GETCAT.DOC

x

                                                                GetCat v1.0
                                                            October 5, 1992


                                 GetCat v1.0
    
    PURPOSE
    
    GetCat is a simple, no-frills program which quickly generates an
    AutoSig script file to capture catalog information from CompuServ
    forum data libraries.  The resulting capture files can be used as
    inputs to the AutoSig BRO program.
    
    While there are other, more sophisticated, programs available to
    accomplish this task, GetCat was designed to capture this information
    in a manner that suits my own particular needs.  I wanted to be able
    to capture each data library catalog in a separate, uniquely-named
    file.  The script files GetCat creates accomplishes this and uses a
    file naming convention that makes the catalog files easily identified.
    GetCat will generate scripts to capture catalog information in either
    the LONG or SHORT formats.
    
    GetCat operates from the DOS command line and can be included as part
    of a batch file which generates the script file and executes AutoSig
    automatically.  I often use GetCat during an AutoSig terminal session
    by using alt-E to get to DOS, running GetCat to generate a script, and
    returning to AutoSig to execute the script while still online.
    
    
    USING GETCAT
    
    Before starting, it assumed that you know the exact CompuServ forum
    name and the numbers of the specific data libraries you are interested
    in.  Armed with this knowledge, GetCat is started from the DOS command
    line as follows:
    
         C:>getcat [forum name] [DL] [DL]...[DL] [switch]
    
         where:
         [forum name]=   The exact name of the CompuServ forum that you
                         use within AutoSig.  Only one forum name may be
                         used.  For compatibility with AutoSig, the forum
                         name must be 1-7 characters in length.
    
         [DL] =          The numbers of the data libraries you want
                         catalog information for.  There is no limit to
                         the number of libraries you specify (except for
                         the DOS limit on the command line length).  You
                         must, however, specify at least one library.
    
         [switch]=       An optional command line switch that causes
                         GetCat to use the "LIST" command in the script to
                         get the catalog information in abbreviated form. 
                         Currently, the only valid switch is:  /s.  With
                         no switch included, the "CAT /DES" command will
                         be used in the GetCat script.  The /s switch,
                         when used, must be the last argument on the
                         command line.



                                       Page 1




                                                                GetCat v1.0
                                                            October 5, 1992


    Each command line argument must be separated by a space.  For example,
    if you wanted a script file generated to capture the full catalog
    information from all three data libraries in CompuServ's Practice
    Forum (known as "Practic" in my AutoSig forum file), you would enter:
    
                           C:>getcat practic 1 2 3
    
    If you wanted the short catalog versions you would enter:
    
                          C:>getcat practic 1 2 3 /s
    
    
    OUTPUT
    
    When completed, GetCat will have created a file named getcat.scr which
    contains the AutoSig script.  GetCat will also display the forum name,
    the data libraries, and the format used for the script.  Double check
    this information to ensure that it is correct before using script with
    AutoSig.  GetCat includes some checks for obvious syntax errors, but
    there could always be some types of errors that haven't been
    anticipated.  If you made an error in typing the command line, just
    rerun GetCat and the old file will be overwritten.  If GetCat has to
    terminate due to an error, it returns an error level of 1 to DOS.  If
    you use GetCat in a batch file, you can check the error level to allow
    your batch program to terminate gracefully should GetCat terminate due
    to an error.  Use the getcat.scr file in accordance with the
    instructions in AutoSig documentation for running scripts.  After
    running the script with AutoSig, you will have separate capture files
    containing the catalog information.  Using the previous example for
    the Practice forum, you would have the following files:
    
                    practic.1     practic.2     practic.3 
    
    These files may be used in conjunction with the ATOBRO program or
    used, as I sometimes do, to create hardcopy printouts to browse.
    
    
    DISCLAIMER
    
    Feel free to use GetCat, if its useful to you.  Since GetCat was
    created to meet my own needs (and to serve as an exercise to practice
    programming in C), I do not guarantee or warrant it's applicability to
    any specific purpose or use.  In addition, I am not liable for damages
    of any kind resulting from the use of this program.  You may copy or
    distribute GetCat provided that no fee is charged.
    
    If you run into problems with GetCat, contact me via Email or the
    Autosig Forum.  Comments and suggestions are always welcome.
    
    
    
    Craig LaBarge [74740,3166]





                                       Page 2