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Text File | 1992-11-22 | 29.5 KB | 821 lines | [TEXT/QED1]

I'm composing this as I have time. I apologize for the lack of order but I'll get it done soon. There is some good stuff in here if you stick with it. You should now activate your 'capture' option on your term program so you can save this information to a disk file. When reading this file you may use the following commands to control flow: Control S - Suspends text display Control Q - Restarts text display Control C - Terminates text display These commands work on almost all menus and text scrolling!! <$$$> 1. Activate FASTKEYS: Choose this command from the Utilities Menu (you can enter a command while a menu is scrolling to interrupt it with your command after you have enabled it.) 2. CONFIGURE YOUR 'NEWSCAN'. On this logon (or any logon) use the menus to go each the BBS that you will normally want to read. On EACH the BBS enter a MB at the the BBSs message prompt. This will MARK The BBS as one that you usually want to read. You can enter the command UB to unmark any the BBS that you have previously MARKED. After you have MARKED all The BBSs you are interested in, the the BBS will remember. The next time you log on, start reading on the Main the BBS (or wherever). When you have read the last message on that msg. base, enter NB (next the BBS) at the prompt and you will be taken to the next message base that you have MARKED. You can continue to do this until you have gone thru all The BBSs you have MARKED. The MARKED the BBSs also effect the New Message Scan and Messages Addressed to You Scan when you log on. Only the areas that you have MARKED will be scanned and displayed. All the commands having to do with MARKING/UNMARKING/NEXT the BBS are displayed when you enter a ? at the message base prompt. ----------------------- LOG ON HELP ---------------------- When you log on, the BBS will prompt you for either your the BBS ID number or name. You may enter either followed by a return. Next, the BBS will prompt you for your password. You enter it, followed by a return. ---------------- CONFIGURATION COMMANDS ------------------ You use this menu to change your password, screen width, telephone number, interests, expert mode and to search for other members or other members with interests similar to your interests. You may also use this menu to ring the Sysop for a chat. ---------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------- Change Password - You should change your password often, and never tell anyone else what it is. The Sysop will make you responsible for whatever happens or is done while anyone is logged on using your password. Typing this command will cause the BBS to display your old Password and prompt you to enter your new password. Your new password can be up to 10 characters long any may contain alpha and numeric characters. The password is not case sensitive, so the BBS sees ABC123 the same as it sees abc123 ---------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------- Change Screen Width - You should keep your screen width set to 80 columns. But if for some odd or not so odd reason, you need to change it, do so with this menu item. At this prompt, you can enter the new screen width. Your width can be any- where from 40 to 80 columns. You do not need to enter the word column in your response, just the number. Keep in mind that all of the menus are set to display properly at 80 columns and selecting anything less will really make your navigation on this the BBS miserable! ---------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------- Change Telephone Number - This is the menu selection to use if you want to change This item will first show you the current telephone number and prompt you to enter the new telephone number. The last four digits of this new telephone number will be required during your next log on as a part of your log on entry. ---------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------- Change Interests - This is the menu selection to use should you desire to change the interests you entered during the validation survey. At the prompt, you may enter up to 40 characters, which describe your interests ---------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------- Interest Search - You may identify other callers whose listed interests match those that you type at this menu's prompt. The search is not case dependent, so if you entered TELCOM, the BBS would find telcom, Telecommunications and Telcomm ---------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------- Change Expert Mode - You can cause the BBS to display only the command line prompt instead of the whole menu screen with this menu selection. Once you become familiar with the menus on this the BBS and how the tele- system works, you may want to use this. If you get lost or forget which com- mands do what, you may cause the full menu to be re-printed by issuing the "?" at any menu command line prompt. Using this command a second time will toggle the expert menu display mode back on. ---------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------- Find Member - Using this command will allow you to find any and all members of The BBS. At the prompt, you enter a portion of the person's name. These searches are not case dependent. If you enter Smith, the BBS will find SMITH, SMITHFIELD. You could also enter "z" to find any the BBS member with the letter Z anywhere in their name. If you enter a return at this prompt, the BBS will display a list of all the BBS member. ---------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------- Page Sysop - Use this command to have The BBS summon the System Operator for a chat. If I am available and hear the summons I'll break in and have a chat. Use this command sparingly, I have to sleep sometime! If I am not available, the BBS will display a notice stating so. ---------------------------------------------------------- /LIB FILES HELP --------------------- FILES MENU HELP -------------------- This is an abbreviate help screen. I am aware The BBS files area is different and a bit more to a caller used to the Hermes way of doing things. You will get along fine if you remember that once in the files area, you have to (C)hoose an area first, then you can (B)rowse (get a file listing), (U)pload or (D)ownload files. More detailed help screen will be available once you get into the Files area * Callers may not access the Files until they have had their access elevated by the Sysop. Validated callers may see the files directories and upload files, but only those callers meeting special conditions may down- load files. ---------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------- FILES AREA HELP ------------------- You will get along fine if you remember that once in the files area, you have to (C)hoose an area first, then you can (B)rowse (get a file listing), (U)pload or (D)ownload files. More detailed help screen will be available as you pro- cede through the process of browsing, down and uploading in the Files area Validated callers may see the files directories and upload files, but only those callers meeting special conditions may down-load files. ---------------------------------------------------------- ----------------- CHOOSING AN AREA HELP ------------------ Before you can see the files, you have to Choose an area. Select the area letter and a carriage return. You may then view the files in that area by issuing the (B) for Browse command. Pause text display with a Control S. Restart text display with a Control Q. Terminate text display with a Control C. More detailed help screen will be available as you pro- cede through the process of browsing, down and uploading in the Files area ---------------------------------------------------------- ------------------ FILE DESCRIPTION HELP ----------------- As a bare minimum, you should describe what the file can do. Keep in mind this is the line which will cause others to download the file. It should be snappy and to the point. This description may be up to 60 characters long, and may contain any alpha, numeric or punctuation you feel like. Good descriptions of files are as follows: Talking Desk Accessory. Requires Macintalk. Stuffed. Appleworks Spreadsheet for 1989 Federal Taxes. ---------------------------------------------------------- ----------------- ENTERING KEYWORDS HELP ---------------- As a bare minimum, you should enter the File Type, i.e., Game, Font, DA, File Name and any other keywords which might be helpful in finding the file. You may separate the keywords with commas and spaces for ease of reading. This description may be up to 60 characters long. Keep in mind the Global Keyword Search only looks for matches in the Keyword area. That means that if you upload the file "CURLY.SIT" and fail to mention that it is a Font file, anyone searching for Font Files will not find your file. A good Keyword entry in the above case would be: FONT, CURLY.SIT, SERIF, IMAGEWRITER ---------------------------------------------------------- -------------------- FILE NUMBERS HELP ------------------- Once you have choosen an area and then (B)rowed through it, you will notice that The BBS lists each file with a file number. This number is what you enter at the down- load prompt to indicate which file you wish to download. the BBS does not use the file name, just the file number. If you didn't catch the file number on the first pass, just (B)rowse again and use the following commands to start and stop the text display: Control S - Pause Text Display Control Q - Re-start Text Display Control C - Terminate Text Display ---------------------------------------------------------- ----------------- TRANSFER PROTOCOL HELP ----------------- the BBS comes with the following File Transfer Protocols, which should be used as follows: XModem MacBinary/Normal Blocks - Mac XModem MacBinary/1K Blocks - Mac Faster* XModem Standard/Normal Blocks - Apple ][ XModem Standard/1K Blocks - Apple ][ Faster* ASCII (No Flow Control) - Text Transfer ASCII (With Flow Control) - Text Transfer * If your terminal program support 1K Transfers, then use them. They are much faster than normal block transfers. Hang in there for just a while longer, the BBS will soon support ZModem which is the fastest transfer protocol of all and also supports "batch", i.e., multiple file dl's. ---------------------------------------------------------- ----------------- LOCAL MESSAGE MENU HELP ---------------- Local messages are the main reason this the BBS exists! Please make a habit of reading them and respond if you think you can contribute. Let some of the other callers gain from your experience and insight. As the person who can make this the BBS what you want it to be, I would appreciate it if you made a determined effort in keeping the message flow going in The BBS Main message area. I can change some of the ways this the BBS works, and otherwise have got the option of asking the author of the BBS to include any suggested improve- ments. It won't get better unless we see that it gets that way! All commands used in Reading, Scanning, Responding and Editing messages are available separately in the message the BBS areas by issuing either the "H" or "?" commands. You might want to practice posting and responding to local messages for the first couple of times until you get you get familiar with the BBS's unique way of handling message editing, etc. You don't have to save a message if your are only practicing! ---------------------------------------------------------- ***USE CONTROL-S TO SUSPEND/CONTROL-Q TO CONTINUE/CONTROL-C TO ABORT*** B -- Allows you to reread the special bulletin. This bulletin is written by the sysop of the current the BBS. It is a way to bring important information to your attention. This bulletin is also printed to you automatically, if you have not seen it yet, when you first enter the the BBS. D# -- Allows you to delete a bulletin from the current the BBS. Once the message is deleted there is no way to get it back. This command can only be executed by the SysOp, Manager or the person who posts the message. Users can not delete bulletins they did not post. To delete a message just enter the letter "D" followed by the message number. D#-# -- This option is like the one above. It allows the SysOp to delete a range of messages. First you enter a 'D'. Without hitting return you then type the number of the lowest message to start at; followed by the highest message in the range to delete. YOU MUST ENTER A DASH BETWEEN THE FIRST AND LAST MESSAGE TO DELETE!! H -- Reprints this file. P -- Allows you to post a new message. You will be asked for the name of the person to send it to, or you can enter a return for all. You will then be prompted for a subject and text of the message. The BBS this posts the message on the current the BBS for anyone to read. (For private messages, you will need to send them in the mail area.) Q -- Returns you to the menu that was just prior to The BBS menu you are at right now. R# -- Allows you to read a message. The letter "R" is required. The syntax it the letter "R" followed by the message number you wish to read. The computer then prints the message you have selected to your screen. The letter R is required. R#-# -- Allow you to read a range of messages. Enter the letter "R" followed by the starting message, a dash, then the ending message. For example if I wanted to read messages 1 to 10 I would enter "R 1-10". RE -- Allows you to reply to the message you just read. The message number you are replying to is in brackets at the read message prompt. You will only be prompted for the text of your message, the subject etc., will automatically be entered for you. RQ -- This option allows you to reply to the message that you just read much like the RE command, but it also allows you to take part of the message you just read and quote it for the reply. When quoting you select the lines to bring forward. RN -- Allows you to read new messages that have been posted since the last time you were on The BBS. By entering this command you will get the first new message printed out automatically. By entering return after the first new message you will get the next new message, and so forth. RNC -- Allows you to read new messages one right after another. It finds the new message much like the RN command but it shows all. You can use control characters to pause, abort, and for next message. S# -- Allows you to scan a message header. Enter the letter "S" followed by the number of the message you wish to scan. The letter "S" is required. S#-# -- Allow you to scan a range of messages. Enter the letter "S" followed by the starting message, a dash, then the ending message. For example if I wanted to scan messages 1 to 10 I would enter "S 1-10". SN -- Allows you to scan new messages. By entering "SN" you will be shown a scan of new messages since you were last on. ? -- Reprints The BBS menu. Z -- This command allows the sysop to update the special bulletin. The special bulletin is much like the welcome bulletin, in that it is displayed when one enters the current the BBS. It is shown once to those who have not seen it, and can be read again with the B command. (NORMAL USERS CAN NOT USE THIS COMMAND) READ COMMANDS: WRITE COMMANDS: B -- Read Special Bulletin P -- Post New Message R# -- Read Message # RE -- Reply To Current Message RN -- Read New Messages RQ -- Reply Quoted to Current RNC -- Read New Messages Continuously Z -- Write special bulletin R#-# -- Read Range of Messages (Reserved for SysOp) A -- ReRead current Message RS -- Reply new subject - -- Read Previous Message SCAN COMMANDS: DELETE COMMANDS: S# -- Scan Message # D# -- Delete Message S#-# -- Scan Range of Messages D#-# -- Delete Range Of Messages SN -- Scan New Messages (Reserved for SysOp & SBS -- Scan by Subject and author of message) SBF -- Scan by From SBT -- Scan by To SBD -- Scan by Date OTHER COMMANDS: H -- Help with the BBS commands *Return key displays next message. Q -- Quit to Menu CONTROL/C = Abort message display. ? -- Reprint This Menu CONTROL/S = Pause message display. CONTROL/Q = Resume from pause. CONTROL/N = Next Message# #(While reading continuously) MB -- MARK this Message the BBS UB -- UNMARK This Message the BBS NB -- Goto Next Marked the BBS ----------------------- LOG OFF HELP --------------------- When you log off The BBS, you will be asked if your want to update your high message pointer. This pointer contains the information about the last message on this the BBS. If you respond with a "Y" or return to automatically select the Yes response, the BBS will assume that all messages on The BBS are no longer new. When you log on the next time, only the messages newer than the ones you just had the opportunity to read will be listed on new message scans and reads. If you respond with a "N", then all the messages that were new this time will also be displayed as new the next time you log on ---------------------------------------------------------- --------------------- MAIL MENU HELP --------------------- Read your Mail - Allows you to scan a list of mail sent to you, read it, respond to it, and delete it. You are allowed only a lim- amount of E-Mail, so you should delete any you are finished with. Send Mail - You will be prompted to enter the name of the addressee. You may enter "Return" for all, the name of the addressee (if you know it) or a portion of the addressee's name. the BBS will search the user log and give you its guess of who you wish the mail to go to. You may accept this guess or have the BBS continue to search until it finds the right member. You don't have to know the entire name of the person you are sending mail to if they are a member of The BBS. If you wanted to send mail to James Jones and didn't know if that's how he has his name entered, just enter the name James. The BBS will help you from that point on. The format for addressing FidoNet mail is: Name comma space node Exp:Mark Toland, 290/2 Leave feedback if you have any questions. Send Mail with File Attached - This command is like the previous send mail command, but it will also allow you to upload a file to the mail addressee. Check Status of Mail you sent - This command will display a list of mail you sent. If letters are marked "Been Read", then the letter has been read. If your letter is not listed, that means your letter has been read and deleted. Send Feedback - Allows you to send an E-Mail to the named persons without having to address it. ---------------------------------------------------------- ******************** PRIVACY NOTICE ********************** The Sysop of this BBS is able to read ANY mail message left on this the BBS. He does not normally do so, however he may see the contents of mail messages during the course of normal maintenance activities on the BBS. So if you have a TRULY private or confidential message for another user, DON'T use this BBS's mail system to send it. Use First Class US Mail instead. Sending E-Mail on this the BBS constitutes you giving per- mission to the System Operator to read it. ******************** PRIVACY NOTICE ********************** ----------------- NETWORK MESSAGE HELP ------------------- The BBS when used in conjunction with Tabby can send and receive network messages as part of the international Fido Net. FidoNet is an amateur network where electronic mes- sages can be exchanged all around the world. The word amateur cannot be emphasized enough. The Sysops who trans- ports these messages, for the most part, carry the brunt of the cost of this transport. Keep this cost in mind when responding to network messages. Do not send purely private messages. Do not send commer- cial announcements or advertisements. Do not send trivial or inflammatory messages. If you do not want a message to be sent out to the network and to the rest of the world, just enter the word NOECHO on the first line of the message, followed by a carriage return. The word NOECHO has to be in all caps with no spaces and further has to be the only thing on the first line. Because it takes several days for your response to reach the addressee, you may wish to make use of the quoting feature in the BBS. Use the command "RQ" to selectively move lines of the original message into your response. Judicious use of this feature will allow other readers to understand the context of your response. Of course if sufficient time has passed since the originator sent his message out, he will thank you for including a quote of the salient portions of his message, which he might other- wise have forgotten. Please understand your messages are going to be read by hundreds perhaps thousands of people, none of whom can see your facial expression or hear your tone of voice, or even know you. You should attempt to keep your mes- sages direct, concise and friendly. You don't want to damage your worldwide reputation! Because this the BBS receives so many network messages, it might be a good idea to start a text capture on your terminal program and then issue a "RNC" command. This will scroll through the new messages quickly and allow you to read them off-line where you can compose the appropriate insightful and concise responses. All commands used in Reading, Scanning, Responding, and Editing messages are available separately in the message the BBS areas by issuing either the "H" or "?" commands. You might want to practice posting and responding in the local message area until you become familiar with The BBS message handling system. Unvalidated callers may read network messages, but not post or respond to network messages until they have been validated. /O ----------------------- LOG OFF HELP --------------------- When you log off The BBS, you will be asked if your want to update your high message pointer. This pointer contains the information about the last message on this the BBS. If you respond with a "Y" or return to automatically select the Yes response, the BBS will assume that all messages on The BBS are no longer new. When you log on the next time, only the messages newer than the ones you just had the opportunity to read will be listed on new message scans and reads. If you respond with a "N", then all the messages that were new this time will also be displayed as new the next time you log on ---------------------------------------------------------- ------------------- REFERENCE TEXT HELP ------------------ You may obtain various informative text listings by select- ing options on this menu. The shorter files tend to pause between screens and prompt you to enter a return. The long- er text listings pause first and prompt you to begin captur- ing text. This listings, once captured may be printed and would serve as a ready reference document next to your com- puter. Standard text on/off procedure are as follows: Control S - Suspends text display Control Q - Restarts text display Control C - Terminates text display ---------------------------------------------------------- ------------------ VALIDATION MENU HELP ------------------ We thrive on getting new members. Expert or novice, you are welcome and are encouraged to join in with the rest of us, in use, and in discussion in our local and network message bulletin areas. Until you are validated by me, the Sysop, you will be able to read and respond to local messages, but only read the network messages. IF YOU ARE ALREADY A MEMBER OF THE DES MOINES ZSYS BBS, leave an E-Mail message to the Sysop (Feedback) as soon as possible alerting me to the fact. I will validate you as a the BBS member with automatic files area access. Thanks for calling, and have fun, The BBS System... This is the end of the file. If you have captured it to disk you should now turn off your capture. If you want :) <$$$> Hi there!