===================
 Random ANSI Viewer
      v1.0b
===================

-----------------------
 MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
-----------------------

To use Random ANSI Viewer, you must have the following:

-  IBM PC or compatible.
-  MS-DOS version 5.0 or later

Random ANSI Viewer was tested using a 80486, 8 Mb RAM, Win 95 and MS-DOS 6.22.

---------------
 LIST OF FILES
---------------

               RAV.EXE         ( Random ANSI Viewer Main Program )
               RAV.CTL         ( RAV Control File )
               RAV.TXT         ( The File You are Reading )
               RUN.BAT         ( A sample Batch file to run RAV )
               FILE_ID.DIZ     ( File Description )

Please do not re-distribute this file if not all files are present.

--------------
 INSTALLATION
--------------

Because there's lots of BBS Software out there, please take a look at your
BBS Software's DOC file before setup RAV.

The command used to run RAV is: RAV /P<dir of drop file>
 This should work for most BBS Software as most of them send RAV the info
 about the COM Port, Node etc.

Remember, all ANSI files must be in a sub-directory of RAV called ANSI and
with the extension of *.ANS.

This means if the directory of RAV is C:\RAV , then All *.ANS must be
in C:\RAV\ANSI

You can run RAV locally be typing: RAV /L

-------------------------
 COMMAND LINE PARAMETERS
-------------------------

RAV supports several parameters which may be specified on the command
line. These parameters are handled automatically when you run the door.
An example would be if you wanted to run the RAV locally then you would
type the Command Line:  RAV /L

 The following is a list of RAV supported Command Line Parameters.  

      "/Bxxxxx"   This tells RAV.EXE to lock its baud rate at
      xxxxx.  In order to get the most efficiency out of a high speed
      error correcting modem (9600 baud or above), you may lock the baud
      rate to a speed higher than what the caller is actually using.
      By locking the baud to say 38,400, the modem can compress text data
      that is being sent and achieve a baud rate much higher than the
      actual transmission rate.
      This will lock the baud rate at the same value for all nodes that
      use this command line.  If you perfer a more selective way to lock
      baud use 'LOCKBAUD' command in the RAV.CTL file.

      "/Cx"     (where x is 1..4) This specifies a comport number.
      Some bbs software does not create door information files (dropfiles)
      that contain the comport number.  If your bbs does have a comport
      listed in the dropfile then there is no need for this parameter.
      The default is comport 0, local mode.

      "/E" - Expanded Memory Specification If your machine has over one
      megabyte of memory, then you may have some available.  RAV.EXE can
      utilize EMS to improve game performance and reduce conventional
      memory requirements.
      This command will tell RAV.EXE to use EMS memory to hold its
      overlay buffer.  Otherwise disc area may be used to hold this buffer.
      This needs a memory manager and when enabled and is compatible with
      DESQview.  Default is NOT to use any available EMS.

      "/L"      This tells RAV.EXE to load up in LOCAL mode.
      This is good for testing or when a sysop just wants to "try out" the
      door without messing with his BBS setup.  The "/L" mode will ask the
      user for his name and run the door in local mode.

      "/Nx"     (where x is 1..9) This specifies a "node number".
      Some bbs software support multinode environments in which you must
      know the node number of the drop file to use. For example, RBBS-PC
      uses DORINFOx.DEF. If you specified "/N2" then RAV.EXE would use
      DORINFO2.DEF.

      "/Mx"     (where x is up to 2 filename acceptable characters)
      Used to specify one of Multiple control files.  If you have created
      more than one RAV.CTL file (RAV1.CTL, RAV2.CTL, etc.) for each
      node or network PC then you can select the one you want by using
      the /M parm.
      Example:  "/M2" will force RAV.EXE to use RAV2.CTL.

      "/Pyyy"   This specifies the path to the drop files.
      For example, "/PC:\WILDCAT\WCWORK\NODE1" would tell RAV.EXE to
      look for the drop file in C:\WILDCAT\WCWORK\NODE1. If this is left
      out the program assumes the drop file is local.

      "/V"    This command will tell RAV.EXE not to show any display
      on the local screen.  Only a colored screen and a message will be
      displayed.  The cursor will not move as it will be turned off.
      Saves a little processing on multi-tasking systems.

      "/W"      This flags the program that a network is present even
      though no multitaskers are detected.  This is useful if the door is
      run on a network such as Novell that doesn't use multitaskers.

--------
 AUTHOR
--------

Random ANSI Viewer was written by Allen Cheng, a high school student in
Vancouver, BC Canada. You can contact him via

Internet Email at: ac@4u.net
     Home Page at: http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Park/8979

You can always download the Newest Version of Random ANSI Viewer at Allen's
Home Page.

As this is my first attemp on BBS Doors, please report any bugs or comments
to my email. Function requests will be greatly appreciated.

---------
 HISTORY
---------

        Version 1.0b    First Release.

        Version 1.0a    Fixed some bugs in the Random Routines.

        Version 1.0     Internal release to my friends for testing.

---------
 LICENSE
---------

Random ANSI Viewer is (C) 1996-1997 Allen Cheng, All Rights Reserved.

You may copy and distribute this program freely, provided that:
    1)   No more than CDN$5 is charged for copying and distribution
         except for shareware/freeware CD-ROMs, and
    2)   It is distributed ONLY in its original, unmodified form and archive.

------------
 DISCLAIMER
------------

THIS SOFTWARE AND MANUAL ARE SUPPLIED "AS IS". THE AUTHOR, Allen Cheng,
DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES RELATING TO THIS SOFTWARE AND ITS DOCUMENTATION
FILE, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO DAMAGE TO HARDWARE,
SOFTWARE AND/OR DATA FROM USE OF THIS PRODUCT. IN NO EVENT WILL THE AUTHOR
OF THIS SOFTWARE BE LIABLE TO YOU OR ANY OTHER PARTY FOR ANY DAMAGES. YOUR
USE OF THIS SOFTWARE INDICATES THAT YOU HAVE READ AND AGREE TO THESE AND
OTHER TERMS INCLUDED IN THIS DOCUMENTATION FILE.


All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
