
-------------------------------
What do these BTM files do?
-------------------------------

The first BTM file (BUILD-ID.BTM) is a 4Dos batch file used to scan all
ZIP files within a directory, extract FILE_ID.DIZ files from each,
create a FILES.BBS description file and then create a standard 4Dos
description file within the directory.

If no FILE_ID.DIZ file is found for a ZIP file, the BTM file will create
a generic ID file for it stating no ID was found.

The primary purpose of BUILD-ID.BTM file is to create a FILES.BBS
description file for files within a directory.  This description file
can then be imported into a BBS file base like GAP or by any BBS
software that can import a standard FILES.BBS file.

The second BTM file, MAKE-DES.BTM, can be run to only create 4Dos
description files within a directory from FILE_ID.DIZ files found within
the ZIP files of that directory.



-------------------------------
What is required?
-------------------------------

The version of 4Dos that you must be using is version 5.5 revision C or
higher.  Lower versions will not work since this BTM file calls on some
advanced functions found only in revision E or later versions.

This BTM file requires only one external program; Qedit (Q.EXE) version
3.0 or higher.  Qedit is a common shareware text editor with some
powerful editing/macro functions.  It can be found on most BBSs with a
decent size file base.  Qedit is used to edit all FILE_ID.DIZ files to
insure that they are in the correct format.  Qedit macro files are
supplied. The macro files can be decompiled using the Qedit utility -
QMAC.EXE.  Once decompiled, they can be edited to suit any personal
needs you may have and then recompiled for use.

You must also have PKZIP and PKUNZIP in your system path somewhere.
Needless to say, these are needed to manipulate the ZIP files.



-------------------------------
BUILD-ID.BTM Operation
-------------------------------

These BTMs operate by extracting a FILE_ID.DIZ out of a ZIP file into a
temporary directory.  From there, they works on the ID file with Qedit to
do several things.  The macro files REP1.BIN, REP2.BIN, REP3.BIN,
REP4.BIN and REP5.BIN do several things:

        1. They delete any line and block characters that might be found
           in the FILE_ID.DIZ file.

        2. They remove any blank lines that might be found in the
           FILE_ID.DIZ file.

        3. They reformat the FILE_ID.DIZ file to be no wider than 45
           characters long.

Once the FILE_ID.DIZ file is in the correct shape, it can be added to a
FILES.BBS file within the directory.  BUILD-ID.BTM file will also add ZIP
comments.  The body of the ZIP comment can be edited within BUILD-ID.BTM
itself.  The TEXT/ENDTEXT command is used to send the comment into the
ZIP file.

BUILD-ID.BTM also creates FILES.LST and FILES.TXT files just in case
they are needed.



---------------------------
MAKE-ID.BTM Operation
---------------------------

This file works in much the same way as BUILD-ID.BTM.  Its runs all of
the same macros as the other BTM to get any FILE_ID.DIZ file into shape.
But, this file only creates a DESCRIPT.ION file from what it finds in
the FILE_ID.DIZ files within ZIPs.

It requires the same command line parameters as BUILD-ID.BTM.




---------------------------
4Dos Description lengths
---------------------------

Both of these batch files will create 4Dos descriptions of the maximum
length (as per version 5.5 revision C limits).  This limit is 511
characters.  Version 5.0 of 4Dos had a description maximum of only 200
characters.  Even though the DESCRIPT.ION file will be formatted to a
maximum of 511 characters, version 5.0 of 4Dos will still be able to
read the descriptions up to 200 characters.  The remainig characters of
the descriptions will not be visible but still present in the
DESCRIPT.ION file.



---------------------------
Both BTM Executions
---------------------------

To run these BTM, two command line parameters are needed.  The first is
the path of the work directory and the second is the path to the Qedit
macro files.  Both must be supplied.  An example of a full command line
might be:

        BUILD-ID.BTM c:\worktemp c:\qedit

These BTM files have some safety checks that will stop them from running
if the work directory is not indicated or the macro files are not found.
Make sure Q.EXE is accessible within your path somewhere.

The both files must be run from the directory containing the ZIP
files to generate the FILES.BBS files and/or DESCRIPT.ION files from.
FILES.BBS, FILES.LST, FILES.TXT and DESCRIPT.ION will be created by
BUILD-ID.BTM in the directory containing the ZIP files.  MAKE-ID.BTM
will only create a DESCRIPT.ION file.



---------------------------
Optional 3rd parameter
---------------------------

An optional Y (or YES) can be added to the command line as a 3rd
parameter to force these batch files to kill off any existing files they
may be trying to create.  If any existing files are not killed off when
these BTMs run, the existing information contained within the target
files (FILES.BBS, FILES.LST, FILES.TXT or DESCRIPT.ION) will be appended
to and not replaced.  The end result will be possible redundant
listings.  And axample of a MAKE-DES.BTM command line might be:

                make-des.btm c:\worktemp c:\qedit y

The Y is not required and if not presented, the default is NO.




------------------------------
Conclusion
------------------------------

Have fun with these and feel free to modify them all you would like.
They were written by me, David Wolfe, and were used to compile FILES.BBS
description files for the CD included with my book, Expanding Your BBS.
Please feel free to contact me at my BBS - Pandaemonium BBS
(317-580-1531) and let me know what you think of the book or these little
BTM files.
