CD Reader by Thomas Newsom The Open All Hours BBS +44-(0)1482-345494 & +44-(0)1482-447576 Foreword -------- Now upto V3.0 and fully working and fully integrated with DLG, CDR uses DLG's own Batch.File for placing tagged files for later downloading. The CDR package is now shareware. I'm not asking a fortune here just 10 UKP for a keyfile that will unlock one or two features not available in the unregistered version. See further down this doc file for further information on registering Preamble -------- Are you fed up of using makelink, editing seemingly endless config files, DLG's way of uploading CD ROM file descriptions, trying to find a CD uploader that actually does what it says it will? Well, when I moved over from CNet to DLG the first thing I tried to search for was a CD ROM reader, I searched in vain for one that was as easy to use as the ones i used when I used CNet. So, I set about writing my own and here is the result, well part of the result anyway......Read on. Honesty. ------- I don't know if it's because there is a lack of DLG SysOp's out there or if it's just laziness on your part to try anything new or simply it's the good old 'sod you' attitude, but after releasing several programs for DLG with very very little feedback (how the hell am I suppose to know if my programs are working on other systems if I get no feedback?) I'm seriously thinking of changing BBS software! Yes! I'm that fed up of spending many hours programming for other DLG SysOp's and getting next to nothing in return. Is it so difficult just to try this and let me know at least you've looked at it? Am I wasting my time releasing this stuff? All I'm asking here is respond. I'm not saying you HAVE to register. Try it. Give me some feedback to work from. Tell me if I'm going wrong somewhere. Tell me if my programs crash your system. Anything, but PLEASE tell me I am NOT wasting my time. I love DLG, it's a great BBS package, admittedly it could be better but I enjoy using it as it is. As I've said already I am seriously considering changing to some other BBS software where I know for a fact my efforts would get some response at least. Thats it. Ramble over. What is this thing? ------------------ This 'thing' is a set of two programs. One, CDIndex, creates the index files from a CD ROM that allows the other, CDReader, to do it's magic. What features are not working? ------------------------------ Everything is fully working out the box apart from, as this is shareware, you are limited to one CD online. CDIndex will allow you to create data files for as many CDROMS as you have online. CDReader however will limit you to viewing one online CD only any other CD's online will show up as being offline. Basically, if you only have the one CD drive online your getting a fully working program which will have 'unregistered' printed to the screen, otherwise it's fully working. If you have several CD's online then to use them you must register. Are there any bugs? ------------------- That I couldn't honestly tell you. It works fine on my machine but hasn't been tested on anyone elses machine. Again, if YOU don't tell me how am I to fix bugs? Enough! How do I install it? ---------------------------- Installation is easy. Assuming you have unpacked the archive somewhere on your system, create a directory in DOORS: called CDReader put CDIndex, CDReader and CDR.cfg in that directory. Then create all the CD directories in there as well. IE, if you have one CD ROM Drive online create a directory called CD0 (assuming you name your device cd0). If, like me, you have multiple CD ROM's online then create a directory for each one. I have the MBR-7 autochanger online so in my DOORS:CDReader directory I have CD1 CD2, CD3, CD4, CD5, CD6, & CD7. One thing to note here, you should call the directories the same name as you give your device, otherwise things will simply fail to work. Now then, inside each one of those CD* directories you should place a TREE file (as found on the Aminet disks). An example... Lets say you have one CD ROM drive mounted as CD0: when you've done the above you should then have a directory tree like this.. Doors: Doors:CDReader Doors:CDReader/CDReader Doors:CDReader/CDIndex Doors:CDReader/CDR.cfg Doors:CDReader/CD0 Doors:CDReader/CD0/TREE Other CD's would result in a further... Doors:CDReader/CD1 Doors:CDReader/CD1/TREE And so on. For all your online CD ROM's. The tree file should be slightly edited. All it should contain is the Directory and path names of all directories on the CD ROM. I have provided one as guide to assist you. Get the idea? I hope so, else the next bit won't work :,) Now what do I do? ----------------- You now need to create the CDR.cfg file. This again is very easy. Each CD you want to setup has 4 lines given for it in CDR.cfg. Like the following..... 1st line of the CDR.cfg file is the number of CD's you have online. 2nd line is the name you want CDReader to show to users onscreen. 3rd line is the VOLUME name of the CD itself. 4th line is the lowest path you want your users to be able to access. 5th line is recognition file. Repeat lines 2-5 for each CD you have online. Remember your limited to one CD if you haven't registered. And so on until you reach the last CD you have online. Here below to aid you in setting up CDR.cfg is my own CDR.cfg file. Use it as a guide for your own. 7 ; Number of CD ROM's online. CD1: ; Volume name of 1st CD ROM. Aminet 24 ; Onscreen name. cd1:Aminet/ ; Lowest path. files.bbs ; File used to check if CD is online or not. cd2: ; Volume name of 2nd CD ROM. Aminet 23 ; Onscreen name. cd2:Aminet/ ; Lowest path files.bbs ; File used to check if CD is online or not. cd3: ; and so on for every online CD ROM. Aminet 22 cd3:Aminet/ files.bbs cd4: Aminet 21 cd4:Aminet/ files.bbs cd5: Aminet 20 cd5:Aminet/ files.bbs cd6: Aminet 19 cd6:Aminet/ files.bbs cd7: Aminet 18 cd7:Aminet/ files.bbs Once you have done each CD in CDR.cfg save it as CDR.cfg to doors:CDReader/ You now need to setup the index files. CDIndex will do the hard work for you. Simply run it from the shell or add it to one of DLG's menu's (possibly your SysOp options menu). If running CDIndex from a shell; CD to doors:CDReader and run CDIndex. If you have multiple CD ROM's online this takes a little while to finish it's work. Once that is done your ready to use CDReader. Installing into DLG. ------------------- Installing CDReader onto one of DLG's menus is pretty straight forward. Setup a menu option anywhere you like. Probably the best place would be either direct from your main menu or as a command within the file area. Which ever method you choose these are the settings. [ 1] Letter: ^ [ 2] Executable: (path/name) ram:test %UNAME 6 [ 4] Description: CD Reader [ 5] Type: Executable [ 6] Help File: MAIN/^ [ 7] Lower level: 10 [ 8] Upper level: 255 [ 9] Hidden: NO [10] Load type: OVERLAY [11] Ask user if sure: NO [12] Pend messages: YES [13] Cli mode: YES [14] Pause on completion: NO [15] Log value: None [16] Activity string: Viewing CD ROM's..... [17] Priority: DEFAULT Items 1, 2, 8, 10 and 16 are of course upto you. You'll notice from this that CDReader requires 2 arguments. First %UNAME, the second is the amount of files you'll let your users select (and download) in one session. I don't think I need to tell you what %UNAME means do I? ;) If you have done everything correctly , as stated above then you are now ready to use CDReader. What now? --------- Well, thats upto your good selfs. You can run it and Email me to let me know if it's worth carrying on with it. You can email me and let me know of any bugs/problems etc. Or we can simply let this program die a natural death by saying nothing at all. In which case I won't waste any more of my time writing utilities for DLG. If its the latter option then fair enough. Neither of us has lost anything and I get to devote more time to other projects and my two young children. If it's the first or second option then I promise I'll iron out any bugs you find. Can I use other than Aminet CD ROM's? ------------------------------------- I have no idea! I guess as long as you make a tree file similar to the one provided and the CD is laid out the same or similar to Aminet then I see no reason why you can't. Try it. Let me know the results. Can I help make this better? ---------------------------- Yes. Firstly, by telling me it's worth carrying on with this program. Secondly, by pointing out any bugs you may find. Thirdly, by offering ideas that you'd like to see added. Registration. ------------- Finally, to register this program set, send a cheque for 10UKP to the following address. Thomas Newsom 1 Granville Villas Sculcoates Lane Hull, HU5 1DZ East Yorkshire England. Cheques must be made out in UK pounds! Conversion rates in the UK are high so please ensure your cheques are in English pounds not you own currency. Any cheques not in English pounds will be returned. When I recieve your cheque I'll send your keyfile via email (Obviously send your email address!). If you don't have an Email account I'll put your keyfile on hold at my BBS (Obviously I'll need you Fidonet address to be able to do this) where you'll be able to poll fir it once I've told you it's waiting. Lastly, if you have neither an Email or Fidonet node/point what the hell you using this for!?!? ;) I can be contacted via Fidonet at the following address Thomas Newsom@2:2502/61.0 Or (prefered) via Email at one of the following addresses Thomas.Newsom@allhours.karoo.co.uk for personal mail or CDR@allhours.karoo.co.uk for questions/bug reports about CDIndex/CDReader Thats it. Use it and I'll be happy. Use it and tell me your using it, Ill be happer still. Ignore it and well..... Over to you guys! Version History. ---------------- Versions prior to v1.0 where a complete disaster so I won't tell you about them here. Versions v1.1 to v1.9 where internal releases only. V2.0 First full release. Contained a number of bugs which caused CDIndex on a few systems. I guess no-one used it as no feedback came my way. V2.2 Removed the offending code in CDIndex. It now works without trashing anyones hard drive. V2.3 Added a better colour scheme for the onscreen display. V2.5 First attempt at using Batch.File. Didn't work :( Usually it trashed whatever was already in that file if it existed. If it didn't already exist it was created, but, the filesize wasn't correctly added. V2.7 Fixed the Batch.File problem. CDIndex and CDReader are now fully working. Without bugs on my system. V2.8 Added CDR.Guide V2.9 Added the HTML guide V3.0 This version. V3.x ?????????????????????? The ToDo List. -------------- The list of things to do are currently what I would like to see added. But, if there is anything you'd like to see added feel free to let me know. I'll then add your suggestions to this list. (1 ) Auto showing of packed files. (2 ) The ability to tag a file within an archive (3 ) Integrate better with DLG via the DLG.library (4 ) Downloading directly from a CD (maybe) (5 ) Ask if the user wants the #?.readme as well (if exists) (6 ) Tidy up the screen display (7 ) Limit users to certain CD's by checking thier access level And many many more I can't think of right now! Plus any that you want to see added.