The Klotter plank! v2.40.   Well I added the beta sign again coz I aint sure
if the new multi node routine works corectly. At least I now that iTCKit do
not handle multi nodes correctly. It cant at least figure out wich node the
user are on rigth now. So I hard coded that part my self. Well, have fun...


V 2.40 Is dedicated to Ingela Olsson and Kre Svensson



1.a     Why another oneliner?
1.b     Feathures of this oneliner.
2.a     How do I install this oneliner.
3.a     How do the PLANK.INI file works?
3.b     How is the messages stored?
3.c     How do the log file work?
3.d     How does the list files work.
4.a     Short history of 'The Klotter plank!'
4.b     The future.
5.a     How to contact the author.


[1.a]   Why another oneliner?
-
Becoze this one is better then all other on the market. (My oppinion maybe not
your but I do not care). The truth is that I made this oneliner for iTC becoze
my friend SkyWalker who runs ThE ALLiANCE did not have any good oneliner. The
first one he had was to ugly (Acording to him) and the second one crashed on
his P-90. So I thought: I can do better! So I sat down and coded this one just
three days ago. Well I think this answers your question.


[1.b] Feathures of this oneliner.
-
This is in fact not a 'oneliner' it is a 'multiliner'. The user may Write down
several lines of text and not just a single one. And he (Or she) may put his
message whereever he likes on the screen. He can shoose the color of both text
and background by him self, even have flashing text if he likes. This is the
feathures for the user. The SySop may restrict the length of the messages in
both maximum characters each line and the number of lines. And he can make
a log-file of who-wrote-what, to track down the ones who missuses this prg.
The sysop may setup a completely new set of keys for moving around the text-
block with, blacklist idiots from writing new messages. Adding the name of
who wrote what onto the message area and have a list of wimps that would like
to be anonymeus. And it do now work fine on multi node systems.  Well this is 
the main feathures of this oneliner.


[2.a] How do I install this oneliner?
-
This is as simply as it can be. First you put the PLANK.EXE file into the
DOOR directory of your version of iTC then you but the PLANK.INI file in the
main directory of iTC. (Where you start up iTC or where the BBS.BAT file is)
And add the door in the DOOR.CTL file. Now you setup the PLANK.INI file
according to your wishes. (See section 3.b) And now you are ready to go!
v2.1 and obove do not require PLANK.INI at start up, if it do not excist
then one will be created autamaticaly.


[3.a] How do the PLANK.INI file works?
-
This file is plain ASCII text and may be alteredin EDIT for example. One
entry each line and no comments are allowed. And no blank lines between
comands. And the first command must be on the first line. So wich commands
are stored here then?   They are in the order of line number:
Line 1: Maximum size in X of messages. A number from 1 to 60 is recomended.
Line 2: Maximum size in Y of messages. A number from 1 to 10 is recomended.
Line 3: the four keys to use as cursor keys. (No spaces or comas between)
Line 4: The path and filename of the data file to stored messages.
Line 5: Do you want Log-file? (Y/N/yes/no are legal. Upper/lower case ignored)
        If Y then add 'P' for possition, 'C' for color and 'S' for a little
        string. Spaces, comas and so on are ignored and so is upper/lower-case
Line 6: The path and name of logfile. 
Line 7: Is there anyone blacklisted? (Just as line 5)
Line 8: The path and name of black list file.
Line 9: Shall the Hide name option be turned on (Y/N as in line 5 and 7)
Line10: Path and name to the list file of hidden dudes.
If this is not clear then take a look at the example file PLANK.INI. By the
you may now add comments to the lines that is not path+name or X/Y-size.
And do remember all ten lines must be included.


[3.b] How is the messages stored?
-
They are stored in a 3200 bytes file. And stored something like a picture
that is 80*20 pixels. But this time each pixel is a character+color atribute.
Each character+color atribute is stored in a word. (2 bytes) This word is in
Motorola format wich means that the most significant byte is first. And the
bits in the word works like this:
FBBBTTTTCCCCCCCC
F: If 1 then flash text, else no flash (logical)
B: Three bits of background color. (0-7)
T: Four bits of text colour. (0-15)
C: Eight bits of character. (0-255 this is ASCII man)
If you got any brain at all you got this and have figured out that I just let
you know how to draw flashy ANSI pictures to have as starting images that the
users may destroy by writing messages over them. Great Huh. By the way if you
have not figured this out yet. You may 'reset' all messages just by deleting
this file. The door will create a new file by it self. Dont you worry about
a crash my friend.


[3.c] How do the log file work?
-
This is pure ASCII text file and may be viewed in ADIT or what ever you like.
You may edit id as well. (But why?) Here is all entries to the wall stored.
A new entry in marked with a line with "**+++-----" and on the next line is
the name of the writer and where he comes from. Om the next line is a series
of numbers. And theese numbers are as follows.
1. X-position of message (Obs in massage area from 0 to 79)
2. Y-position of message (Obs in message area from 0 to 19)
3. Colour of Text (0 to 15)
4. Colour of background (0 to 7)
5. If 0 then it is not flashing, if 1 then it is.


[3.d] How does the list files work?
-
The list files are the files where to input the names of the ones who are
black listed and the ones who dont want their name on screen. Theese files
are plain ASCII. And each name is printed on a singl line. Only one name on
each line. Just as easy as it can be. If you still dont get it then try
to check out theese two example files: PLANK.BLT, this is an exampled of a
list file for blacklisted peoples. PLANK.SNN is an example of a list file
for hidden people. In the list file for "hidden" people is now as well a
list file for those who wants to have another alias on the Wall. To change
the alias for the wall just enter your real alias on a line and then the new
alias on the same line between "". Example:
Calle X "SySop"
The user Calle X will now be named SySop on the wall. Great huh!?!


[4.a] Short history of The Klotter plank!
-
v0.9 was finished on the 21 of august 1995 at 3.00. (Thats night) And did not
the move the message around function did not work. So..

v0.95 was done at 14.00 the same day after some hours of sleep. And it fully
worked in iTC.

v1.0 was finished on the 22 of august 1995 at 19.30 and includes the new
options of more than 30*3 text blocks and log-files, and the .INI file. And
some few bugs removed.

v2.0 was finished on the 23 of august 1995 at 02.30. And the main change is
a drastic speedup at modem transfer of text data. And then The added functions
of new keysetup, blacklists, show name automaticly and a list for hidden
people. And a major bug in the clear rout for text block was removed.

v2.1 Was finished after a phone call to SkyWalker at 16.30 on the 23th of
august 1995. Have just one new feature: It will not crash if it dont find
the .INI file Anymore. In reality you only need the .EXE file to start up this
prg now. Besides that: several (All known buggs) are removed.

v2.22 Was finished on the 7th of september 1995 at five o' clock. There are
in fact just three changes since the last version. Two small ones and one 
major (Hard coded (At least for me)) The small ones are: Better speed in the
place-message routine. And a small message thats informs you that the DooR is
working and nothing is wrong at all at this moment. And the major change, or
add is the possibility to change aliases of users on the wall. This is done
thrue the Hidden list, se section 3.d for more info about this.

v2.34 Was finished 1995.09.07.07.05. And the only new inprovement is the
possibility for the users to choose if they wants to be anonymous or not. Of
course this can only be choosen by the choosen ones, thats meens by the ones
stated in the list file. Se 3.d.

v2.35 Was finished 1995.09.23.18.45. Bugs removed are: Anoying bug when
writing bugs more then 4 lines long. And it do now ask about if you wanna add
name first so that the max size of the block can be correct. And then I added
an algoritm that automaticaly fixes bugs in the .DAT file that older versions
may have coused.

v2.40 Was fineshed 1995.09.25.15.30. No bugs removed, I just made it possible
to run under multi node systems. Added the  sign again coz I aint realy sure 
about how it will react if two users fucks with it at the same time. My feble
atempts to simulate this at home shows no troubles but I dont want to give you
anu false hopes.


[4.b] The future.
-
My Falcon030 will be picked up tomorrow (If nothing happens) and I shall get
another Tatoo this week if I got the time, and HanSolo wont tell me that he
have find a cheaper one and wanna go next week. And there is a party on friday.
Well. There was one more version before 3.0 anyway. Hey my friend SkyWalker 
starts up his second node this week and he wanted to be able to use this wall
still. So I had do do this version. But from now this project is on ice. I
shall code a game in between and after that a new and fresh v3.0 will be
released with mush more fansy GFX. And maybe I will convert my ANSI draw tool
from my ST to PC in the mean time. There just aint no good ANSI tools around.
Well till then...


[5.a] How to contact the author.
-
E.mail:
        olsson.fredrik@f428.n204.z2.fidonet.org

Snail-mail:
        Fredrik Olsson
        Greby
        S-59042 Horn
        Sweden

Analogue-phone:
        +46(0)494-30404 (Ask for fredrik)

Digital-phone:
        +46(0)492-71000 (Write a mezz to PeyloW)


[5.b] Legal stuff
-
This prg is (C)oderight to PeyloW of T.O.Y.S. 1995. The PLANK.EXE file nor
this PLANK235.TXT file may be changed, hacked or messed with in anyway.
PeyloW takes no responsibility for any loss of data or anything else coused
by the use or missuse of this software. Besides this are you free to use
this software in anyway you like. This prg is thank-you-ware, and the best
way to thank me is to send me a free amount of money. In this way you allso
helps me to create new versions of this prg and totaly new programs.


Thats is all, PeyloW of T.O.Y.S. signing off.


