                              ANS2AT v1.0
        an ANSI to @-code translater for TriBBS display screens
             Copyright (c) 1993 by: Studio, Eh? Productions
               written by: Jim Dick and Mark Alan Pruitt

THE LEGAL STUFF

     TriBBS is copyrighted by Mark D. Goodwin.  Neither Studio, Eh?
Productions, Jim Dick, nor Mark Alan Pruitt have any connection with
either TriBBS or Mark D. Goodwin except in that they are enthusiastic
fans and supporters of this fine BBS software.  Any glitches in this
software do not reflect upon either Mark D. Goodwin or TriBBS.

     ANS2AT is released as FreeWare.  Any registered TriBBS sysop is
free to use this program however he or she sees fit without paying any
fees to the copyright holder.

     ANS2AT is, however, fully copyrighted.  You may not make any
changes in the program or the archive without written consent of the
copyright holder and/or the authors.

THE UBIQUITOUS DISCLAIMER

     ANS2AT carries no guarantee except that it will eat up space on
your hard drive.  Neither the authors nor Studio, Eh? Productions will
be held liable for any loss of data, time, money, nor mind from use of
this program.

With that stuff out of the way...

WHY WAS THIS WRITTEN?

     I love the TriBBS software.  It is by far and away the easiest BBS
software to set up and maintain that I've found.  And I've tried many.

     With the release of 5.0, the author has made TriBBS even easier, by
reducing the necessary display screens from two files per screen to only
one.  Alas, lots of us have already made both an .ANS and a .BBS screen
for MANY different screens, and it's a holy terror to go through and
translate all of them "by hand" to the new format.

     When I whined about this to my co-sysop (Mr. Dick) he promptly sat
down and wrote the basic code for this program.  I've cleaned it up and
"user friendly'd" it somewhat, and you now have the results in your hot
little hands!  :)

     ANS2AT will "automagically" translate an ANSI format screen into the
@-coded screen for TriBBS 5.x.

HOW TO USE ANS2AT

     This is a very easy program to utilize.  Simply install it in a
directory on your hard drive (or use it from a floppy).

     Change to the drive/directory that it's installed in and type:
ANS2AT <ENTER>
at the prompt.  Then follow the prompts.

     ANS2AT will ask you for the path/filename of the ANSI screen
(source file) you wish to change to the TriBBS 5.x @-code format.  Enter
this carefully or the program will chide you and embarrass you in front
of your friends!

     It will then ask for the path/filename of the destination file.

     Once you have entered these two things, ANS2AT will go to work.
When it is finished, you will have your translated screen AND your
original .ANS screen.  Please don't flush the .ANS screen.  You may want
to go in and edit it later (and run it through ANS2AT again!).  Save it
to a floppy and try to remember to label the floppy!  :)

     When finished the program will ask you if you'd like to translate
another file.  Choose Y or N.

     Simple as that!

LIMITATIONS

     Since there is (at the time of this writing) no @-codes to handle
cursor placement, ANS2AT will report an error if it encounters ANSI
escape codes for cursor placement.  You will have to test the screen and
edit it (simply insert the proper spaces in most instances) in any good
text editor (the authors recommend QEDIT).  It is highly recommended
that you save your ANSI screens with no line length limit before using
ANS2AT.

     Occasionally, ANS2AT will choke on proper spacing (VERY rare).
Again, a bit of judicious use of QEDIT (or other fine text editor) will
solve that.

SUPPORT

     Since this is FreeWare, you must foot the phone bill to call THE
LEFT-HAND PATH in Seattle, WA or write to the address below, enclosing
an S.A.S.E.  We are always interested in hearing comments and
suggestions to improve our programs... even the free ones!

     THE LEFT-HAND PATH's phone number is (206) 783-4668.  Leave a
message to either Jimbo or Sysop.

Or write to:
Studio, Eh? Productions
2318 Second Ave.  #337-A
Seattle, WA  98121

     If you send a disk (anything larger than 360k) with a prepaid
mailer to this address you will receive all of the Free/ShareWare
presently released by Studio, Eh? Productions.

And if you haven't registered TriBBS yet...
...WHAT'S YOUR PROBLEM?!?!  :)

ENJOY!!
