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AreaGen
Tools for importing CD-ROM areas into an AdeptXBBS filebase.
Copyright (c) 1995 by Doug Kushner, except bfsmake3.exe which is
(c) 1995 by AdeptSoft.

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This is a WIDE BETA release and may be freely distributed.

Disclaimer:

This software has been tested extensively on my system and appears to be 
functioning as designed.  Your mileage may vary.  Back up your Adept 
configuration files!  The author of AreaGen will NOT accept
responsibility for any abnormal behavior of this program. 


Features:

 - AreaGen generates file_areas entries and moves index files from the
   CD-ROM to the hard drive.

 - BFSMake3d is modified from BFSMake3c to first look in the \adept\files.list
   directory for file descriptions (area_num.bbs files).  

 - fixup.cmd creates 2 column "files.bbs" files from the 4 column variety.


Installation:

 - Unzip the archive into its own directory.

 - Make a program object on the desktop for AreaGen.exe (optional). 
 
 - Copy bfsmake4.exe to your Adept directory.

 - Make a directory "files.list" under your Adept directory.

AreaGen has been designed to use Watcom's VROBJ.DLL (v2.14, from VX-
REXX v 2.1d), which is not included in this release.  It should be 
available on most OS/2 BBS's as well as on hobbes.nmsu.edu and
adeptsoft.com.


Initial setup:

 - None required.


Process overview:

 - Launch AreaGen.  Select the type of index files from the spin box.
   Select a CD-ROM drive letter.  Select the areas that will be 
   imported into the filebase from the listbox.  Enter a starting 
   File Area Number.  Select Generate.  Repeat for each CD-ROM drive.

 - AreaGen will create a directory under its directory to place the
   index files and generated file_areas.  The directory will be named
   Drive_X, where 'X' is the drive letter of the CD-ROM.  The index 
   files will be named area_no.bbs and the file_areas file will be named
   cd_areas.

 - Examine the area_no.bbs files.  If some/all of them are 4 column
   format (filename, size, date, description), run fixup.exe on them to
   convert to 2 column (filename, description) format.  Run fixup.exe
   without any parameters for help.

 - Copy the area_no.bbs files to the \adept\files.list directory.

 - Examine the cd_area file(s).  Some editing may be required.  Then paste
   cd_areas into your file_areas file.

 - Change directory to \adept.  Delete \adept\files\*.  Run bfsmake3.exe.

 

AreaGen files:

   AREAGEN.EXE       Main program
   AREAGEN.TXT       This file.
   FIXUP.CMD         REXX utility to change 4 column index files to 2 
                     column (required for bfsmake3.exe)
   BFSMAKE3.EXE      Modified version of AdeptSoft's BFSMake utility.


Known bugs:

 - none


Future enhancements:

 - I'm working on a major upgrade to this utility, but it is taking longer than I 
   expected.  

 - Settings for default flags and security levels in AREAGEN.EXE


Obtaining AreaGen:

The latest version will always be available via ftp at adeptsoft.com or 
it can be freqd from the authors BBS with the magic name AREAGEN.
The latest VROBJ.DLL can be obtained with the magic name VROBJ.


To contact the author:

Please send all bug reports, suggestions or whatever to any of the 
following addresses:

   1:300/407@Fidonet
   55:830/101@AdeptNet
   dougk@primenet.com

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