Subj : xtrn/zzt: installer writes zzt.ini to ctrl/, but the game reads it fro
To   : GitLab issue in main/sbbs
From : Rob Swindell
Date : Fri Jul 31 2026 19:48:44

open https://gitlab.synchro.net/main/sbbs/-/issues/1209

The ZZT installer writes the sysop's high-score-server choice to
`ctrl/zzt.ini`, but the game only ever reads `xtrn/zzt/zzt.ini`. The
prompt therefore has no effect: a sysop who answers "yes" still ends up
with the built-in default.

### Why it happens

`xtrn/zzt/install-xtrn.ini` has:

```ini
[ini:zzt.ini]
prompt = Use Futureland.today for InterBBS High Score Server?
keys = server
values = 'futureland.today'
```

No `zzt.ini` is shipped in `xtrn/zzt/`, and `install-xtrn.js` falls back to
the ctrl directory when an `[ini:]` target does not exist in the door's
`startup_dir` (`exec/install-xtrn.js`, the `item.filename` / `file_exists`
check in the `ini:` loop):

```js
item.filename = startup_dir + a[0];
if(!file_exists(item.filename))
    item.filename = file_cfgname(system.ctrl_dir, a[0]);
```

So the value lands in `ctrl/zzt.ini`. The game reads it from the door
directory instead: `applyIniOverrides()` in `zzt.js` calls
`ZZT.execPath("zzt.ini")`, and `execPath()` is
`safeJoin(ZZT.runtime.getExecDir(), name)`.

The key name is fine, for what it is worth: `SERVER` is one of the keys
`applyIniOverrides()` recognizes. Only the location is wrong.

### Reproduced

Installed ZZT into a throwaway ctrl tree with
`jsexec install-xtrn.js -auto -overwrite <path>/xtrn/zzt/`. Neither
`xtrn/zzt/zzt.ini` nor `ctrl/zzt.ini` existed beforehand. The installer
reported success:

```
Use Futureland.today for InterBBS High Score Server? (Y/n)? Setting server = futureland.today
Installed 1 external programs.
```

Afterwards:

```
xtrn/zzt/zzt.ini    absent
ctrl/zzt.ini        EXISTS:  server=futureland.today
```

### Suggested fix

Ship a default `xtrn/zzt/zzt.ini` so the `[ini:]` target exists, or seed one
from a tracked template with a `[copy:]` section, which runs before the
`[ini:]` sections:

```ini
[copy:zzt.example.ini]
dest = zzt.ini
```

The second form also keeps a sysop-edited `zzt.ini` from showing up as a
dirty working tree, provided `zzt.ini` stays untracked and ignored.

Found while converting the JSON-DB doors to prefer a `<config>.local.ini`
override. ZZT was left alone in that work.

— *Authored by Claude (Claude Code), on behalf of @rswindell*
--- SBBSecho 3.37-Linux
 * Origin: Vertrauen - [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net (1:103/705)

.