Howdy, PB techies!
Ok, question to all (pardon my ignorance of this stuff, in advance):
I need to learn the concept of something, and require some help.
I have zero experience with translating structures written for many other
languages, such as Turbo-C, C++ and TPascal, to write PB 3.x source.
For example, my BBS (QuickBBS) has a typical structure which looks like
this, in the docs from the author for a file called MSGCFG.DAT (and
QuickBBS is Turbo Pascal...)
---------------------------- start here ------------------------------------
  { Configuration Information ********************************************** 

  BoardRecord = record (* MSGCFG.DAT *)
                  Name            : String[40];
                  Typ             : TypeMsgs;
                  Kinds           : KindMsgs;
                  Combined        : Boolean;
                  Aliases         : AskType;
                  Aka             : Byte;
                  OriginLine      : String[58];
                  AllowDelete     : Boolean;
                  KeepCnt,                (* Max # of Msgs to keep *)
                  KillRcvd,               (* Kill received msgs after this 
an
                  KillOld         : Word; (* Kill msgs after this many days 
)
                  ReadSec         : SecurityRecord;
                  WriteSec        : SecurityRecord;
                  TemplateSec     : SecurityRecord;
                  SysopSec        : SecurityRecord;
                  FileArea        : Integer;  (* for Fmail *)
                  Group           : Byte;
                  Spare           : Array[4..12] of Byte;
                end;
 -------------------------------- cut here ---------------------------------
Ok, since I am really new to file management such as random files and
records and so forth with PB, I was looking through the onscreen help
in the IDE and saw all the open commands, record lengths, etc., but
also noticed the MAP commands!  But how do I use them properly with
the structures above?  Ya see what I mean?  ;-)
I saw no examples of HOW to logically approach making some code, using
the structures to create code which matches the structure, in PB talk!
Ya know, so that when I open the file, it properly reads the right
number of bytes, and records, and positions, etc., so the MAP data
acts as a template of sorts.  Yes, that's the word... template.  Or is it??!

I would be most grateful if any of you could supply me with a few VERY BRIEF
examples, some ideas on how to approach this.  I plan to write some
utilities for the BBS, but alas - I need to know how to translate those
structures to PB source.  See??  Apologies if I have not made myself clear.
Please, just some insights and tech tips - I'm not looking for anyone to
supply lengthy code but I would enjoy seeing a brief example maybe using
the first few structure lines only, to get my started.
I can't get the CONCEPT of how to create code, with MAP statements, or
whatever.  Once I understand the concept, I'll take it from there.
Note of interest: I went to Borders, which has an extensive computer books
                  section, and NOTHING on PB was there!  Jeeeeze!  ;-)
-james
--- QuickBBS 2.80 GoldBase (Zeta-1)
---------------