


        Purpose: ***
        This is a batch file menu system that will, hopefully, make 
        using the file list from PC-Ohio's BBS a little less
        daunting. When you make a selection from the menu(s), the 
        program will "unzip" the appropriate directory from the 
        archived file list and display it with Vernon Buerg's fine 
        program, LIST.COM, (Renamed to LP.com to accomodate my 4DOS)
        but which also allows you to scroll up and down the complete
        PCOALPHA.ZIP filelist, and has a powerful search feature which
        will allow you to search for file names or key words. When you 
        exit LIST, the program will return you to the submenu.


        Liability: ***
        Although I don't think use of this program will cause any harm 
        to you, your computer, or the environment, you use it at your 
        own risk. No guarantee is made or implied that this program 
        will work properly on your computer.


        Requirements: ***
        1. The file PKUNZIP.EXE must be present in the default 
        directory or in your path statement.<(VER. 204e or g)>!!!!
        2. The file LIST.COM must be present in the default directory 
        or in your path statement. (Renamed herein to LP.COM)
        3. The file PCOALPHA.ZIP from PC-Ohio or, as in my case, a
        version reconstructed from PC-OHIO(?).ZIP using PKZIP -a PCOALPHA
        *.*  This is the master BBS file list for PC-OHIO in an archived form.
        4. Since the screens are in color and use ANSI commands, you 
        must be running ANSI.SYS. This is loaded by means of a
        statement in your CONFIG.SYS file which is usually located in 
        the root directory of your boot drive (usually A: or C:) If 
        you are not running ANSI, put the following statement in your 
        CONFIG.SYS:
                       DEVICE=[d:\][dir\]ANSI.SYS
        for example:
                         DEVICE=C:\DOS\ANSI.SYS 
        5. A color EGA or VGA monitor. You can try it on CGA or mono, 
        but I make no guarantee as to aesthetics . . . ansi.sys, 
        however, is absolutely necessary.
        6. The files NOCURS.COM, NORMAL.COM and REPLY.COM are included 
        in the archive. Their authorship and ownership have become 
        lost over the years, but I acknowledge the contribution made 
        by these unknown persons.


        Installation: ***
        I would suggest you make a separate subdirectory for this 
        program. Place PCOALPHA.ZIP, or a reconstruction, in the subdirectory
        (Do not unzip this file, the program will unzip the individual
        directories as they are needed) then unzip this archive file into
        the same subdirectory.

        Use: ***
        To start the menu, just enter PCOH at the DOS prompt. The main
        menu will be displayed from which you can choose a submenu or 
        be returned to DOS.

        If you choose a submenu, another menu will be displayed from 
        which you can choose the specific BBS file list you want to 
        look at. The selected file list will be displayed by LIST.COM 
        which will allow you to scroll up and down or use the powerful 
        search feature to find a file name or key word. If you are not 
        familiar with LIST.COM, enter h or H to display a help screen.
        When you exit LIST, you will be returned to the submenu. 
        From here you can either select another menu or return to DOS.

        When you exit the program, your screen will be set to the 
        default colors of bright white on blue. If you should
        you prefer some other default color, you may edit the file 
        PCOH.BAT to change the default to any color(s) you like. Near
        the end of the file you will see the statement

                            echo E[1;37;44m
             (E represents the ascii escape character 27)
 
        The ascii escape character 27 may display differently in your 
        editor but it is ESSENTIAL to the proper functioning of the 
        batch file . . . you may edit any of the numbers, but unless 
        you know how to fix the ansi codes, don't mess with 'em. The 
        ansi color codes are as follows:

                  Color:        Foreground:    Background:
                  Black            30             40
                  Red              31             41
                  Green            32             42
                  Yellow           33             43
                  Blue             34             44
                  Magenta          35             45
                  Cyan             36             46
                  White            37             47

                  Attributes:
                  0 = all attributes off (white on black)
                  1 = bold on (high intensity)
                  2 = normal intensity
                  4 = underscore on (monochrome text display only)
                  5 = blink on
                  7 = reverse video on
                  8 = canceled on (characters invisible)

        So, if you would like to change to bright yellow on red, you 
        would change the above statement to read:

:             echo E[1;33;41m  (don't forget the lower case m)


        Acknowledgements: ***
        PKZ204E.EXE is a product of PKWare, Inc., 7545 N. Port
        Washington Rd., Glendale, WI, 53217
        LIST.COM is written and distributed by Vernon D. Buerg
        * Both programs are copyrighted material distributed under the 
        Shareware concept of marketing. If you use these programs 
        beyond a reasonable evaluation period, a registration fee 
        should be paid to the authors.

 
        Misc: ***
        If you use the fine command.com replacement program, 4DOS, you 
        can speed up the execution of these batch files by renaming 
        all the .bat files to .btm. This is easily done with the DOS 
        command REN *.BAT *.BTM

        As the file list from PC-OHIO BBS changes, I will try
        keep an updated version on the BBS. Because the program is all 
        batch files, and thus uncompiled, it should be a relatively 
        simple matter for you to upgrade the files yourself as the 
        need arises. If you need to change the menu screens themselves 
        (*.com, except LP.COM), this is easily done with the program
        THEDRAW which can be found on the PC-OHIO BBS.

        If you have any problems, suggestions or comments regarding 
        this program, you can leave e-mail to me, Thomas Roth, on
        PC-OHIO's BBS. 

        Happy BBSing!
