COLOR! The FreeLoader report uses ANSI color if the user has the Color restriction flag set (and he also has the ANSI flag set). You can configure which colors will be used for the text, background, lines, and FREELOADER word.
FreeLoader is an external application to Scott Watson's awesome BBS software Second Sight (formerly Red Ryder Host). It analyzes the UserLog and reports the Top Ten Freeloaders on the BBS. (The number of Freeloaders can be modified) A FreeLoader is defined as someone who has never uploaded a file, but has downloaded files, and has not donated money to the BBS.
FreeLoader's report can be in straight ASCII text or a nice ANSI display with optional color. It determines which to use by the state of two of the caller's restriction flags. You can set which flag to use when you configure FreeLoader. If you don't want the ANSI or ANSI color display, set the flag to zero. I have found if the caller is using Z-Term the terminal emulation should be set to PC-ANSI BBS. If they are using White Knight I suppose they would need a suitable PC font such as PC. (I don't use White Knight, so I can't vouch for this)
To install FreeLoader, put it in the same folder as your BBS program (Second Sight) and the Second Sight Config file. Then set up some command 50 or 51 menu commands in Second Sight to launch FreeLoader. FreeLoader is compatible with both LaunchSS and LaunchRRH file names.
To configure FreeLoader, launch it while holding down the mouse button. A dialog box will come up that you use to configure FreeLoader. The ANSI restriction flag, color flag and the number of FreeLoaders to include can be set by the arrow controls. To select your BBS Program click the Next Launch button. To set the colors for the various parts of the ANSI display, use the PopUp menus. If you are using a color machine, the little demo display will update with the new colors.
The number of FreeLoaders you choose is actually the number of ranks. If several people tie for the same amount of downloads, all of them will be listed. Also, the number of FreeLoaders is limited to a maximum of 99.
NOTE: Currently there is no display during Local mode.
FreeLoader also uses a file called Donations. This file must be in the same folder as your UserLog. FreeLoader scans this file for people who have donated money to your BBS and therefore will not appear in the FreeLoader list. For this to work the format of the file is very important. Each line of the file must start with a User Name or a comment. Comment lines start with the # character. The UserName must be all CAPS with a single space between the first and last name. After the last name there must be a tab character. FreeLoader ignores anything beyond the tab character. Here is an example Donations file:
#TOTAL $105
FRED BROWN $50 4/12/90
JULIE SMITH $20 4/13/90 & Brenda
MATTHEW BRODERICK $25 4/13/90 & Nancy
GEORGE JETSON $10 4/13/90 & Jane, his wife.
FreeLoader is DonationWare. If you use it send a donation of $5 or more to a charitable organization. Then send me E-Mail containing the following:
Your Name
BBS Name
BBS Phone Number
FidoNet Node Number (if applicable, if not WHY NOT?)
Charity and amount given
Version of FreeLoader
Bugs and or Comments
Some good Charities are United Way, Red Cross, GreenPeace, Salvation Army, etc.
I hope you like this.
You will always be able to FREQ the latest version from me as:
FREELOADER.CPT
A special thanks goes to Pete Johnson for his help in debugging this program. Thanks!
HACKERS NOTES ( normal Sysops Need Not View This):
There are two STR# resources in FreeLoader. ID 128 is a list of all possible names of the LaunchSS/RRH file. Currently it only has two entrys, if for some chance far into the future, the name changes yet again, it can be installed in this list and FreeLoader will find it.
STR# 129 contains as you might suspect various strings. The first is what FreeLoader sends to the user when they are to press a key to continue. The second is the name of Second Sights Config file. The third is the name of your Donations file.
There is also a custom resource called FrNF ID 0. This is where FreeLoader stores its configurable info. (ANSI Restriction Flag, Color Restriction Flag, Number of FreeLoaders, ANSI Color values, and BBS Name). If you wish you can edit this yourself using the TMPL resource called "FrNF". Just paste it into ResEdit and then double click on the FrNF resource.
I suppose the cicn in FreeLoader could be pasted into SunDesk or some such Color Finder program and then you could have a color icon.
••• Features to be added in future versions:
FreeLoader will change to FreeLoader/TopUploader. You will be able to configure FreeLoader to display either the top ten downloaders or top ten uploaders. To do both, just make two copies of FreeLoader configured differently.
