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Table of Contents
Installing
1. The programs
Make a folder for the game and unzip the version for your system into it: REACHL04.ZIP for Linux, REACHW04.ZIP for Windows, REACHD04.ZIP for DOS. Each has three programs:
| Program | What it does |
|---|---|
reach | The door |
ermaint | Maintenance: ermaint daily is the nightly run |
reachcfg | The sysop's set-up program (see Settings and reachcfg) |
On Windows and DOS the programs end in .EXE.
2. The first game
Run reachcfg in the game folder and choose Start a new game now, or run:
ermaint new
This writes REACH.CFG (the settings for new games, plain text with a note on each setting) if it isn't there, and REACH.DAT (the game).
3. The door
reach -d <drop file, or the folder it is in> [-n node] [-g game folder] reach -l [-u name] [-g game folder] (local play, for the sysop)
The game folder defaults to the folder the program is in. The door reads DOOR32.SYS, DOOR.SYS, DORINFOx.DEF, CHAIN.TXT, CALLINFO.BBS and SFDOORS.DAT.
Synchronet on Linux
reach.sh and reachmaint.sh come in the Linux zip. They expect the game in /sbbs/xtrn/reach; change GAME= at the top of each if yours is elsewhere. In SCFG, External Programs, Online Programs (Doors), pick a section and add:
| Setting | Value |
|---|---|
| Online Program Name | Ember Reach |
| Internal Code | REACH |
| Start-up Directory | ../xtrn/reach |
| Command Line | /sbbs/xtrn/reach/reach.sh %n %# |
| Multiple Concurrent Users | Yes |
| Native Executable/Script | Yes |
| I/O Method | Standard |
| BBS Drop File Type | GAP (DOOR.SYS) |
| Access Requirements | NOT GUEST (or blank for everyone) |
| Execution Requirements | ANSI |
reach.sh writes any error exit to ERRORS.LOG in the game folder.
Synchronet on Windows
| Setting | Value |
|---|---|
| Command Line | reach.exe -d %n -n %# |
| Native Executable/Script | Yes |
| I/O Method | Socket |
| BBS Drop File Type | DOOR32.SYS |
Mystic on Windows
Menu command D3 (DOOR32.SYS) with the data reach.exe -d %P -n %N.
DOS BBSes
The DOS door talks to the caller through a FOSSIL driver, or straight to the serial port when none is loaded:
REACH.EXE -d C:\BBS\NODE1 -n 1
4. The nightly event
Add a timed event that runs once a day in the game folder:
ermaint daily
On Synchronet for Linux, run reachmaint.sh instead: it also keeps a dated log in logs/, copies every finished game to old/, and can post the news to a message area (set NEWS_SUB at the top of the script). In SCFG, External Programs, Timed Events:
| Setting | Value |
|---|---|
| Internal Code | REACHMNT |
| Start-up Directory | ../xtrn/reach |
| Command Line | /sbbs/xtrn/reach/reachmaint.sh |
| Execution Node | 1 |
| Days of Week | All |
| Execution Time | after midnight, e.g. 00:05 |
| Exclusive Execution | No |
The nightly run plays the day's turn, starts a new game when there is none or when the last one has ended (if AutoRestart = Yes), and writes NEWS.TXT, the Hall of Fame (FAME.TXT) and MAINT.LOG. Players can stay in the door while it runs: the door tells them to come back in a few minutes. See Maintenance and files.