that
require text. Sorry about that, Chief (oops). I hope to have
this fixed for future Telix Tools releases.]
[NOTE 2: Items A to J, and the <#> key, can be aborted by pressing the
field will then be left unchanged.]
[NOTE 3: You will be asked to confirm that you want to leave no matter
which flavor of exit command you use. This is for your own
protection. Confirmation prompts take
- BBS Name: You then type in the new name for this BBS. There
is a 25-character limit.
- Number: You then type in the phone number. You can enter long
distance prefixes and postfixes, if you wish. There is a 17-
character limit.
had to abbreviate baud rates due to space limitations. From
left to right they are: 300, 1200, 2400, 4800, 9600, 19200,
38400, 57600, 115200 baud. Hit the number key corresponding
to the baud rate desired. Then key in the data, parity, and
stop bit information (<8>
name.
be in the format 'MM/DD/YY' (or whatever order you use). There
must be numbers in positions 1, 2, 4, 5, 7 and 8 in the
8-character field.
- Protocol: Enter one character for your default protocol. The
character is not checked as I don't know your external protocol
situation.
you are using.
TRUE means Strip High Bit is ON, FALSE means OFF.
If you're on the final record, you circle around to record #1.
TRUE means Add Line Feeds is ON, FALSE means OFF.
It is the letter
- COMMAND: Previous Record: Moves you back one record in the file.
If you're on the first record, you circle back to the last one.
- COMMAND: Quit without changes: Allows you to leave the file
unchanged. Use this if you really screw up the works and want
to try again.
duplex means Local Echo is OFF, 'Half' Duplex means Local Echo
is ON.
- COMMAND: Save without deleting: Allows you to save the entire
file whether or not you have tagged anything for deletion. The
delete markers are not saved, so use this only if you're sure
you want to keep deleted fields.
mark for deletion (see
recovered once you end the program.
places you on it for editing.
will be kept. If TRUE appears here, and you end the program
with the
are not saved at exit.
<#> - COMMAND: Jump to number: You'll be asked to enter the number
of the record to move to. An out of range number will be
corrected to the nearest end of the file.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4. T3GLOBAL
Command line: T3GLOBAL [/H | InFile]
[/H] - show help screen. Do not include a filename if you are asking for
help; it will be ignored.
InFile - the Telix 3.xx dialing directory you are updating. See the
'InFile' entry under 'T3PRINT' above for pathname rules.
What to do when the program is running:
Once the program is going, you get a simple menu screen with lettered
choices. Hitting the letter on the keyboard activates a choice. Whatever
information you need will be shown on line 24 of your screen (the next-to-
last line of a standard CGA/MDA screen). If 'No change' appears next to an
entry, that means T3GLOBAL will not change that area of any directory
record. If anything else appears, ALL of your directory records will be
changed to that setting. If you have set a global change, and you'd like
to delete it -- hit the same letter key again. If you are asked for more
information, hit
settings. The valid choices for T3GLOBAL are the letters A through L,
and Q:
- Line settings: When you hit , a one-line menu pops up on
line 24 -- hit the number key indicating the baud rate you wish
to change to, or the
you choose a baud rate, you'll also have to choose global settings
for data, parity, and stop bit information. You cannot change the
baud rate globally without changing the remaining line setting
information.
- Call data: This is a toggle between 'No change' and 'To be
cleared'. If 'To be cleared' appears here, the date of your last
call and the total number of calls made will be erased in every
record of your dialing directory.
available terminal types. Hit the number key corresponding to
the global terminal type you want, or
field.
choice.
character is not checked as I don't know whether you have any
external protocols set up.
dialing prefix, or
can say 'No change' (which leaves the field alone), 'forced
TRUE' (which sets the field to TRUE for all records), or 'forced
FALSE' (which sets the field to FALSE). Hitting the
several times will cycle through the toggle until you reach
the one you want.
- BS or Del: Similar to
is equivalent to Local Echo OFF, 'Half' Duplex to Local Echo ON.
- COMMAND: Quit: Processes all global changes. There is no
confirmation, so check the screen VERY carefully before hitting
uit.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5. T3DARWIN
Command line: T3DARWIN [/H] [/F] InFile OutFile
[/H] - show help screen. All other command line information is ignored.
[/F] - force OutFile to be overwritten without confirmation.
InFile - must be a valid Darwin BBS text file. This program was written
based on the format of USBBS54.LST (November, 1988 edition).
OutFile - will be a Telix 3.xx dialing directory. If OutFile exists, and
you have not specified /F (force) mode, you'll be asked to
confirm that you want to overwrite the OutFile, or change the
name of the OutFile.
What to do when the program is running:
Due to the enormous size of the Darwin list, some screening is required
to get the dialing directory down to a manageable size. There are three
criteria used to screen the list. The program accepts them from standard
input, which means you can redirect the input from a text file (it's
recommended you use the /F switch so that your redirection script doesn't
get loused up).
1. Area code: Enter (one at a time) each area code you want included in
the OutFile. Hit
processing.
2. State: Enter (one at a time) each 2-letter Post Office state abbreviation
you want included in the OutFile. Again, hitting
request skips this screening section.
3. BBS Type: Enter (all on one line) the single-letter codes for the BBS
types you want included. Hitting
this section.
If you skip all three sections, the program aborts. Otherwise, it will
run through the Darwin file, showing you the current line count and current
OutFile entry count in the center of the screen.
This process will take some time, and if it yields too large of a file,
you will be asked to do it again... screening it a little more tightly this
time.
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Usage notes
-----------
Due to the fact that most of the processing in these programs is done
in memory -- and the fact that the data segment of a Turbo Pascal program
is limited to 64KB -- the largest dialing directory that Telix Tools can
handle is 710 entries. If you have more than that, consider splitting the
directory into two or more smaller ones. If enough registered users ask,
I'll write a program to do just that.
You can abort the programs (using Ctrl-Break or Ctrl-C, whichever usually works
with Turbo Pascal programs) at any time before you get a "Writing FILENAME.FON"
message without losing any files. Once the program begins writing, however,
you have to let it finish... or else the output file WILL be trashed.
As always when working with data you consider important, you may wish to backup
each dialing directory you process before you start. This is to insure that
(1) you don't make a fatal mistake and (2) that I didn't. When you consider
that the passwords contained in a Telix dialing directory are almost
irreplaceable, you really can't be too safe.
If you're using DOS 3.00 or higher, the help screens will begin with a "command
line" that shows the actual filename of the program. This way, you can rename
your program to something less finger-twisting than my names and still have
a sensible help screen. Command-line filename reading began with DOS 3.00.
If you have DOS 2.11 or lower, you'll get my name for the program on your
help screen instead of yours. That's not my fault... but DOS's. With DOS
4.0x out, it may be time to upgrade.
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Registered users
----------------
If you're not yet a registered user of Telix, do that first (the information
is in the Telix package).
Then, you become registered for the Telix Tools by sending $10.00 to the
address shown below. Registered users will receive support as needed,
bug fixes as they are released, and notification of major changes in the
Telix Tools.
At this time, no major changes are planned unless Telix 4.00 comes out.
However, your registration will allow you to keep up with the Telix Tools
until the next overhaul.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Author
------
Robert Hoffmann
76-53 271 Street
New Hyde Park NY 11040
White Tiger BBS (my home BBS) 1-718-962-2628
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Other products by the author
----------------------------
GupList - a support program for the PCBoard door 'Card Guppies'. It produces
a text file (bulletin) after every run of 'Guppies', so that the
game's players can check their scores without re-loading the game.
TimedAsk - a batch file program, similar to Norton's ASK, which times the
user's response and sends default results if there is no response
within the desired time. Useful for batch files which run
unattended... sometimes.
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Release history
---------------
Version Date What it did
------- ---- -----------
1.0 11/28/88 First public release.
Program and documentation (C) 1988 Robert Hoffmann.
Telix 3.11 (and earlier versions) (C) 1988 Exis Inc. and Colin Sampaleanu.
Turbo Pascal 5.0 (C) 1983-88 Borland Inc.
PKPAK 3.61 (C) 1986-88 PKWare Inc.
LIST 6.4A (C) 1983-88 Vernon Buerg.
Documentation updated as of Mon 11-28-1988 1:01 pm.