                          BBS DBMS v1.0 (c) 1994
                               Documentation
                            Edward G. Tracy II

Introduction:
The product you are about to delve into is a revolutionary new BBS door that will
provide your BBS with user-contributable databases.  Provide your users with specialty
databases.  Maybe your BBS has a special interest in cooking, if so, using BBS DBMS
you may configure a recipe storage database door.  Maybe your BBS is like my BBS,
Cheers, users with many different interests, and therefore I have BBS DBMS program
installed a couple different times to provide my users with databases on Cooking,
Local Restaurants, User Profiles, Movie Reviews, Software Reviews, and Music
Reviews.  (Each of these databases are independent of each other.)  Your users may
have more diverse interests which may also be handled by BBS DBMS.

BBS DBMS is revolutionary because it process the information based upon an overall
screen of data, and not just data in an individual fields.  You have the freedom to
specify the fields on the screen by drawing the screen using a text editor.  While
entering the data, your users tab from field to field to and enter the corresponding
data.  If a user would like to add another field to that particular record, the only need
type in the field name and a colon, and voila, that field now exists for that specific
record.

In addition, you may change the help file within each database to instruct your users
on the specific details of the version they are using.

Provided in this demonstration version are examples of the layout screens I use at
Cheers.  You are welcome to use them for your BBS.

Registration (please fill out the form below):
Just $20.00 and this will provide you a key that will allow you to
-delete records beyond the 25th record
-display the title of the database on the status line and not my name
-the file layout so you may write programs to convert data into the system or out of the
system.
-removes the reminder message to register
                              

Installation:
1.   Create a subdirectory to place the DBMS files in.
2.   Unzip the file into the subdirectory.
3.   Edit BBS_DBMS.CFG file.

     Line 1:  Registration number if registered else any number.
     Line 2:  BBS Path to the location of the DORINFOx.DEF file.
     Line 3:  Delete other users records minimum security level.
     Line 4:  Title for the database and main menu.
     Line 5:  Line 1 of the intro screen introduction of the database.
     Line 6:  Line 2 of the intro screen introduction of the database.
     Line 7:  Line 3 of the intro screen introduction of the database.
     Line 8:  Line 4 of the intro screen introduction of the database.
     Line 9:  Line 5 of the intro screen introduction of the database.
     
     Example

     10000
     C:\BBS\
     200
     Detroit Restaurants
     A guide to Detroit's finest restaurants.




     Note:  If your description is does not require 5 lines, you may leave them blank.

4.   Edit the BBS_DBMS.CTL file.

     1.  Change the BBS name.
     2.  Change the first name.
     3.  Change the last name.
     4.  Identify the board type, ie. RBBS.

5.   Write a batch file to call BBS_DBMS.  This batch file
     should copy the DORINFOx.DEF file or DOOR.SYS file to
     the Password subdirectory.  If you use DORINFOx.DEF you
     must rename the file to DORINFO.DEF.  (Hope to rectify
     this problem in the next version.  This will then allow
     multi-node access.)

     Example.  RESTAUR.BAT

     @echo off
     copy c:\BBS\dorinfo1.def c:\BBS\doors\restaur\DORINFO.DEF
     cd\BBS\database\restaur\
     BBS_DBMS
     cd\BBS

6.   Add the menu option to call the batch file from your BBS.

          FOR TAG USERS:

          Set your options to
          Program Type :                (A colon for dorinfo1.def.)
          Program Name *RESTAUR.BAT     (The name of the bat file.)



Sysop Notes:

Limited details on the files.  If you notice the List feature does not correspond with the
data in the database, simply add a new record and the key file will be recreated.  The
key file is a text file which is updated and sorted with each add, it is called
DATABASE.IDX.

You will notice once a record is deleted, its record number is recycled.

Technically, knowing the file layout will provide you the necessary "data" to write
programs that can dump information into this database from other database, or extract
information from this database for other purposes.

If you notice your LIST command does not display the data sorted by alphabetical by
title then you need to ensure that you have a version of DOS SORT available in the
path.

If it still doesn't sort, in the mean time make an addition to the batch file that calls the
DBMS program and have it sort the DATABASE.IDX file.  (If you mess up your index,
remember, just add a record and your index will be recreated.)

The HELP file is known as DATABASE.HLP.  Simply edit using a text editor it if you
would like to add some changes.

User Instructions

From the main menu most of the common option required in database use are
available to you.

Adding a Record
-upon adding a record, you will be prompted to enter a "title" for the record itself.  This
title is used simply describe the record when other users LIST the records to the
screen.  If you choose not to enter a title, and just press the ENTER key, today's date
will be used in place of a title.  Please note:  if you attempt to place a comma within
the title, it will be removed.
-you will then be placed into the EDITOR.  The title of the database on the top line,
the title of your record on the second line, and your cursor at the first field.  Here you
may press

     Tab       to move to the next field (colon)
     Shift-Tab to move to the previous field (colon)
     Home      to move to the first position on the line
     End       to move to the last character on the line
     CTRL Z    to abort the record entry process
     CTRL S    to save the record
     Backspace to move back one character
     DEL       to delete the current character
     Up        to move one row up
     Down      to move one row down
     Left      to move one character to the left
     Right     to move one character to the right
     CTRL R    to redraw the screen if you get line noise

-if you find the need to add another field of information to this screen, simply place
your cursor where you would like the title of the field to go, and enter the name of the
field.  Place a colon after the name and this new field will exist on this screen.  You
may then Tab or Shift-Tab to this new field.  Neat eh!

-to get off of this screen you must either CTRL-Z to abort or CTRL-S to save the
record.

Deleting a Record
-upon selection of this option, you will be prompted to enter the record number to be
deleted.  If you do not know the record number, you will have to obtain it by LISTING
the records to the screen using the LIST option specified below.
-if the record has been previously deleted, or is beyond the number of records in the
database, you will be informed that the record was not deleted as it did not originally
exist.
-if you would like to abort the deletion process, type Q to quit and then press ENTER.
-if you are operating a non-registered version, you will not be able to delete records
that go beyond record number 25.
-if you do not have the Sysop specified security level to delete another persons
record, you may find that you are only allowed to delete your own records.

Changing a Record
-upon selection of this option you will be required to enter the record number of the
record to be changed.  If you do not know the record number, you may obtain it from
the LIST process.

-make your changes using the editor keys that are available during the Add a Record
process.

-once again, you must use the CTRL Z to abort or CTRL-S to save your record, to get
out of this mode and back to the Main Menu.

Listing/Viewing Records
-this is the primary function most users will select to see a list in alphabetical order by
title of all the records in the database.  As the records scroll down the screen you may
enter the record number, which is in the R# column on the far left side, and that
record will be displayed on the screen for your viewing pleasure.
-if you would like to scroll to the next screen of records, press the ENTER key once.
-if you would like to abort scrolling through the list of records, type Q to quit and press
ENTER once.

Viewing Help
-select this option and a text file will be displayed with helpful information

Quitting
-had enough, this option will return you to the BBS.
Registration

Registration is just $20.00.  Your registration code will be useful for this and all future
upgrades.  Registration removes the reminder message, allows deletion beyond
record number 25, provides for you the layout of the databases for custom
programming and displays the database title on the status line.


     BONUS:  For a total of $35.00 you will get registration codes
     for BBS_DBMS, PASSWORD and BOGIGGLE.

     Name:____________________

     Address:_________________

     City:____________________  ST:__  ZIP:__________

     Voice #:_________________

     BBS Name:________________ (where installation will be)

     BBS Number:______________ (if existing, and area code too)

     BBS Software:____________

     Compuserve ID:___________

     FidoNet #:_______________


     Mail to:

     Edward G. Tracy II
     18704 Gainsborough
     Detroit, MI  48223


Technical Support

     Cheers BBS, 313-838-4172.  300-9600 bps.
     Compuserve ID:  75000,2755
     FidoNet 1:2410/217
     For questions or the latest version.
     Full access first call and no ratio's.

Credits


     Technojocks, for the great libraries.

     Scott Baker, and his great library too.

Version History
---------------
1.0       January 4, 1994         Initial release.


Password is copyrighted to Edward G. Tracy II
BOGIGGLE is copyrighted to Edward G. Tracy II
BBS_DBMS is copyrighted to Edward G. Tracy II
DOORDRIV utils are copyrighted to Scott Baker
