 FORUM HELP SERIES 

 FILE: OPTION.HLP 
 REV: 11/07/84 

                     SETTING OPTIONS ON THE USER FORUM 

  
 When you first log onto the the User Forum it's a little like running
 that word processor or spreadsheet software for the first time; slightly
 confusing.  Fortunately, each time you complete a function you are
 greeted with an option menu that shows the codes and associated
 fucntions.  Similarly, you are given a complete menu at the end of each
 message (unless you enter the <N>on <S>top option from the menu of the
 first message you read). 

 Somehow, you manage to find your way around until one day you realize
 that you've memorized the commands and don't notice the menus or things
 have gotten to the point that they are in your way.  The Forum
 programmers anticipated this very situation!   

 Within the Forum there is a User Option Profile that is set to a default
 when you first log on.  The default profile assumes you need (and want)
 menus as well as certain other items.  The default profile can be
 changed to suit your needs and your proficiency on the Forum.

 The first menu you may want to suppress is the primary Forum menu:

                    1 (L) Leave a message
                    2 (R) Read message
                    etc.
                    0 (E) Exit from this SIG
                    Enter selection or H for help:

 This menu can be changed by entering "9" or "OP" (without the quotes)
 from the "Enter selection or H for help:" prompt.  You will be greeted
 with the following menu:

                     User Options menu:
                     1        Change to command mode
                     2 (LL) Change to line length
                     3 (T)  Return to Function menu
                     0 (P)  Make options permanent
                     Enter selection or H for help:

 By entering a "1" you will set the initial Forum menu to a terse and
 simple "Function:" prompt rather than the 11 line menu you usually see.
 Of course, all functions like "R<ead>", "L<eave msg." and "E<xit" are
 still there and can always be displayed with a "Help".

 If you just stopped and made the changes permanent you would get the
 following wordy menu after each message:

      Options:
      C - continue   D - Delete
      F - forward    M - Mark
      NS - No Stop   RE - reply
      RP - Read Prev RR - Read Reply
      RT - Read Thread
      T - top command level
      UA - use address
      RETURN or ENTER - continue
      ? x - explain option x

 By this time you've probably become familiar with the various commands
 for reading message so you could probably get by with something a little
 faster.  To eliminate this menu enter "BR" from the "User Option:"
 prompt.  This will give you the following menu after each message:

      (C RE T):


 or C<ontinue> (or enter) to continue, RE(ply) to message and return to
 T<op> prompt.

 Of course all functions are still available (NS,RP,RR, etc.) and may be
 recalled by entering a "?", or "H" from the prompt.

 Now to put it all together.  If brief menus suit your tastes enter "OP"
 from the "Enter selection" prompt.  Enter a "1" to change to command
 mode, then a "BR" to set brief mode and a "P" to make the changes
 permanent.  A "T" will return you to your shiney new "Function:" prompt.

 Of course you may omit the "P" to try it out, but you will lose your
 settings and return to the default if you leave the Forum.  In addition,
 you may make the options permanent and always return to the option area
 and reset to menu mode if you like.

 While you're in the option section you might want to issue a "?" to view
 some of the other settable options; not only can you set menus on/off,
 but you're also allowed to change line length (the default is 80), set
 your logon section (default 0), set automatic non stop message mode
 (default is off) and change your name (is it still in upper case?).
