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Text File | 1994-06-06 | 39KB | 662 lines

Welcome to Hermes II Helper! Hermes II Helper has been written from the ground up to be a complete guide for beginning users of Hermes II Bulletin Board Systems. This document will provide Hermes II users with a comprehensive look at all of the standard features of Hermes II, as well as a few little known features and tips. This document takes a chronological approach to explaining how Hermes II functions. We'll start in the message forums and proceed to other parts of the BBS, just as you would in a typical session on-line with a real Hermes II BBS. The first time a key word or phrase is mentioned, you will see it appear in all caps and it will be followed by an explanation. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ A Hermes II BBS is divided into two sections: the Public Message Forums and the File Transfer Sections. We'll start with a comprehensive examination of how the message areas function, because this is always where you start and it is often required that you read or post a message before entering the file section. Some commands perform the same function when issued at the main menu prompt as they do at the transfer section prompt, while others perform very different tasks. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1] The Public Message Forums Once connected and logged in to a Hermes II BBS, you will end up at the first SUB-FORUM of the first FORUM, where you would typically start your NEW MESSAGES SCAN (referred to as NEWSCAN) by pressing "N" at the main prompt. Note that if you have an E-MAIL message waiting for you, you will actually begin at the mailbox prompt, as opposed to the main menu prompt. By pressing "N" at the main menu prompt (issuing a NEWSCAN), you are telling Hermes to show you all the new public messages that have been posted since the last time you performed a NEWSCAN. Note that this does not scan for new messages since the last time you called the BBS, but rather the last time you performed a NEWSCAN. If you did not NEWSCAN (or a Q-SCAN - discussed later) the last time you called the BBS, any new messages that you did not read at that time will be held over until the next time you call and perform a NEWSCAN. Message FORUMS are the general titles for a given area for messages, which are then separated into SUB-FORUMS. Here is an example of how FORUMS & SUB-FORUMS are organized on typical Hermes BBS's: +------------------------------------+--------------------------------+ | FORUM #1: GENERAL | FORUM #2: COMPUTERS | | SUB-FORUM #1: General Discussion | SUB-FORUM #1: Apple Computer | | SUB-FORUM #2: Buy, Sell & Trade | SUB-FORUM #2: Compaq | | SUB-FORUM #3: Politics & Law | SUB-FORUM #3: IBM | +------------------------------------+--------------------------------+ | FORUM #3: SPECIAL INTERESTS | FORUM #4: SOFTWARE | | SUB-FORUM #1: Movies & Books | SUB-FORUM #1: Games | | SUB-FORUM #2: Stamp Collecting | SUB-FORUM #2: Graphics | | SUB-FORUM #3: Sports | SUB-FORUM #3: Programming | +------------------------------------+--------------------------------+ Logging onto a Hermes II BBS with the above FORUM & SUB-FORUM organization would yield the following prompt: T - 01:29:54 [GENERAL] [1] [General Discussion] : This is often referred to as the MAIN MENU PROMPT. This is the prompt where you let Hermes II know what you want to do, and where Hermes II tells you where you are currently located within the BBS and how much time you have remaining. The "T - 01:29:54" line indicates that this user has 1 hour, 29 minutes, and 54 seconds remaining. Your actual time depends on how the SysOp has set up your account. The "[GENERAL]" line indicates that this user is currently located in the GENERAL FORUM, and the "[1] [General Discussion]" line indicates that he is located in the "General Discussion" SUB-FORUM. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Now that you have an understanding of the organization of FORUMS, let's take a more comprehensive look a the many commands available in the message FORUMS: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ A] AUTO MESSAGE The Auto Message is the area of the BBS that displays text to all users. Some SysOps allow their users to change the contents of the Auto Message. Such a use may be for advertisements or just for fun. For example, if Dave were selling a 230 MB hard drive, he could enter a brief Auto Message about the specs and price of the drive so all users who called after him would be able to see the message and could E-MAIL him for details. His message would remain there until another user changed it by entering one of their own. The SysOp controls who, if any, can change the AUTO MESSAGE. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ B] BBS LIST The Online BBS List is a special place for users to enter in other names and numbers for other BBS's. The SysOp controls who can add to the list. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ C] CHAT WITH SYSOP Pressing "C" at either the MAIN MENU PROMPT or the TRANSFER MENU PROMPT will issue a request for CHAT. If the SysOp is available for chat, you will be prompted for a "REASON" why you want to chat, where you can enter a brief phrase like "my validation" or "download problem" so the SysOp can see what it that you would like to chat about. If the SysOp decides to pull you into chat, your screen will split with half of the screen displaying his typing and the other half displaying yours. Note that while in the chat mode, your online time is suspended and will resume when chat mode is over. This way you could have 20 remaining minutes when you go into chat, chat for 5 minutes, and have 20 minutes remaining when you exit the chat mode. Also note that this time suspension is only in effect while chatting with the SysOp. Time decreases as usual when in chat with other users on multiple line BBS's via Hermes II built in chat. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ D] DEFAULTS SECTION The Defaults Section is where you can see and change various aspects of your Hermes II account on a given BBS. It is here that you can change your password, turn on and off color ANSI, set your screen size, and more. Below is a close up look at the defaults section: 1. Screen size : 80 X 24 2. ANSI : Color 3. Pause on screen : No 4. Mailbox : Normal 5. Screen Clears : Yes 6. Configure Q-scan 7. Change password 8. Notify login/out : Yes 9. Computer type : Macintosh Centris 10. Scan New Msgs At Logon: No 11. Change Signature 12. Column Display Mode : 1 Column 13. Change colors Q. Quit to main menu SCREEN SIZE This is where you specify the size of the terminal window that you use to access the Hermes II BBS. If your communications program supports window sizes larger than the standard 80 characters wide by 24 lines high, you can increase the size of your terminal window and have Hermes II send larger screens full of data. This also controls how often Hermes II pauses, if you have the "Pause On Screen" option set to ON. ANSI This is where you specify if you want ANSI graphics or strictly text based screens. If your terminal program supports ANSI, I'd suggest using it. Many BBS's have ANSI menus and prompts that are color coded and makes for much easier reading. Even if you have only a black and white Mac, you can still use ANSI graphics but can have Hermes II send only black and white ANSI codes. PAUSE ON SCREEN This is where you tell Hermes II whether or not you want to have it pause every screen full of info. If, for example, you come across a message that is 75 lines in length, you can have Hermes II only send one screen at a time and pause between screens, as specified by the screen size option. Note that the pause on screen setting does not affect the lack of pauses in continuous Q-SCANs or Express Scans (both of which are discussed later). MAILBOX This is where you can forward your E-MAIL to another user on the BBS during times when you might be away for extended periods of time. This is simply a toggle switch that you enable to forward to one other user and disable to return to standard E-MAIL operation. SCREEN CLEARS This is where you specify whether or not you want Hermes II to send screen clears at times when one is called for. If this is turned off, Hermes II sends all data contiguously and appears line by line without any clears at all, resulting in a line by line flow of information, without any brakes, except for those caused by carriage returns. CONFIGURE Q-SCAN This is one of the more useful options in the defaults section. Using the configure Q-SCAN option you may have Hermes II automatically ignore various message subs on a given BBS that may not be of any interest to you. Let's use the above FORUM example to explain: +-Q----------------------------------+-Q------------------------------+ | FORUM #1: GENERAL | FORUM #2: COMPUTERS | | * SUB-FORUM #1: General Discussion | * SUB-FORUM #1: Apple Computer | | * SUB-FORUM #2: Buy, Sell & Trade | * SUB-FORUM #2: Compaq | | * SUB-FORUM #3: Politics & Law | * SUB-FORUM #3: IBM | +-Q----------------------------------+-Q------------------------------+ | FORUM #3: SPECIAL INTERESTS | FORUM #4: SOFTWARE | | * SUB-FORUM #1: Movies & Books | * SUB-FORUM #1: Games | | * SUB-FORUM #2: Stamp Collecting | * SUB-FORUM #2: Graphics | | * SUB-FORUM #3: Sports | * SUB-FORUM #3: Programming | +------------------------------------+--------------------------------+ The above example illustrates a default configuration of the Q-SCAN, with every SUB-FORUM included in the Q-SCAN. With this setup, if you were to do a NEWSCAN, all new messages in every SUB-FORUM would be displayed. Now let's say that you had no interest in buying & selling of stuff, IBM or Compaq computers, programming, and stamp collecting. With a quick change to the configure Q-SCAN, you could completely ignore any message activity in the related SUB-FORUMS. Below would be an example of the modified Q-SCAN setup -- the "*" character in the "Q" column indicates that that SUB-FORUM is to be included in the Q-SCAN, those without the "*" character are ignored: +-Q----------------------------------+-Q------------------------------+ | FORUM #1: GENERAL | FORUM #2: COMPUTERS | | * SUB-FORUM #1: General Discussion | * SUB-FORUM #1: Apple Computer | | SUB-FORUM #2: Buy, Sell & Trade | SUB-FORUM #2: Compaq | | * SUB-FORUM #3: Politics & Law | SUB-FORUM #3: IBM | +-Q----------------------------------+-Q------------------------------+ | FORUM #3: SPECIAL INTERESTS | FORUM #4: SOFTWARE | | * SUB-FORUM #1: Movies & Books | * SUB-FORUM #1: Games | | SUB-FORUM #2: Stamp Collecting | * SUB-FORUM #2: Graphics | | * SUB-FORUM #3: Sports | SUB-FORUM #3: Programming | +------------------------------------+--------------------------------+ As you can see, with a quick change to the Q-SCAN setup, you can save time and money by completely ignoring those SUB-FORUMS which have no interest to you. Note that you can still read the contents of these SUB-FORUMS manually by using the SCAN MESSAGE TITLES feature (discussed later in this document). CHANGE PASSWORD This is where you can change your password manually. Hermes II will automatically prompt you to update your password once a year, but changing your password more frequently is seriously recommended. A password change once every three of four months is a good idea. NOTIFY LOGIN/LOGOUT This option is also a toggle switch. If NOTIFY LOGIN/LOGOUT is enabled and you are connected to a multi-line BBS, you will be notified of other users when they login and logout, by a single line alert. If you do not want to be notified of other users, turn this option off. Note that this does not perform any function unless the BBS has multiple nodes (phone lines). COMPUTER TYPE The only purpose this serves is to update the BBS's records to reflect any change that may occur with respect to what kind of computer you use to call into the BBS. This has no particular function, except for the sole purpose of BBS statistics. SCAN NEW MESSAGES AT LOGON This option is also a toggle switch. When set to the on position, you will be prompted with the option to scan for any public messages specifically addressed to you, immediately after the auto-message is displayed. When set to the off position, you will not be asked to scan for these messages, but you can see them during your NEWSCAN. On most BBS's, you can force Hermes II to scan for new personal public messages by pressing the "@" character at the main menu prompt. CHANGE SIGNATURE This option allows you to save time by assigning a specific signature to be used when you post a message or send an E-MAIL. It is here that you specify your signature, using standard ASCII characters and ANSI colors (discussed later). To send an E-MAIL or post a message with your personal signature, use the "/ESP" command on a blank line at the end of your message. The line will then contain the contents of your signature, as specified here. COLUMN DISPLAY MODE This option is a toggle switch that simply determines if SUB-FORUM lists or TRANSFER SECTIONS are displayed in one or two columns. This is most useful for BBS's that have more than a dozen or so of either that would normally make the top of the list scroll off the top of your screen. The two column mode cuts the length of this list in half by displaying the items in two columns instead. CHANGE COLORS This section allows you to change the colors of various prompts. While it is not really all that useful, it does allow you to change the colors in which such things as input lines and alerts appear. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ E] E-MAIL ANOTHER USER E-MAIL is one of the most active sections of a BBS. Using E-MAIL, you can send and receive private messages to other users on the BBS. Note that while private, every SysOp has the option to read any correspondence, both public and private, transpiring on his own BBS. However, this is generally not done as most SysOps have much better things to do that go around reading other people's E-MAIL, not to mention that it takes a lot of time to run a BBS and most SysOps simply do not have the time to do so. Regardless, these messages are not available for reading by anyone other than the intended addressee. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ F] FEEDBACK FEEDBACK is identical to E-MAIL, except that on most systems, it is automatically routed to the SysOp or Co-SysOp without being given the option to enter a users name or number. FEEDBACK it treated as E-MAIL. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ G] G-FILES SECTION The G-FILES section is a special section on a given BBS for storage of online text files, which are organized into sections. These are not treated at messages, in that they are never NEWSCAN'ed or replied to. They are simply specific areas in which the SysOp can store public access text information that may be called up at any given time. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ I] INFORMATION The INFORMATION section is just a small informative screen that usually provides some sort of specs on the BBS. Most SysOps use this section to display information on the number and size of hard drives, make and model of modems, type of computer, and number of phone lines for the BBS. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ J] JUMP TO A FORUM The JUMP command is how you switch from one FORUM to another to read and post messages. Because you can only be in one FORUM at any given time, this is provided as a means to "jump" between available FORUMS. In the above example, you would see this prompt: T - 01:29:54 [GENERAL] [1] [General Discussion] : J Forums available: 1: GENERAL 2: COMPUTERS 3: SPECIAL INTERESTS 4: SOFTWARE Jump to? 2 T - 04:12:48 [SPECIAL INTERESTS] [1] [Movies & Books] : ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ K] KILL E-MAIL This command allows you to delete E-MAIL that you have previously sent, which has not already been deleted by it's addressee. Note that just because you can delete a previously sent E-MAIL, that does not necessarily mean that it has not already been read by its intended recipient, but rather that it has not yet been _deleted_ by the recipient. You can also use this option to read through any old E-MAIL that you have sent out that may still be sitting in the other person's mailbox, with the option to read, delete, or ignore. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ L] LIST TODAY'S CALLERS This command return a list of all names and times of everyone who has logged into the BBS since the last reset (12:00 am). ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ M] OPEN MAILBOX This command checks to see if your have any E-MAIL in your mailbox, and opens it for your if you have any E-MAIL waiting. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ N] NEWSCAN NEWSCAN (or New Messages Scan) is probably the most common command on Hermes II BBS's. It is this command that is almost always issued after you have checked and responded to any E-MAIL. NEWSCAN starts with the first SUB-FORUM and checks for any new messages posted since the last NEWSCAN. If there are any, they will be displayed and you may scan through them, reply to them both publicly or privately, list titles, and more. Once all new messages are displayed in FORUM #1, the NEWSCAN will advance to FORUM #2 to scan those SUB-FORUMS for any new message activity, and will repeat this process until all FORUMS are scanned. Note that this activity of jumping from SUB-FORUM to SUB-FORUM during the NEWSCAN is controlled by the CONFIGURE Q-SCAN section of the DEFAULTS (explained above). ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ O] LOGOFF This command tells Hermes II that you want to disconnect from the BBS. It will give you the option of confirming this choice with a "Y/N?" prompt. You will soon get in the habit of pressing "OY" quickly to disconnect and confirm the disconnect in the same stroke of keys. This proper way of disconnecting from a Hermes II BBS is far more preferred than issuing a hang up command from within your communications program, as some modems are more susceptible to becoming "hung" because of an improper disconnect sequence. Note that as an alternative to the "OY" sequence, you can use the "/O" sequence, which is considered the "fast logoff", but is still a two keystroke sequence -- go figure. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ P] POST A MESSAGE This command allows you to post a message in the current SUB-FORUM. Note that you can only be on one SUB-FORUM at any time and that once you post a message, you can not move it, although you can remove it and post it elsewhere. It is important to pay attention to the MAIN MENU PROMPT to see what FORUM and SUB-FORUM you are currently located in prior to pressing "P" to actually begin posting the message. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Q] Q-SCAN CURRENT SUB-FORUM Q-SCAN performs the equivalent of the NEWSCAN, in that it checks for any new message activity, but Q-SCAN is "quick" because it only checks the current SUB-FORUM. For example, if you wanted to quickly see if there were any new messages in SUB-FORUM #3 of FORUM #4 (which would be "Programming" in the above FORUM example), you could navigate there quickly by "J"umping to FORUM #4 and pressing "3" to switch to SUB-FORUM #3, and then pressing "Q" to perform a Q-SCAN of that SUB-FORUM only. That is much faster than doing a complete NEWSCAN, although it may not seem that way on paper. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ R] REMOVE A POST This allows you to list and remove any posts made by you, in the current SUB-FORUM. It does not allow you to remove any posts made by anyone else, and will not work outside of the current SUB-FORUM. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ S] SCAN MESSAGE TITLES This allows you to see a list of titles of messages posted in the current SUB-FORUM, without having to read each one. Hermes II will ask you where to start the listing, and will then list ten titles at a time. Once you see the first set of ten, you can immediately press "T" to see the next ten titles. When you see a title of a message that you want to read, just enter the number of the message and it will be displayed. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ T] GO TO THE FILE TRANSFER SECTIONS This command will take you out of the Public Message Forums and place you in the TRANSFER SECTIONS, assuming you have got a high enough POST:CALL ratio (more on that later). Note that while a few of these commands work in the TRANSFER SECTIONS, most of them perform entirely different functions there then they do at the MAIN MENU PROMPT. The complete set of TRANSFER SECTION commands are covered in section #2 of this document. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ U] USER LIST If allowed by the SysOp, this command will list all the names of the users on the BBS. If not allowed by the SysOp, the command will do nothing. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ W] WATCH NODES SECTION On a multiple node BBS, the WATCH NODES SECTION lets you know who else is on line, what they are doing, allows you to send them a message, or even participate in real time chat with them. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ X] EXPERT MENUS The EXPERT MENU command is a toggle switch that will, if activated, display the appropriate menu (either the MAIN menu or the TRANSFER menu) every time any action is done. This is great for new users who often need to refer to the menus for commands but can be very irritating for experienced users. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Y] YOUR GENERAL INFORMATION This command brings up a brief report of your current information, as collected by the BBS. This information includes your handle or name, your ratio requirements and their status, your current phone number, how many times you've called the BBS, the first and last time you were logged on, the number of E-MAIL messages you have sent (not posted messages), and the number of E-MAIL messages you have waiting in your mailbox. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Z] EXPRESS NEW SCAN Perhaps the most useful command for long distance callers and new callers to a BBS is the EXPRESS NEW SCAN. This command performs a continuous scan of all new messages since your last NEWSCAN in every SUB-FORUM of every FORUM without pausing to ask you if you want to post a message and without pausing between screens. Once this is performed, all messages covered in the EXPRESS NEW SCAN are marked as "READ" and will never be new messages again, but new replies to those messages will be treated as such. This is most useful for long distance callers who want to keep up with what is going on without having to read each message separately. Those messages can be read offline in a word processor (such as Microsoft Word), assuming you turned on a capture in your communications program. EXPRESS NEW SCAN is also useful for first time callers to catch-up on new messages and get in the swing of the new message activity, so that the next NEWSCAN will only display any new messages. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Now, let's take a close look at the commands for use in the TRANSFER sections of a Hermes II BBS. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ C] CHAT WITH SYSOP Same function as performed in the MESSAGE AREAS. See above for description. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ D] DOWNLOAD A FILE The DOWNLOAD command is where you specify a file name to download a file. *** NOTE: Entering the complete file name is NOT necessary. The DOWNLOAD command is similar to the SEARCH BY FILENAME command, in that it accepts the WILDCARD "*" character, in place of the actual file name. This means that entering "SpeedyF*" is the same as entering "SpeedyFinder7 2.5.4.sit" and saves you the extra characters. If there are two files that match the "SpeedyF*" WILDCARD (such as "SpeedyFinder7 2.5.4.sit" and "SpeedyFinder7 2.5.1.cpt") then both will be displayed and you will have the option to download either, none, or both of them. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ F] FIND IN DESCRIPTION This command allows you to search for files by the text in their description. This often allows you to find files more accurately, because a lot more information can be provided in the description than can be in the file name. You can choose to (or not to) search the single line description or the extended 10 line description in the TRANSFER SECTION OPTIONS command (discussed later). ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ L] LIST FILES The LIST FILES command allows you to list all files in the CURRENT directory with a matching filter string. If you supply NO filter string, then ALL files will be listed. For example, you can LIST FILES with the filter "SpeedyFinder" and Hermes II would list only the files in that directory that contained that string of text. Following the above example, this list would yield two files: (1)-(Upload Here) :L Enter full or partial filename: SpeedyFinder Upload Here - #1, 254 files =========================== SpeedyFinder7 2.5.4.sit : 348k: Latest version of this great utility SpeedyFinder7 2.5.1.cpt : 289k: Most recent update. Uploaded by request Files listed: 2 By using the sting "SpeedyFinder" as the filter, only the two files in this directory that matched the filter were displayed. The other 252 were ignored by the LIST FILES command. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ N] NEW FILES SCAN Similar to the NEWSCAN of messages, this command searched all directories for any new files that have been uploaded since the last time you performed a NEW FILES SCAN. You are prompted to scan only the current directory, or all directories. This allows you to, for example, only scan for new files in directory #24 (Games). ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ O] LOGOFF Same function as performed in the MESSAGE AREAS. See above for description. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ P] NEW FILES SEARCH DATE This command allows you to bypass the calculated search date. Like with the messages, Hermes II keeps track of what files you have seen already and which ones are new. Using this command, you can bypass that calculation and set a new date to search by. So you can search all directories for any new files uploaded within the last month, just by changing the NEW FILES SEARCH DATE. This date resets itself when you logoff, so your next NEW FILES SCAN will produce accurate results. This command is entered as a date and must be entered with leading zeros where necessary -- a date of "4/9/94" is not valid -- use "04/09/94" instead. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Q] QUIT TO MAIN MENU This command takes you out of the TRANSFER SECTIONS and puts you back in the MAIN MENU area where the messages are. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ R] REMOVE A FILE This allows you to remove a file you have uploaded. Your credit for the file is also removed, and the file is deleted off the hard drive where it was stored. This only allows you to remove files that YOU have uploaded and only works within the current directory. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ S] SEARCH BY FILE NAME Much like the FIND IN DESCRIPTION command, this allows you to search for a file by name. This also uses a text filter string, and if you issue a search but fail to enter a filter, you are essentially searching for ALL files, and that can take a LONG time! If you hit "S" by mistake, enter a text filter of "XXXXXXXX" (or some other invalid string) and Hermes II report that no files match the string. This is a LOT faster then watching EVERY file on the BBS flash before your eyes! However, this would be the case if you wanted to do a capture to your hard drive of every file available on a BBS. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ T] TRANSFER SECTION OPTIONS This command brings up a short list of options you have in the TRANSFER SECTION: 1. Set Default Protocol Allows you to set the default transfer protocol so you don't have to select from the list each time you download. The default will be selected when you press [carriage return] at the PROTOCOL PROMPT. 2. N-Scan Transfer after Message Base(Yes) Automatically searches for new files after you are done reading and posting messages. 3. Print Extended Descriptions in Listing(Yes) Toggles the EXTENDED DESCRIPTIONS on or off. Useful for saving time. 4. Search Extended Descriptions(Yes) Allows you to search the text contents of the EXTENDED DESCRIPTIONS as well as the SINGLE LINE DESCRIPTION when you perform a FIND IN DESCRIPTION. Note that this is a little slower, but more accurate. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ U] UPLOAD A FILE This is the command you use when you want to upload a file to a particular directory. You will be prompted for the name of the file and asked to enter a one line description. You are also given the opportunity to enter an extended description, which will appear under the one line description and can be up to ten lines in length. Be sure to upload your file to the appropriate directory. Note that some BBS's are set up so you are only allowed to upload to a single directory, and the SysOp will move the file to the appropriate directory after checking the validity of the file. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ X] BATCH TRANSFER If you have previously selected to add a file to a download batch, or if you have specified to upload in a batch, this command will initiate the BATCH TRANSFER. The wonderful thing about batch transferring is that you can start it and walk away from the computer, while literally dozens of files are uploaded from or downloaded to your computer. In order to initiate a batch transfer, you must first have specified the files you wish to batch transfer, by using one of the batch protocols when you go to download the file. I can't tell you how many times I have seen users INDIVIDUALLY download ten or more files, which requires you to be sitting there watching each file transfer and waiting to download the next one! With the BATCH TRANSFER command, you can download as many files as you have time and ratio to download, and then walk away from your computer (or send your communications program to the background and do something else in the foreground). BATCH TRANSFER requires that you use a batch protocol for your file transfer; Z-MODEM BATCH is the best one to use. Just enter the file name of the file you wish to BATCH TRANSFER, and hit "3" (Z-MODEM BATCH) at the protocol prompt. It's that easy! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Y] YOUR TRANSFER STATS This command will bring up an informative list of statistics about your file transfer activity: Uploads : 690383k in 3920 files Downloads : 130003k in 329 files DL Credits : 0k Ratio : 5.311 Your DSL : 255 The upload and download lines refer to the number of files that you have transferred (except those downloaded from a "FREE DOWNLOADS" directory). DL Credits are any credits that you have been given by the SysOp. If your account has any DL Credits, these credits are used up before any additional kilobytes added to your "Downloads:" total. Note that in the 1.0.1 version of Hermes II, a nasty bug exists that does not let a user download if he has credits but not the UPLOAD/DOWNLOAD ratio necessary to download a file. This is said to have been fixed in the next release of Hermes II. The "Ratio:" line is a decimal equivalent of UPLOADS:DOWNLOADS. For example, if you have uploaded 1 MB and downloaded 4 MB, you would have a UPLOAD/DOWNLOAD ratio of 1:4 -- or 0.250 in Hermes II decimal format. Your DSL refers to an internal number that the SysOp has assigned to your account, and is not of importance to you as the user. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Z] UPLOAD FILE TO SYSOP This command is identical to the UPLOAD FILE command, except that the file is automatically sent to a special directory that only the SysOp (and and anyone else whom the SysOp has specified access) can see. This is useful for sending the SysOp private material or other files that you want only the SysOp to see. Not even the uploader of a file can see that file when it is stored in the SysOp directory. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Now that you have an understanding of both the PUBLIC MESSAGE FORUMS and the FILE TRANSFER SECTIONS and how they work, here are a few tips: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ SPACE BAR ABORTS When a long flow of text data is coming in (such as a long list of files) and you want to abort the list, use the space bar to abort. This seems to work better on 9600 baud connections and higher, so if it doesn't work the first time, hit the space bar a few times. It'll work. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ GET USED TO WILDCARDS The proper use of the Hermes II wildcard character "*" can make life a lot easier. The "*" character allows you to search for files and specify names without having to use enter the complete file name or user name. For example, sending E-MAIL to "Tom An*" is the same as entering "Tom Anderson". The same is the case when searching for "Speed*", when searching for "SpeedyFinder7 2.5.4.sit" (although Hermes II has a sort of wildcard routine built-in to the SEARCH BY FILENAME). ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ANSI & COLOR Hermes II supports color in messages and E-MAIL, but to use color you have to enter a special sequence of characters that determine the color: The sequence is "CONTROL P". That is, hold down the control key and press "P", then press a number for the color you wish to use: CONTROL P "1" -> light blue (bold) CONTROL P "2" -> yellow (bold) CONTROL P "3" -> magenta CONTROL P "4" -> white (bold) on blue (inverse video) CONTROL P "5" -> green CONTROL P "6" -> red (bold) CONTROL P "7" -> white (no color) Once you have selected the color, just begin typing, and the typed text will appear in the specified color. Note that when you begin a new line, you will need to re-specify the color. You can also use more than one color in a single line (or word for that matter). And things can get real ugly pretty quick if you're not careful. Be safe and use color only when emphasizing a single word or phrase. I often use red to emphasize "not" and yellow to emphasize an announcement of some sort. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Hope this little text file helps you become more familiar with Hermes II! Please direct any questions or comments to me on Olympus at user #1248. I would _really_ like to know if the time I put into this little guide has helped anyone (or have I just wasted my time -- that would be a bummer). Enjoy!