PCBoard Second Account (PCB2ACT) copyright 1991 by Dalaye Gabriel Polymath One BBS, of Trenton, NJ Seamless interface to allow leaving PCBoard, loading a second copy of PCBoard, with the proper User info being loaded without User input. Method: Read PCBoard.Sys file, creating a new PCBoard.Sys in new sub-dir with all changes needed to properly access a second (and different) USERS file than the first PCBoard.Sys refers to. This requires accessing the following files from area leaving: PCBoard.Sys, Users And accessing the following files for the new PCBoard area: PCBoard.Sys, Users, Pwrd My BBS has considerable adult and non-adult traffic of Users, and I found it best to entirely segregate the two areas. I'm aware that many merely open a second BBS. Meanwhile, any users visiting the adult conferences wish to use aliases to leave messages. I tried the Incognito Door - a good idea, but, I wasn't happy with anything writing to my Users file. Meanwhile, I found it nice to segregate credits of Uploads/Downloads to a users record from the 2 areas, and seriously considered doing what so many people do: open a second, adults-only BBS, leaving the first alone. I considered this unacceptable, as it would mean more work for the user to visit both, and tie up all my equipment separately, stop node chats, and other such. So, I found it best to create a new sub-directory, one for each node on the system, and setup a separate BBS entirely, but, to be accessed as a door from the first BBS. This wastes very little disk space, as quite a few files can be shared with the first. The problem with initially calling the second board from the first? Users hated the idea of having to logon a second time, and I hated the maintenance headache of seeing who opened a second account in the second board loaded, as, when it prompts for a name, more than 1 user chose to open new additional accounts for himself. Major headache as the number of users grew. Solution: PCBoard Second Account! It lets you set up a second BBS as a door from the first BBS, loading all user information needed with the information you configure within the PCB2ACT.CFG file. PCB2ACT.CFG must be in the sub-directory that PCB2ACT is called from, generally, the C:\PCB directory, and from there call PCB2ACT as such: c:\util\pcb2act. This text is not complete on setting up doors, or a copy of PCBoard. It is assumed you have purchased PCBoard and have all needed docs on proper BAT files, and the use of PCBSetup.exe. This is only a "quickie" I initially did not plan to release outside of my BBS, but as someone asked for a copy, I felt perhaps it may help quite a few other PCBoard Sysops. This is a beta test version, and bugs are expected, though I am confident it cannot corrupt your system in any manner, though no warranty is expressed or implied. The only confidence I can give you is that that I have in this software: This program writes to no files used by PCBoard operation except PCBoard.Sys! The one safeguard you may wish to place on your system to insure no unauthorized entry due to strange coincidences (such as a reboot in the middle of calling the second account door) is to place a command in the calling BAT file to delete any existing PCBoard.sys file (or, copy over a "no-one-is-on" copy). I included the idea of registration in this utility only so I can see how much it appeals to others. The first few Sysops choosing to use this Beta version will receive registration numbers on request, no fee expected. All I ask is your comments and suggestions prior to release as a full release version. The non-registered version is not entirely seamless, as it sends out a short introduction that this program is running, and states it is unregistered. The only advantage of registration is removal of that notice to then only state that a second account is being loaded on your BBS (1 very short sentence, with no mention of this program, or my BBS, etc). For this minor convenience, I would like to ask for $10 to register this program. Just let me know what you wish the 1 line in the PCB2ACT.CFG to read as your BBS (up to 55 characters), and you will receive the proper registration number. You can get that number on Polymath One BBS if you wish to save time, or it will be mailed to you. This program requires access to BRUN45.EXE, the "patched" version, so your users are not disconnected. All needed names & paths are stored in PCB2ACT.CFG, text strings, format: d:\path\pcboard1.sys ; location,name of original PCBoard.sys (;=comment) d:\path\Users1 ; loc,name of original Users file d:\path\pcboard2.sys ; loc,name, of new pcboard.sys to be written d:\path\users2 ; loc,name, of new Users file to access d:\path\pwrd2 ; loc,name, of new pwrd file to check d:\path\nogood ; created user name found, and no access given d:\path\newguy ; created if user has not received previous access Polymath One BBS ; name of your BBS 0000001 ; registration number - placing a valid number here removes the 4 line notice when loading, and instead will only show as "Loading Second Account at YourBBS BBS" Security: It does not allow access by any user not entered by the Sysop. The Sysop must enter any alias, or name used in Second Account (even if the same name) as the first 25 bytes of the Sysop maintained Comment 2 of the Users record. 2NDACT - File to be opened as a Door by PCBoard, it must be defined in Doors.Lst Contents of 2NDACT if exist nogood. del nogood.; necessary if exist newguy. del newguy.; necessary n:\util\pcb2act ; to call the program from wherever if exist nogood. goto done ; exits, because no entry in Comment2 ; placing a similar line for newguy keeps any new ; user from also entering - your choice n: ; changing to drive where second PCBoard.dat is cd\pcb\adult ; and to the proper sub-dir for use if exist endpcb del endpcb ; standard, prior to loading PCBoard \pcb\pcb145 ; call up PCBoard :done v: cd\pcb board That is basically what is required in the Door calling the second PCBoard to load. You will have to include all the other checks used as necessary, if you plan to open doors, run an event, etc. from the second PCBoard loaded. RESTART.BAT - used to reload the second account after exit to a door or, you may use something similar from event, etc. n: cd\pcb\adult if exist endpcb del endpcb if exist door.bat del door.bat \pcb\PCB145 if exist door.bat door if exist endpcb goto end ; endpcb is created on normal user exit restart ; to call itself to run, as user must have come from a door :end v: ; reload the normal (first account) of your board cd\pcb board Errors: The 2 potential errors are either that the BRUN45.EXE cannot be located in the path, or the PCB2ACT.CFG file has not enough lines. Be sure the filenames in the PCB2ACT.CFG are the same filenames defined in your PCBSetup for the PCBoard.sys, Users, and Pwrd files. No comments are allowed in the PCB2ACT.CFG file, and they are shown here only to help you get started, be sure to remove comments. Register Pcboard Second Account ver.1.0 (beta) Name: Address: Address: City: State: Zip: BBS name: BBS Phone: Is the Purpose of this for Adult Access, or for Other Private Board? BBS Name to be dsiplayed on entry to registered version (max 55 char): An account will be opened for you on Polymath One BBS, please enter the password you wish used at this time. Please use a unique password for access to our BBS, a strict rule all Sysops should follow. Password: Please make any check or money order out to me, Dalaye Gabriel, for the small $10 registration. Dalaye Gabriel Polymath One BBS 520 Liberty St Trenton, NJ 08611 Node 1: (609) 392-5953 (CSP) Node 2: (609) 394-5414 (HST)