I have been thinking about adding the ability to import and export text
files using the CTRL+A codes to Cobalt (my own ANSI art program). However,
I am not even sure where to begin.

1) What is the file format called?
2) Is it just exclusive to Synchronet?
3) Is there a specs document available?
4) If possible, where can I find a viewer?
5) Would this feature be something a SysOp would be interested in?

The reason why this came up is because I tried to set up my own BBS using Synchronet, but when I was poking around the files to see if I can start customizing it, I noticed that the files for some of the screens where
using the CTRL+A codes. The issue is that PabloDraw doesn't support it,
so I wouldn't know if Cobalt would export it correctly or not.

Thoughts?

-jag
Code it, Script it, Automate it!

... Fear not! I know how to write a "Hello, World!" program!
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Re: CTRL+A Codes for SBBS
By: Jagossel to All on Tue Jan 08 2019 08:14:00

I have been thinking about adding the ability to import and export text files using the CTRL+A codes to Cobalt (my own ANSI art program). However,

1) What is the file format called?

They're typically saved as .asc or .msg files, but I don't think there's a special name for the format.

2) Is it just exclusive to Synchronet?

I can't remember seeing them anywhere else; maybe someone else has.

3) Is there a specs document available?

http://wiki.synchro.net/custom:ctrl-a_codes

4) If possible, where can I find a viewer?

I doubt if there is one, apart from just displaying the file on a Synchronet BBS. In Javascript that'd be something like:

console.clear(7);
console.printfile('/path/to/file');
console.pause();

5) Would this feature be something a SysOp would be interested in?

We already have the ans2asc and asc2ans utilities included with Synchronet. Someone might want this since it would save them a conversion step.

---
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Re: CTRL+A Codes for SBBS
By: echicken to Jagossel on Tue Jan 08 2019 10:30 am

4) If possible, where can I find a viewer?

I doubt if there is one, apart from just displaying the file on a Synchronet BBS. In Javascript that'd be something like:

console.clear(7);
console.printfile('/path/to/file');
console.pause();

In the Windows Synchronet control panel, there's also the "Preview File" feature which can display files with Ctrl-A codes on the BBS machine.

5) Would this feature be something a SysOp would be interested in?

We already have the ans2asc and asc2ans utilities included with Synchronet. Someone might want this since it would save them a conversion step.

I believe there is/was also an editor for the Ctrl-A format in development included with Synchronet (or maybe downloadable separately?), but I remember reading that it still wasn't in a complete or good working state.. ans2asc and asc2ans is probably still a better option right now.

I wouldn't mind having an editor that could save directly to Ctrl-A format. But for now, using ans2asc to convert ANSI to Ctrl-A works okay.

Nightfox

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Re: CTRL+A Codes for SBBS
By: Jagossel to All on Tue Jan 08 2019 08:14 am

The reason why this came up is because I tried to set up my own BBS using Synchronet, but when I was poking around the files to see if I can start customizing it, I noticed that the files for some of the screens where using the CTRL+A codes. The issue is that PabloDraw doesn't support it,
so I wouldn't know if Cobalt would export it correctly or not.

you can convert it back to ansi with a utility. it's a simple format and any editor could be modified to support the ctrl +a code format.

i prefer to use ansi
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Re: CTRL+A Codes for SBBS
By: Jagossel to All on Tue Jan 08 2019 08:14 am

customizing it, I noticed that the files for some of the screens where using the CTRL+A codes. The issue is that PabloDraw doesn't support it,

Yes it does. You have to open the file in Pablodraw by going to File->Open Then in the bottom right above the "Open" and "Cancel" buttons is dropdown box. Select "Ctrl-A (*.msg;*.asc)" and PabloDraw will open the file.

The same goes for saving the file, File->Save As... and select "Ctrl-A" from the "Save as type" field.

Certain special Ctrl-A codes aren't handled in PabloDraw, but all the color ones are.

DaiTengu

... Real Programmers do List Processing in FORTRAN.

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Re: CTRL+A Codes for SBBS
By: Jagossel to All on Tue Jan 08 2019 08:14 am

I have been thinking about adding the ability to import and export text files using the CTRL+A codes to Cobalt (my own ANSI art program). However,
I am not even sure where to begin.

1) What is the file format called?

Synchronet Ctrl-A format, I guess.

2) Is it just exclusive to Synchronet?

That I know of.

3) Is there a specs document available?

Sure, several by now. http://synchro.net/docs/customization.html#MessageColorCodes http://wiki.synchro.net/custom:ctrl-a_codes (latest most accurate)

4) If possible, where can I find a viewer?

SyncDraw, PabloDraw, and asc2ans would be good starters.

5) Would this feature be something a SysOp would be interested in?

We could also use more/better ANSI/block art generators!

The reason why this came up is because I tried to set up my own BBS using Synchronet, but when I was poking around the files to see if I can start customizing it, I noticed that the files for some of the screens where
using the CTRL+A codes. The issue is that PabloDraw doesn't support it,
so I wouldn't know if Cobalt would export it correctly or not.

PabloDraw *does* support the Synchronet Ctrl-A format.

digital man

This Is Spinal Tap quote #9:
David St. Hubbins: I mean, it's not your job to be as confused as Nigel.
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Re: CTRL+A Codes for SBBS
By: Nightfox to echicken on Tue Jan 08 2019 10:02 am

I wouldn't mind having an editor that could save directly to Ctrl-A format. But for now, using ans2asc to convert ANSI to Ctrl-A works okay.

PabloDraw can do that.

digital man

This Is Spinal Tap quote #7:
Nigel Tufnel: That's just nitpicking, isn't it?
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DaiTengu, to Jagossel...

customizing it, I noticed that the files for some of the screens where using the CTRL+A codes. The issue is that PabloDraw doesn't support it,

Yes it does. You have to open the file in Pablodraw by going to File->Open Then in the bottom right above the "Open" and "Cancel"
buttons is dropdown box. Select "Ctrl-A (*.msg;*.asc)" and PabloDraw
will open the file.

The same goes for saving the file, File->Save As... and select
"Ctrl-A" from the "Save as type" field.

Certain special Ctrl-A codes aren't handled in PabloDraw, but all the color ones are.

I did not look deep enough. Thanks for letting me know! I will have to take
a look again.

-jag
Code it, Script it, Automate it!

... User error: asleep at keyboard. Press F1 to continue.
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Re: CTRL+A Codes for SBBS
By: Digital Man to Nightfox on Wed Jan 09 2019 02:08 am

I wouldn't mind having an editor that could save directly to Ctrl-A
format. But for now, using ans2asc to convert ANSI to Ctrl-A works
okay.

PabloDraw can do that.

I've heard PabloDraw supports Ctrl-A codes. I've used PabloDraw in the past to save ANSI screens but I seem to remember having issues with its screens sometimes, but I'll have to see how well PabloDraw's Ctrl-A files work.

Nightfox

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Re: CTRL+A Codes for SBBS
By: Digital Man to Jagossel on Wed Jan 09 2019 02:08 am

4) If possible, where can I find a viewer?

SyncDraw, PabloDraw, and asc2ans would be good starters.

asc2ans is more of a converter though, isn't it? You still need a separate app to view the ANSI file after it's converted via asc2ans.

Nightfox

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Re: Re: CTRL+A Codes for SBBS
By: Jagossel to DaiTengu on Wed Jan 09 2019 08:10 am

I did not look deep enough. Thanks for letting me know! I will have to take a look again.

Sure, no problem. It took me googling for an ANSI program that "read" ctrl-A and constant links to PabloDraw before I finally started digging into it. I knew it could save, but never knew it could actually display it.

DaiTengu

... Gossip is when you hear something you like about someone you don't.

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Re: CTRL+A Codes for SBBS
By: Nightfox to Digital Man on Wed Jan 09 2019 10:05 am

Re: CTRL+A Codes for SBBS
By: Digital Man to Jagossel on Wed Jan 09 2019 02:08 am

4) If possible, where can I find a viewer?

SyncDraw, PabloDraw, and asc2ans would be good starters.

asc2ans is more of a converter though, isn't it? You still need a separate app to view the ANSI file after it's converted via asc2ans.

No, not really. If your terminal's stdout supports ANSI, then just running "asc2ans" will display the ANSI on the terminal.

digital man

This Is Spinal Tap quote #28:
We've got Armadillos in our trousers. It's really quite frightening.
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Re: CTRL+A Codes for SBBS
By: Digital Man to Nightfox on Wed Jan 09 2019 05:53 pm

asc2ans is more of a converter though, isn't it? You still need a
separate app to view the ANSI file after it's converted via asc2ans.

No, not really. If your terminal's stdout supports ANSI, then just running "asc2ans" will display the ANSI on the terminal.

Ah, I didn't know that. Omitting the .ans filename will cause it to output the ANSI on the terminal..

Nightfox

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Re: Re: CTRL+A Codes for SBBS
By: DaiTengu to Vk3jed on Thu Jan 10 2019 12:43 pm

I re-did my menus a few weeks back using PabloDraw, I'm having a heck of a time trying to fit everything in. The Default Sync classic menu has no room for any extra commands :(

I go back and forth between wanting to create an entirely new menuset from scratch, and just modifying the default one, because that's what people are familiar with.

I don't think it matters if people are familiar with a particular BBS package's menu design. In fact, I think you definitely should customize your BBS's menus, since that helps make your BBS unique. The way I see it is that the default menus are an example of what the BBS package can do, and it's up to you to customize it to your liking. Leaving the stock menus means it will look just like every other stock Synchronet BBS, which is not really interesting.. It's good to see something different and unique.

Back in the 90s, at least with other BBS software, I always thought customizing the menus was necessary anyway. Other BBS packages I used didn't have an internal configured list of doors like Synchronet does, so it was necessary to customize your menus to add commands to run the various doors you wanted to set up for your BBS. So it was always natural to me to customize the menus, and not use the stock menus.

With Synchronet, the stock menus are not really how I envisioned my BBS to be laid out anyway. When I brought up my current BBS in 2007, I wanted my menus to operate and look similar to how I had my BBS menus in my original BBS in the 90s, so I created my own command shell and menu ANSIs for Synchronet. Initially I was able to re-use many of the ANSIs I had from my 90s BBS, modified a bit for use with my Synchronet command shell.

Ultimately I'd love to do a lightbar style menu, but I'm absolutely rubbish at design and User Interfaces.

There is a lightbar shell included with Synchronet - See lbshell.js (and its wrapper, lbshell.src, which is a Baja script that just runs the .js shell).

Nightfox

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El 8/1/19 a las 23:01, DaiTengu escribió:

support syncdraw please!

=)

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El 8/1/19 a las 23:01, DaiTengu escribió:

support syncdraw please!

=)

I've had trouble using syncdraw myself :9

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El 7/2/19 a las 13:38, Mortifis escribió:

support syncdraw please!

=)

I've had trouble using syncdraw myself :9

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lacks a bit of love for the source code...

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