Shoelace is a Tabby compatible program that will perform one simple function. It will update your BBS software.
I wrote Shoelace because of the way I sysop. While WMUG BBS runs at home, I live on campus miles away from my house. Since we are running TeleFinder, I can make any software update or change to our setup that I desire... any change but one. I can't update the BBS software because it's already running.
I found myself performing these gymnastics on my event strings in order to get a new version of our host software running. Well, no more.
Our BBS software is called "GEH." If I upload a file called "GEH.update", the next time an event is run Shoelace will delete GEH and then rename GEH.update to GEH. In the end, our new software is running.
Installation:
1. Put Shoelace in the same folder as your BBS program.
2. Run Shoelace while holding down the mouse button. (Double click, then hold down the moust button until you see the settings dialog). The first text entry will contain the filename of your BBS software. The second text entry will contain the name of the new software.
3. Add Shoelace to your event strings. You'll want to add it to your crashmail string if you want to perform an update on a crashmail.
Using it:
When you want to update your BBS software, place the new version of your software in the same folder as your BBS software. It should be named according to how you setup Shoelace. Next time an event is run, presto!
Notes:
1. Shoelace is smart. If it doesn't find the name of the new software, it won't do a thing.
2. The filenames are JUST file names. NOT pathnames.
3. It's probably a good idea to put Shoelace in the middle of your event string somewhere. Try to avoid putting it first or last just to make sure the changes that Shoelace makes have enough time to take hold.
Terms:
Shoelace is free. You are encouraged to distribute it to anyone that might find it useful.
