BBSWRITE!
The On-line Creative Writing System
for Express BBS! ST

Programmer: Sanford Furrow
Copyright 1988,1989

This program is available in the public domain. 
Please retain all copyrights and credits when distributing.
BBSWRITE! was written in GFA Basic 2.02.


Welcome Sysop!  
	I have written this program for the purpose of helping your
bbs users exercise their creativity.  BBSWRITE has been designed
to make it's use as easy as possible for you, the Sysop, as well
as your system users.  The BBSWRITE archive consists of the
following files:

	BBSWRITE.PRG	This is the GEM-based configuration program.
	BBSWRITE.TOS	The actual on-line creative writing program.
	BBSWRITE.TXT	You're reading it now.

	When you get BBSWRITE up and running, there will be a number
of other files created.  BBSWRITE.INF will show up in the same
directory as the BBSWRITE.PRG and .TOS files.  BBSWRITE.HLP will
show up in the Menus_80 folder of your system.  And the various
stories themselves will be created and grow with time.  Enough of
that.  Here's what you do....

1)  Place the BBSWRITE.PRG and the BBSWRITE.TOS files in the same
directory.  I recommend the same directory as the BBS.PRG file,
but you don't have to put it there. 

2)  Create a folder to store the stories.  I use C:\BBSWRITE\ as
my storage place.

3)  Create a folder for the users' Last Read Data files. 
C:\BBSWRITE\DATA\ is my setup.  I place the data files in a
folder that resides in the story folder.

4)  You will need to create a way to call the BBSWRITE.HLP script
file that, in turn, calls the BBSWRITE.TOS program.  I chose to
use the MAIN MENU to call the BBSWRITE system.  I use the command
[A]uthors' Area.  If you want to go that route, just run your
SYSEDIT.TOS program and make a change to your Main Menu Commands. 
Be sure to update your Main menu .HLP files to reflect the new
menu option!

5)  Now, run BBSWRITE.PRG.  You will be prompted for two path
names.

A) The Path for storage of each user's Last Read information
has been set to: 
B) The Default Path for storage of each Story Area File has
been set to:

	When prompted if you wish to change the path for each one,
select "Y"es and type in the correct paths.  The path for Last
Read information is the folder you set up in step #3.  The path
for Story Area Files is the folder you set up in step #2.

6)  You should be in the editor system now.  A menubar with
"DESK", "FILE", and "STORIES" should be visible.  

DESK:
	Standard DESK option.  INFO will give you a bit of info
about the program.  Accessories would show at this point as well. 

FILE:
	SCRIPT will almost automaticly write the script file that
will call BBSWRITE.TOS.  You will want to select this option some
time before finishing your setup session.  (Now, would be a good
time.)  When you select SCRIPT you will be prompted for the path
to the BBS.PRG and for the path to your MENUS_80 folder.  Include
the drive as well as the folder specifications.  Do NOT include
file names, just the path.
	DONE will give you a chance to save your configuration info
and then leave the editor program (BBSWRITE.PRG).

STORIES:
	This is where you setup the individual stories.  You may
have up to ten running at once.  I could make it more, but then
you end up not getting very good development on the stories.  All
the Stories should be "greyed" out and not selectable except for
Story #1.  As you define stories, the SCRIPT menu will reflect
this.  Each defined story will have a check mark in front of it
and you will always be able to select the next story for editing
until you have defined all ten.  If you define a story, you can
DELETE the story from the configuration by clearing the
definition and saving it.  All other stories will move to fill
any gaps in the menu.   On to defining...

DEFINING A STORY:
	When you enter the story editor definition area, you will
get a chance to fill in info about the specific story.  Here is
the rundown:

Story Path and File Name:  This will show the Default Story Area
Path that you set when you first started the program.  You
should enter the file name for the story here.  If you need
to, you can change the path as well.  For example, let's say
you are using a configuration similar to mine (described
above), and your 1st Story is going to be science fiction. 
You can enter the information as: C:\BBSWRITE\SCIFI.TXT.  If
you do not enter a filename, one will be added.

Story Title:  You have two lines for your title.  You must
incluse at least one line of title for the definition to be
taken.  Using our SciFi story example:

					Martian Invaders!
					They Want Our Women!

Security Level:  The BBSWRITE.HLP script automaticly sends the
security level settings for the current caller.  When you
set the security level on a story, only those users who have
that security level flag turned ON can access the story. 
The BBSWRITE program knows when a level 32 caller is using
the sytem and will ALWAYS let level 32 folks into ALL
stories.  
	Example: John Doe has security flags 1,2,3,[not 4],5,6
set ON.  He could read and write to stories that have
Security Level settings of 1,2,3,5,6.  He could NOT enter a
story that has a Security Level of 4.  The default for this
field is "1".

Story Description:  Five lines for a brief description of the
story.  This can be left blank, but I've found that it helps
get a story rolling if you give a brief idea of what genre
and direction it might take.  Also, if the story is going to
allow annonymous writers, you might want to mention it in
the description.  Here's the example (using out SciFi idea):

			Captain Jack Black was a rouge
			and scoundrel.  But when the 
			aliens from Mars arrived, he
			was the only man who could
			save the human race!

Allow Annonymous Writers:  This defaults to No.  Type a Y into
this field if you wish to allow Annonymous writers.  Why
would you like annonymous writers?  Well, I have an "adult"
story being developed on my bbs.  I set the security flags
up in such a way that only folks who are over 18 can view
the story.  To make people more willing to write additions
to the story, I made it annonymous.  It works!


	For the story definition to be accepted, you MUST include a
Title on at least the first line of the Story Title field.  
	When you enter information into the last field and press
return the Story Definition will be taken and you will be able to
create another story definition.  While working in the definition
screen, you can move from field to field with the mouse or arrow
keys.  The "Esc" key will clear the field that the cursor
currently resides on.  Pressing the "Insert" key will toggle you
between Insert Mode and Overwrite mode.  If you are updating the
BBSWRITE.INF file with the editor, you may find it handy to just
press the "F1" key instead of all those "RETURN" presses to get
the system to take your definition.  "F10" clears all fields and
aborts the definition process.  If you press F10 and are NOT
taken out of the definition screen, press F1 and respond to the
alert box by selecting "Cancel".  (It's a weird little bug that I
haven't had time to squash.)
	One of the nice things about this system is that if you find
that a story file is getting a bit big, you can move the file to
an area where you have more room, and then run the BBSWRITE.PRG
editor program and simply change the path to that story's file. 
Everything else will be kept up to date and will work fine.  You
can edit story descriptions, titles, security levels, and
annonymous writers at any time after the story has already been
started (or before it's gotten started).  You have as much
flexability as I could work into the system.  If you have to
change the structure of your bbs files on your HD, this program
will allow you to do the same without the loss of a good story.

	After you have made all your story definitions, select DONE
from the FILE menu.  When prompted, select SAVE to create or
update your BBSWRITE.INF file.  You're done!  Have fun!

Some Hints and Suggestions:
	I have set up one of the story areas to be a "Grafitti" wall
of sorts.  Annonymous writers can put pretty much anything into
the area.  I have this area set for "adults only".
	If a story has been setup with one description and you feel
that the turns of the story have taken it completely out in left
field, go ahead and change the description and/or title to the
story.
	If you sense that your users would like to make a story more
"spicy" than what is considered "kosher" on the public areas of
your bbs, simply change the story to a new security clearance so
that only those that are interested can see it.  You can also
change from the Annonymous setting to the Non-Annonymous setting
(or vice-versa) at any time as well.
	The actual BBSWRITE.TOS program allows you to write sections
of story using many of the commands that are used by the Express
BBS! ST (v1.3) message editor.  It should be very easy for your
users to get comfortable with the system.
	I have a science fiction story, fantasy, graffitii wall, an
adults-only romance, and a very strange catch-all story running
on my system.  Do whatever you want.  Let me know how it goes! 
I'm interested.


***** FOR SUPPORT *****

	Contact me, Sam Furrow, on 

		GEnie as S.FURROW

		Compuserve as user #71401,473

		and in Tucson, Arizona on the Endless Summer BBS,
			602/571-8765 (1200 & 2400 baud), 24hrs a day, 
			leave messages to "Sam".

					Thanks,
					Sanford (Sam) M. Furrow, IV