An external application for use with Red Ryder Host.
Compatible with version 2.0.
RRHTime Documentation
As you’ll likely find out, I am not much for documentation. However, I’ll give it a swing. If you’re used to Red Ryder Host external applications, you likely won’t have to read this.
About RRHTime:
RRHTime is a simple application which allows the user to get the BBS time. That’s it. It’s a rather simple application, which is really only made large because of some of the extra features I have put in that are really not necessary, but are always nice to have.
This program is merely to test my algorithms so I don’t get into the middle of an 8000 line program and find that I have to change it all around so it works properly with the modem.
If you remember (or even have) the program 1036, you’ll know that this does the same thing as it does. It is, however, quite a bit smaller, and I believe a bit more efficient. If you find any problems, however, please let me know, as I’ll be using this code in future Red Ryder Host external applications. Although I haven’t tested it with MultiFinder, I think it should work... If it doesn’t, please let me know, and it will be fixed.
Setting things up:
It’s not too difficult to set up RRHTime. You have to put RRHTime in the same hierarchy as the Red Ryder Host application, to ensure that you don’t get a Config file error. If it’s on an MFS (for those who still use MFS), it doesn’t matter where it is, as long as it’s on the same disk. After you copy the application into the correct hierarchy, and just pop a time option into one of your menus, set the command type to 50 or 51 (preferably 51). Then all you have to do is log on locally (to make a LaunchRRH file), and select the option. A dialog box will appear and you will be able to select the path to your Red Ryder Host application, and the next application to run. Click in one of the edit text items or on the Set it button, and you will be able to set these to paths of your choice. When everything is set, just hit return or click the OK button, and the time should appear. You will get a “Hit return to continue message,” where a remote user would not, because this allows you to mouse around within the application to change the setup, to see the about box, to show or hide the window, etc. Don’t lock the application until you have gone through the setup, or it won’t work.
Troubleshooting:
Question: I get an error when I launch RRHTime and I have to change the setup.
Answer: The paths must be incorrect. Redo the paths and everything should work fine. If it doesn’t work after that, and you’re sure that you have done it all right, use ResEdit and check the “STR ” resources.
Question: I get repeated LaunchRRH errors and my paths are correct.
Answer: Make sure that you have a LaunchRRH file. If you are not using RRHTime locally through Red Ryder Host, you probably don’t have one. Compare the error ID number with those on page 112 of your Red Ryder Host 2.0 manual.
Question: I keep getting Config file errors when launching the application.
Answer: The config file must be named “Config” and it must be in the same folder as your Red Ryder Host application. If it isn’t, then Red Ryder Host will likely not work either.
Question: I get a Config file error when Host is launching after I quit from RRHTime.
Answer: RRHTime must be in the same folder as Red Ryder Host.
Question: When I look at the path names in ResEdit, there’s a bunch of hexadecimal bytes of data listed after the actual strings.
Answer: This, I haven’t figured out. The program works even though this is present, so it doesn’t hurt anything. I’m relatively new to C, and it took me a while to figure out the way to save a string to a resource... It’s actually what took me the longest time.
Question: I change the path names, and press OK, but they do not change in the resource file, so when I get the dialog box again, they are back to their initial stage.
Answer: Make sure the application file is not locked.
Question: Something’s screwy about the Apple menu.
Answer: I know. It doesn’t do that on the Macintosh II, which I am programming it on, but when I tried it on the Mac Plus, the Apple menu would either take up the entire width of the screen but be only about 2 items in height, or would just take up the entire screen. The hierarchical menus of Font/DA Juggler did the same thing. Maybe it’s just my system (including Font/DA Juggler) on the Plus. Quite a few errors I was getting on the Plus were not appearing on the Mac II. It doesn’t affect the program too much, unless you want to use some DA while you’re in RRHTime, that happens to be at the bottom of the list of your 100 DAs.
Question: I get a system error stating that an application is busy or damaged.
Answer: The path to the next application you are going to run is probably not a real path to an application. Choose Setup and select the application you want to run to rectify the problem. It is also possible that your application is “busy or damaged.”
If you have any problems not listed here, just post a message in the FreeSoft RoundTable or EMail me a message.
Disclaimer:
The main thing is that I cannot be held responsible for anything that happens to your Host program, data files, and generally anything else connected with your computer because of using RRHTime. I don’t think anything should happen because of its use, however. The exact same program as you have is up on my BBS if you got this from GEnie, so you should not have to worry about any virus lurking within. I’m not that good a C programmer... Or that bad — however you want to put it.
Please give this thing (don’t sell it) to anyone who has a Red Ryder Host BBS. It’s really simple to use, and it doesn’t take up too much space.
If you experience any problems or have any suggestions, please don’t hesitate to post a message or send me EMail. I love to hear from the users of my programs.
Well, that’s about it. It’s not really much of a program, but it will give me a start on the road to more external applications.
