DLGRIPMenus and RIPMenus ------------------------ Here are some more utilities I have written for BBS RIP graphics. I wanted something that would make simple RIP menu files for DLG. Yet again, I haven't seen anything out there that does it. So, I made my own DLGRIPMenus makes RIP menus with the DLG % commands added to the lines. What this essentially does is if the user doesn't have access to a certain command, the button will not be shown. RIPMenus doesn't use these codes allowing you to open the output file into some RIP editor such as RIPGraf and customize them a little more. Don't forget to add the % commands after you finish editing the RIP menu though. Usage is real simple: (DLG)RIPMenus where is the name of the menu file (such as MAIN.menun) and the is the resulting RIP menu (such as main.nov.3 if you have RIP as the third menu set). Notes ----- Menus with over 16 commands look aweful. Take my word for it. The box at the bottom of the screen (a RIP ASCII/ANSI text window) is 23 lines long. It takes up a lot of room on the screen. However, it is great since ASCII/ANSI output such as the menu's prompt will be put in it. I wanted it to be a full 24 (or 25) lines long, but then only 12 buttons would fit. If you don't have RIPComm, get it. It has a local playback function that works great for checking the scripts (use RIPMenus to make testable ones and then DLGRIPMenus to make them for the BBS). I don't kill the RIP screen after a button press. Therefore, if you have a program that doesn't have RIP in it, all the text will go in the bottom screen. That is good and bad. Some things, such as the Utilities menu functions look okay in it, but games are aweful small and most don't like 23 lines anyway. Make sure if you have a text file or something (like using df) that you put a pause at the end of the file so the screen doesn't clear before the user can read whatever was displayed. Long menu commands will extend beyond the buttons. You will see... I fully intend to continue development on this program. Matter of fact, just as soon as I send it out, I am going to start a graphical interface (gadtools) for it. Future versions of this program will be allow selection of different fonts, button sizes, text window sizes, etc. Since I change menus often, I need something that doesn't force me to continually make new screens. Let me know what you think. Send me your suggestions and the like and I'll try to add them in if possible. Oh, BTW, send this out far and wide. I'm not real connected with the outside world so sending this program through any of the file echoes is really hard for me. I can be contacted at the following: Guy Smith 1093 Manigan Ave. Oviedo, FL 32765 Voice: 407-366-6426 Internet: GUSMITH@delphi.com Or on my BBS at: Gus's BS BBS Oviedo, FL (Orlando) 407-366-6274 AmigaNet: 40:716/21.0 FidoNet: 1:363/274.0 (DON'T use this until at least the .210 nodelist because my number is incorrect. Make sure the listed number is 366-6274 and NOT 366-6426 before calling.) Other things by me: ConDir - A directory utility like program for DLG allowing users to mark files for later downloads. Great for CD ROM drives. RIP support now available for testing. Base36 - A converter for RIP MegaNums (base36 numbers). RIPType - An experimental "type" replacement that employes RIP.