External Program Installer

This script parses a .ini file (default filename is install-xtrn.ini) and installs the external programs defined within into the Synchronet BBS configuration file: ctrl/xtrn.ini¹⁾. The programs defined within this file can by online programs (a.k.a. Doors), message editors, or timed events.

This script can by invoked in a more user-friendly automated fashion by running echicken's xtrn-setup module instead.

If the door is included with Synchronet, or Synchronet already has a configuration for it (in xtrn/3rdp-install), you can use the install-xtrn.js script to install your door. For third party doors, you should extract the door files into your external directory first, and perform any required unpacking/installing of the files. Once the final executable file is in place, Synchronet can check for a file signature match and install the door configuration if it has a matching known configuration for it.

Run exec/jsexec install-xtrn.js

This script can also be invoked using the ;EXEC sysop command while logged into the terminal server, for example:

;exec ?install-xtrn

You can also specify a specific directory to install by including the path to the program:

exec/jsexec install-xtrn.js ../xtrn/minesweeper

;exec ?install-xtrn ../xtrn/minesweeper

Configurations are located in xtrn/3rdp-install to support the installing popular third party doors. These configurations are version-specific and are based on a MD5 hash of the door's primary executable file.

The general instructions are:

1. Download the file from the program author's website
2. Extract the file into the destination directory of your xtrn folder
3. Inside that directory, do any actions you need to get the files into their final state. For example, extracting any included zip files, running any uncompressors or installer programs, installing any patches (like tppatch for Turbo Basic programs), etc.
4. Review the sysop documentation for the program
5. Run the install-xtrn.js. If it finds a match (based on a MD5 sum of the executable), it will give you the option to install the program and decide which external section to place it into. If it does not give you the option, then either no configuration exists in xtrn/3rdp-install for this program or this particular version of the program, or you may have missed a step preparing the files
6. Perform any required tasks according to the sysop documentation, such as resetting the program, etc.
7. Apply any registration codes you have for the program

This script is intended for use by sysops using JSexec, for example:

 $ jsexec install-xtrn ../xtrn/minesweeper

This script can aso be invoked using the ;EXEC sysop command while logged into the terminal server, for example:

 ;exec ?install-xtrn ../xtrn/minesweeper

install-xtrn.js reads the directory specified install-xtrn.ini (e.g.: ../xtrn/minesweeper/install-xtrn.ini)

The .ini root section keys supported:

Name = Name of the program being installed (79 chars or less)
Desc = Description of the program being installed (79 chars or less)
By = Comma-separated list of programmers/authors/publishers
Cats = Comma-separated list of applicable categories (e.g. “Games”)
Subs = Comma-separated list of applicable sub-categories (e.g. “Adventure”)
Inst = Installer .ini file source/revision/author/date information

The .ini sections and keys supported (zero or more of each may be included):

[pre-exec:<file>.js [args]] ; execute file.js before installing programs

	startup_dir		= directory to make current before execution

[pre-eval:<js-expression>] ; evaluate js-expression before installing progs

    cmd             = evaluate this string rather than the js-expression

[prog:<code>] name = program name or description (40 chars max)

    	cats            = additional target installation categories (sections)
	cmd 			= command-line to execute (63 chars max)
	clean_cmd 		= clean-up command-line, if needed (63 chars max)
	settings 		= bit-flags (see XTRN_* in sbbsdefs.js)
	ars				= access requirements string (40 chars max)
	execution_ars	= execution requirements string (40 chars max)
	type			= drop-file type (see XTRN_* in sbbsdefs.js)
	event			= event-type (see EVENT_* in sbbsdefs.j)
	cost			= cost to run, in credits
	startup_dir		= directory to make current before execution
	textra			= extra time (minutes) to allow to run this program
	max_time		= maximum time (minutes) allowed to run this program

[event:<code>]

	cmd 			= command-line to execute (63 chars max)
	days			= bit-field representing days of the week to execute
	time			= time of day to run this event
	node_num		= node number to run this event
	settings		= bit-flags (see XTRN_* in sbbsdefs.js)
	startup_dir		= directory to make current before execution
	freq			= frequency of execution
	mdays			= days of month (if non-zero) for execution
	months			= bit-field representing which months to execute

[editor:<code>]

	name 			= editor name or description (40 chars max)
	cmd 			= command-line to execute (63 chars max)
	type			= drop-file type (see XTRN_* in sbbsdefs.js)
	settings 		= bit-flags (see XTRN_* in sbbsdefs.js)
	ars				= access requirements string (40 chars max)

[service:<protocol>]

    see ctrl/services.ini 

[exec:<file>.js [args]] ; execute file.js with these arguments - after

	startup_dir		= directory to make current before execution

[eval:<js-expression>] ; evaluate js-expression after installing programs

    cmd             = evaluate this string rather than the js-expression

[ini:<filename.ini>[:section]]

    keys            = comma-separated list of keys to add/update in .ini
    values          = list of values to eval() and assign to keys[]
                      Note: string values must be enclosed in quotes!

Additionally, each section can have the following optional keys that are only used by this script (i.e. not written to any configuration files):

	note			= note to sysop displayed before installation
	fail			= note to sysop displayed upon failure
    	prompt          = confirmation prompt (or false if no prompting)
	required		= if true, this item must be successful to continue
    	last            = if true, this item will be the last of its type
    	done            = if true, no more installer items will be processed

Notes:

- The startup_dir will default to the location of the .ini file if this

 key is not defined within the .ini file.

- The only required values are the <code> (internal code, 8 chars max) and

 cmd; all other keys will have functional default values if not defined in
 the .ini file.

Name: AlleyCat! BBS Game Server Games
Desc: Available Programs for use with acgs rgate.js connector
By:   mortifis @ alleycat bbs
Cats: Games
Subs: GAMES, SBBS DEMOS
Inst: 2021/01/02

[prog:V200G]
name =Synchronet         2.00g
startup_dir = 
cmd=?rgate.js v200g
execution_ars  = 
settings = XTRN_ANSI | XTRN_SH | XTRN_MULTIUSER
type = 

[prog:V230C]
name =Synchronet         2.30c
startup_dir =
cmd=?rgate.js v230c
execution_ars  = 
settings = XTRN_ANSI | XTRN_SH | XTRN_MULTIUSER
type = 

[prog:SBBS1A14]
name =Synchronet         1a14
startup_dir =
cmd=?rgate.js sbbs1a14
execution_ars  = 
settings = XTRN_ANSI | XTRN_SH | XTRN_MULTIUSER
type = 

[prog:TW2G2]
name = TW2002 Gergovia
cmd = ?rgate.js tw2g2
execution_ars  = NOT GUEST
settings = XTRN_ANSI | XTRN_SH | XTRN_MULTIUSER
type = XTRN_GAP

[prog:TW2G3]
name = TW2002 Hoboistica
cmd = ?rgate.js tw2g3
execution_ars  = NOT GUEST
settings = XTRN_ANSI | XTRN_SH | XTRN_MULTIUSER
type = XTRN_GAP

• Utilities
• Install Doors