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                   The DeAdZoNe Utilities for RemoteAccess
                   =======================================

                                     D-CaLL
               Today's Callers Bulletin Generator for RemoteAccess
                          Version 4.10   March 2, 1993
                       (C) Copyright Victor Magdic 1992-93
                               All Rights Reserved


Description
-----------

D-CaLL is a door for RemoteAccess *2.00* which replaces the built in "Today's
Callers" function. Not only does D-CaLL look better <grin>, but it also has the
following features:
   
   *   Runs as a door.
   *   Will display `Last XX callers' or all the callers.
   *   The ability to mask local logons so that they look like ordinary calls.
   *   People who have only called one time (i.e. new users) are listed as "NEW
       USER".
   *   The ability to exclude up to 100 users from the Today's Callers List,
       based on a control file which you create.
   *   Supports the "hidden" attribute in the user record, so if you have a
       user toggled as "hidden" they will not be displayed in the Today's
       Callers List.
   *   Supports locked baud rates.
   *   The screen length is adjusted to the users setting to provide full
       screen display on the users end.
   *   Does full carrier monitoring and will immediately return to the BBS if
       the user drops carrier.
   *   Inactivity timeout feature. D-CaLL will return to the BBS if the user
       does not respond within two minutes at the screen pause prompt.
   *   DESQview aware. D-CaLL will give up it's time slice when waiting for
       user input at the screen pause prompt. D-CaLL will automatically detect
       if DESQview is present.
   *   Uses a fossil driver to provide interupt driven serial i/o.
   *   Displays the node number which the caller was on
   

   Note: D-CaLL 4.10 is written for RA 2.00
   

How much does it cost?
----------------------
This utility is FREE!  If you like it you can continue to use it for as long as
you like free of charge!

If you do decide to use it, I would be excited to hear from you !!  I encourage
you to send me a postcard at the address listed below (see the end of this text
file), or a message via netmail. It will cost you practically nothing, and will
let me know you're enjoying the program. It will also give me incentive to keep
improving the program and make it even better!

Of course donations are graciously accepted <grin> -and if you want to send a
small donation please see the address at the end of this text file.


Configuration
-------------
Run D-CaLL with the /C switch to bring up the Configuration Menu.  The options
are described below:


Sysop Name               The Sysop's name.
                         
BBS Name                 The name of your BBS.
                         
Masked Baud Rate         Normally when someone logs on locally to your BBS,
                         RemoteAccess reports their baud rate as "0", and will
                         display it as "0" in the "built in" Today's Caller List.
                         In some circumstances it may not be desirable for your
                         users to know who is logging on locally... D-CaLL solves
                         this problem by automatically masking calls which have a
                         baud rate of "0".
                         
                         Use this option to choose the masked baud rate you want.
                            
                            Note: The "0" baud masking is completely internal
                                   and only occurs at run time. It does not
                                   modify any RA files (e.g. LASTCALL.BBS or
                                   USERON.BBS)
                         
Sysop Name in bulletin   If you want the sysop's name included at the top of the
header                   bulletin then turn this option. (Note: the name is use
                         is whatever you have specified under "sysop name".)
                         
Use Handles              Choose YES to use handles instead of real names.
                         
Honour Hidden Attribute  Set this to YES if you want D-CaLL to hide a user from
                         the bulletin if their `hidden' attribute is set (in the
                         RA user file).
                         
                            Note: This is a good way to hide the sysop <grin>
                         
Show Date                Set to YES if you want to show Today's date at the top
                         of the bulletin.
                         
Use Exclusion File       If you want to use an exclusion file, turn this option
                         on (see discussion on exclusion file later in the docs).
                         When you choose YES you will be asked to specify a
                         directory where the exclusion file (DCALL.CTL) can be
                         found. Normally this will be the same directory where
                         DCALL.EXE is located.
                         



Command Line Switches
---------------------
D-CaLL supports two command line switches.

To run D-CaLL in local mode:

     DCALL /L

   Note: D-CaLL will also run in local mode automatically when it detects the
         baud rate in dorinfo1.def is 0 (e.g. when you are logged on locally to
         your BBS).
   
   Note: D-CaLL *no longer* requires a fossil driver to be loaded for LOCAL
         operation (the fossil is still required for online operation of
         course).
   
To have D-CaLL show the last XX callers (e.g. last 10 or 15), use the following
switch:
   
       DCALL /Nxx       -where xx is the number of last callers to
                        display. Example:  DCALL /N10 will display the
                        last 10 callers to your system
   
   
Exclusion List
--------------
D-CaLL supports an exclusion list which allows you to specify up to 100 users
which you do not want included in the Today's Callers Bulletin. This is useful
if you have users (or co-sysops) which you want to "hide" from the listing.

In order to use this feature you must create a plain ASCII text file called
DCALL.CTL and simply list the name or handle of the user which you want excluded
(one entry per line). As well, be sure to set `Use Exclusion File' to YES in the
configuration editor.

   *   It is not necessary to specify both a user's real name and their
       handle as separate entries, one or the other will suffice.
   *   The entries in DCALL.CTL are *not* case sensitive, so if you have
       "John Smith" in your DCALL.CTL file, and the users name is actually
       spelt "JoHn SmItH", the name will still be properly excluded.
   *   If you have more than 100 entries in DCALL.CTL, D-CaLL will abort   with
       an appropriate error message.

   Example of DCALL.CTL:

      John Smith
      Jane Smith
      The Punisher
   

How To Use D-CaLL
-----------------
D-CaLL is designed to be run as a door. The best way to run it is to set it up
as a type 7 exit (D-CaLL uses very little RAM so swapping is not necesary). D-
CaLL will read all the necessary com-port information from the DORINFO1.DEF
file.

D-CaLL requires that a fossil driver be installed in order to function for
remote callers. For local mode operation, no fossil driver is required.


Location of Files
-----------------
In order for D-CaLL to function properly you must have your RA environment
variable set (see the RA docs for more information on the RA environment
variable). D-CaLL can be run from any directory.

   Note:D-CaLL does *not* write to any RemoteAccess files.


Legal Stuff and Disclaimer
--------------------------
"D-CaLL" refers to the executables and documentation in the original
distribution archive. D-CaLL is copyrighted material by the author, Victor
Magdic. All rights are reserved.  The author grants you a licence to use this
software free of charge.

The program is provided "as is", without warranty or guarantee of any kind,
either expressed or implied, as to its quality or performance. The author will
not be held liable to you or anyone for any direct, indirect, incidental or
consequential damages, including but not limited to any lost profits, or lost
savings which may result from the use or inability to use this program.

The author is in no way obligated to provide future versions of this software.

Your use of the program constitutes your agreement to these terms and to this
disclaimer.

All mentioned products are copyrighted by and trademarks of their respective
holders.


Credits
-------
Thanks to James FitzGibbon for helping me beta test D-CaLL and for his numerous
suggestions and helpful criticism.  Thanks also to Ian McKenzie for lending me
his computer so I could debug the fossil routines in the earlier version of D-
CaLL.


Updates
-------
Please see the enclosed file DEADZONE.TXT for information on how to obtain the
latest version of D-CaLL.

       
Suggestions always welcome!
---------------------------
If you have any suggestions for improvement or wish to  report any bugs, you can
reach me via netmail:
       
       The DeAdZoNe
       Victor Magdic
       FidoNet: 1:259/427
       TeleNet Canada: 20:22/104
       
       or by writing to:
       
       Victor Magdic
       424 Camden Circle
       Mississauga, Ontario
       L4Z 2P4
       CANADA
       
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