Realtime Billing System
      V. 1.01
by: John F. Gonzales

***NOTE***
If you have a previous version of realtime please run the monthly billing system
and have the accounts 0 out because of our new database structure. Then remove
all previous .wcx files before installing.
**********


[-------------------------------[ DISCLAIMER ]-------------------------------]

Use this software at your own risk. Many hours of BETA testing was spent testing
this software, and as far as we know it's safe and stable. Even so, we cannot be 
responsible for any weird thing it does! Please take the time to note any bugs 
you may notice and report them to us by E-Mail to jgonzales@creationsbbs.com

[-------------------------------[ DISCLAIMER ]-------------------------------]

Description:

The Realtime Billing System does the following:

* Tracks user usage per minute per month, thus allowing better billing flexability
* Base billing amount for accounts
* Can be configured for an unlimited number of Security Profiles
* Runs at login to update user accounts
* Includes a once a month WCCode program to give you a billing log
* E-Mails users their bill at the end of the month
* SysOp configurable Billing E-Mail Header file
* Daily reports e-mail to sysop
* Users can request logon/logoff logs via e-mail
* Users can view their current balance/free time remaining



How it works:

The RTB program uses the users Minutes Logged field and Subscription Balance to 
keep track of billing information. At the end of every month when the rtmonth 
program is run the totals are tallied and saved in a log file named REALTIME.LOG
in your WC:\DATA directory. This log includes the USERNAME, Users Real Name, Address,
total minutes used, and balance owed. After the montly utility is run both the
Minutes Logged and Subscription Balance are reset to 0 so a new month can be started.

How to:

First your must copy the following into your Wildcat Root directory:
rt-config.wcx  <- SysOp config program
rt-month.wcx   <- Monthly billing program - NEEDS TO BE RUN BY WCRUN (WCRUN -r rt-month)
rt-daily.wcx   <- Run daily to generate reports - NEEDS TO BE RUN BY WCRUN (WCRUN -r rt-daily)
rt-user.wcx    <- Run from your menu system for users to view account status/req logs
logon-rt.wcx   <- Required program automaticaly run at Logon 
postcall.wcx   <- Required program automaticaly run at logoff

Then copy the following into your WC:DATA directory
realtime.dat  <- Profile information kept here
realtime.cfg  <- Saves various config information
realtime.hdr  <- Header for billing messages

After copying your programs to their locations you must add rt-config to a menu that
only the SysOp can access so you may configure the program. 

Now, for each security profile you must go into wcconfig and give those the unlimited
time flag, unless you want to limit your users time per day or time per call which
will not effect Realtime's billing.

Your almost ready! Now go into your WC5\DATA directory and edit the realtime.dat file.
That file's layout is as follows:

Security Level
Hours per month before charging
Charge/Minute
Base Charge
NO BLANK LINES and follow again.

Example:

SUBSCRIBER
20
5
1495

Breakdown:
The first line tells what security level your are working with in this case SUBSCRIBER
The second line tells the program that after 20 hours start billing additional funds
The third line tells the program to charge .05 per minute after 20 hours (10 would be .10,
100 would be 1.00, etc...) and $14.95 base charge.

Be sure to run the rt-config file so you can have all your settings ready.
Thats it off you go!
If you have any questions please email our support staff at rtsupport@creationsbbs.com
or visit our web page at http://www.i2.i-2000.com/~johnnyg


