SPITFIRE Conversion From Version 2.5 To Version 2.7 The purpose of this file is to explain the process and provide step by step instructions for updating an existing SPITFIRE Bulletin Board System running version 2.5 to version 2.7. IF YOU ARE SETTING UP SPITFIRE FOR THE FIRST TIME...DISREGARD THIS FILE... IT IS INTENDED ONLY FOR THOSE WHO ARE UPGRADING AN EXISTING SYSTEM! STEP ONE -------- The first thing you will need to do is replace your existing SFMAIN.MNU, SFFILE.MNU, SFMSG.MNU and SFSYSOP.MNU files by overwriting them with those included in the SPITFIRE 2.7 package. These must be replaced with the new SFMAIN.MNU, SFFILE.MNU, SFMSG.MNU and SFSYSOP.MNU so to include the new features which are included in Version 2.7 and to remove the old features not used in version 2.5. Many of you may have individualized your menu selections and hesitate to overwrite them, but it is ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY. Once you have adapted to the Version 2.7, the menus can be modified as you did previously. You may want to print out your existing menus before overwriting and then make the adjustments on the new menus from your printout of your current menu selections. In the event you are using display files for your menus, you will now need to edit them to match the new SFMAIN.MNU, SFFILE.MNU and SFMSG.MNU files. STEP TWO -------- The next step will be to overwrite your existing SPITFIRE.EXE file and your existing SPITFIRE.HLP files with those included in the SPITFIRE 2.7 package. Also, copy the SPITFIRE.OVR file included in your SPITFIRE package into the directory in which SPITFIRE.EXE resides. SPITFIRE.HLP has been modified to include explanations to the user for the new features which have been incorporated within SPITFIRE Version 2.7. STEP THREE ---------- You will find included in the SPITFIRE package a utility, SF26_27.EXE, which you will need to place in the main SPITFIRE directory and run. This only needs to be run once to update each user's information in the SFUSERS.DAT file. STEP FOUR --------- The next step will be to modify your SF.BAT file so that it will include the expanded door features offered in Version 2.7. Previous versions of SPITFIRE used numerical values for the door name, i.e, DOOR_1 and allowed for eight doors. SPITFIRE Version 2.7 instead uses alphabetical values for the door name, i.e., DOOR_A and allows up to 24 doors. SPITFIRE will allow doors, DOOR_A through DOOR_Z, with the following exceptions. DO NOT include DOOR_G or DO NOT include DOOR_Q. The command character is used to Quit the SPITFIRE Door Menu and return the caller to the Main Menu of the BBS. The command character is used to log the caller of the BBS. Using your favorite text editor you MUST modify your SF.BAT in the following manner: 1) Replace the existing numbers (DOOR_1) with their corresponding alphabetical character (DOOR_A). REMEMBER: DO NOT USE THE DOOR_G OPTION. This will need to be done both for the IF ERRORLEVEL statements and the :DOOR_1 commands. 2) Next either by manually entering or by copying with your text editing program, include the additional door commands that you find in the sample SF.BAT file. Both the additional IF ERRORLEVEL statements and the additional :DOOR_x commands will need to be added to your existing SF.BAT file. These should include DOOR_J through DOOR_Z (again, if you are manually entering these commands DO NOT include DOOR_Q). STEP FIVE --------- If you are presently using the display files, MSGLIST.BBS/CLR and FILELIST.BBS/CLR these will need to be deleted and replaced with MGLIST.BBS/CLR and FILST.BBS/CLR (where "x" is equal to a valid security level of your system). By using these new display files, you can now list to the caller only the file areas which are available for their security level. STEP SIX -------- If you are currently running a Questionnaire from the Main Menu, a Questionnaire Menu will need to be created and the SFMAIN.QUE and the SFMAIN.ANS files will need to be renamed to SFMAIN1.QUE and SFMAIN1.ANS. SPITFIRE Version 2.7 will allow up to nine questionnaire topics to be available at one time with many new optional features. Refer to the SPITFIRE manual for information on setting up your Questionnaire Menu and the new options which are available. STEP SEVEN ---------- Boot up SPITFIRE and when you reach the "Ready for caller" prompt, press ALT+Z and the configuration window will be displayed. You will notice command <14> has been replaced with Direct Screen Writes. This feature toggles on and off whether SPITFIRE writes directly to the screen. Under normal circumstances you will want this set to Yes. However, if you are operating SPITFIRE in a multi-tasking environment, this should be toggled to No. Then select to Quit and be returned to the "Ready for caller" prompt. STEP EIGHT ---------- Next select ALT+V to bring up the secondary configuration window, new with SPITFIRE Version 2.7. This configuration allows you to toggle On and Off whether you wish to have these features available on your system: 1) File Description Conversion - If toggled on SPITFIRE will automatically capitalize the first letter of each word in the desciption for files to be uploaded. If toggled Off the description will appear just as the user enters it. 2) US Phone Number Format - If this is toggled On SPITFIRE will use the phone number format ###-###-####. If toggled Off SPITFIRE will accept any 12 character input. 3) Prompt for New Files - If this is toggled On SPITFIRE will prompt the caller when logging on the BBS if they would like to list for new files. 4) Prompt for Messages - If this is toggled On SPITFIRE will notify the caller when logging on the BBS if any new messages are available, along with information regarding how many messages have been received and sent by the caller and the total number of messages in the Message Area. Once you have completed this conversion process your system is completely functional and ready for operation. SPITFIRE is now ready to run. However, there are a number of new options which are available to you with Version 2.7 and you may want to modify your system at this time so that these new features will be available to your users. 1) Because of the lengthy explanation required, if you intend to include the SPITFIRE Door feature or the use of the External Protocol file transfer options on your BBS, refer to the manual for detailed instructions on how these are installed. 2) SPITFIRE now uses a data file called SFNOUP.DAT which will prevent specified types of files from being uploaded to your system. SFNOUP.DAT allows limited use of wildcards (such as *.GIF or/and TROJAN.*) but complicated wildcard strings will not be read. SFNOUP.DAT is a simple text file and the name of each type of file (using wildcards) or specific file name should be placed on a separate line within the file. The following would be an example of a SFNOUP.DAT file: *.GIF PERVERT.COM TROJAN.* SFNOUP.DAT should be placed in the work file path if you are using separate file paths on your bbs for System, Work, External and Display files. 3) If you have toggled the File Description Conversion feature On using the secondary configuration window (ALT+V), you can create a data file, SFUPCASE.DAT of terms you would like to contain all capital letters. This is a simple text file with one term on each line and would look something like this: arc pak spitfire exe comm SFUPCASE.DAT should be placed in the work file path if you are using separate file paths on your bbs for System, Work, External and Display files. 4) If you wish to have a second bulletin listing available for your users from the SPITFIRE Door Menu, it will need to be created. SFDORBUL.BBS/CLR is a listing of the individual Door Bulletins which your callers may view. This is primarily intended to display high score standings to your users for the individual door games you may have available on your system. However, usage is not limited to this purpose. SPITFIRE will allow up to 99 individual door bulletins. Each of these door bulletins will also need to be created and should be titled DORBUL.BBS/CLR (where "x" corresponds to the appropriate bulletin file). Thank you for your continued support of SPITFIRE!