MacFormat 1994 November/macformat-018.iso/Comms Spectacular/hi-BBS User ƒ/hi-BBS Features

Text File | 1993-07-06 | 18.2 KB | 442 lines | [TEXT/ttxt]

hi-BBS™

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World-Class Communication Solution
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hi-BBS is a full featured online information system for the Macintosh™,
offering a graphical interface and high-end communication capabilities.

hi-BBS provides the widest range of communication options this side of the
Galaxy, and this ain't no marketing hype! The system is being used on ISDN,
X.25, TCP/IP, as well as with high-speed modems and over AppleTalk.

Using the latest technology from Apple®, hi-BBS goes further in usability
without sacrificing power. With hi-BBS, becoming an online information
provider has never been easier!

Unlike some systems, hi-BBS clearly differentiates E-Mail, Public Forums, and
File Transfer sections. With hi-BBS, you can easily set-up a File Transfer
section with full file descriptions, without attaching each file to a message.
Public Forum and Mail messages can nonetheless include any number of attached
files.

Read on to learn more about the human interface Bulletin Board System, then give
a try to our full featured demo by calling XBR Communications.


Electronic Mail

Faster (so much..) than traditional mail: no more delays, no more postal
strikes, no planes or boats needed. Once sent, once received. Nothing comes
close to e-mail when time is at stake. Better than fax: electronic format can be
saved easily, messages can contain any type of attached documents. Readability
is never in doubt. Cheaper too: one message can be sent to any number of
recipients, contain any number of attached documents in one single step. No
stamps needed, nor packaging.


hi-BBS E-Mail Major Features:

• Unlimited number of recipients. You can also send copies of the message to any
number of users.

• Unlimited number of attached files to a message. This lets you attach any
document, file (incl. sounds, graphics, QuickTime® movies, ...) to a message
that can be sent to multiple recipients.

• Full text formatting (incl. color) to add a little pizazz to your messages.
Use any font, size, style and color available in your system to enhance your
messages.

• Fast user name search on the server. Names can be added to your address book,
and in the To: and cc: fields automatically.

• Personal Address Book with distribution lists management.

• IN and OUT box management from a single window.

• Off-line mail creation. Messages composed offline are saved to your OUT box.

• Full support for carbon copies, replies, forwarding. For example, a reply will
automatically create a new message, addressed to the sender, inserting the
subject preceded by RE> and the text of the original message, ready for your
reply, already separated by a line.

• Cut & paste lets you transfer text from hi-BBS to your favorite word
processor, back and forth.

• Attached files viewing can be done without opening the message. Multiple
attached files in a single message can be transferred all at once or
individually selected.

• Multiple organizations (groups) can co-exist on the same server, each having
its own users. Mail can be exchanged between users of the same organization or
of a different organization.

• All major functions (printing, saving, replying, ...) are easily accessed from
the Mail window, using color icons.

• Unread mail and replies graphically identified in your IN box list.

• QuickTime attached documents are played online.

• Compressed attached files are expanded automatically.

• Gateways: your hi-BBS mail can be sent to QuickMail users, with full
attachment and reply support. Other gateways for major mail systems and networks
are in the works by third parties.



Public Interest Forums

Using hi-BBS' Forums, you can ask the questions that will help you most in your
business. Any time. Send your question during the evening, get 20 replies in the
morning! Get responses faster. Knowledgeable persons will be able to help you as
fast as they can type. No unanswered phone calls, no postal delays. Use the
public areas to post a survey on your latest product and get the customer's
opinion in real time. Send files too. Reach users with your latest software
product or help others by sending them your latest finding. Keep in touch.


hi-BBS Forums Major Features

• Full message threading graphically depicted in an outline view. You can always
see who replied to a message and when.

• Multiple organizations (groups) can co-exist on the same server, each having
its own Forum sections.

• Use System 7 aliases to share forum sections between organizations.

• Multiple servers can co-exist on the same network, each having its own
organizations, and Forums sections.

• Use System 7 aliases to share Forums sections between servers in real-time.

• Access level can be set for any message in a Forum section, so that users can
only see messages to which they have access privileges.

• Unlimited number of attached files to any message.

• Attached files viewing can be done without opening the message. Multiple
attached files in a single message can be transferred all at once or
individually selected.

• Full text formatting (incl. color) to add a little pizazz to your messages.

• All major functions (printing, saving, replying, ...) are easily accessed from
the Forum window, using color icons.

• Multiple message windows can be opened at a time, along with any other window
from other sections of the BBS.

• QuickTime attached documents can be played online.

• Compressed attached files can be expanded automatically.



General File transfer/Information sections

Online advertising: Advertise your latest products, promote your services, offer
software demos, updates, upgrades. Information publishing: Publish your work,
news, and documents online. Available only to selected users or everybody.
Complete CDs online. Give instant access to complete educational or
informational CDs. Hundreds of megabytes of information online, instantly!


hi-BBS FT/Info Major Features:

• Use the Finder hierarchy to build your Information and File transfer sections.

• Use the Finder Get Info command to add comments to your online files, folders,
volumes, ... or use the many shareware utilities available to add complete file
descriptions. Completely compatible with file description formats used on the
AMUG "BBS IN A BOX™" CD.

• Multiple organizations (groups) can co-exist on the same server, each having
its own FT/Info sections.

• Use System 7 aliases to share FT/Info sections between organizations.

• Multiple servers can co-exist on the same network, each having its own
organizations, and FT/Info sections.

• Use System 7 aliases to share FT/Info sections between servers in real-time.

• Access to any section and down to any file can be restricted for different
users. The use of multiple organizations and access levels provides a very
flexible control to information access.

• Standard Get Info button displays full information about files, folders and
volumes, including comments.

• TEXT files can be read online.

• Full text formatting (incl. color) can be added to any text file read online.
You can then print or save the text file while retaining the applied formatting.

• File transfers handled transparently. No need to learn X, Y or ZModem protocol
idiosyncracies.

• MultiFinder friendly. File transfers will continue even when users switch to
another application.

• All major functions (printing, saving, replying, ...) are easily accessed from
the FT/Info window, using color icons.

• QuickTime documents can be played online.

• Compressed files can be expanded automatically.



Teleconferencing

Cost saving solution to meetings. Whenever you need to schedule a meeting,
hi-BBS can save you time and money. No more traveling, no more costly
organization. No delays. Better following. hi-BBS meetings can be recorded,
formatted and printed, without user intervention. No more delays of
transcription, no more loss of time.


hi-BBS Teleconferencing Major Features:

• Background operation. Attend the meeting while you read your mail.

• Supports as many users as your system configuration allows. Not limited by
your number of lines license.

• Message display window can use full text formatting to suit your viewing
preferences.

• Color icons give access to the list of participants, and to the save and print
functions.

• Message Broadcasting lets you send a message to all connected users and invite
them to a meeting.

• Sound notification of incoming and system messages.



Handling communications

The use of the Macintosh CommToolbox opens the door to most major methods of
communicating electronically. If a communication tool doesn't exist, we develop
it! That's what we did for X.25 communication.

Here are some of the protocols we support simultaneously on the same computer:

• Modems (High speed and Hardware handshake fully supported). Multiple modems
and modem cards can be installed on a single server, along with X.25 and ISDN
cards.

• AppleTalk (LocalTalk, EtherTalk, ...). hi-BBS supports multiple zones as well
as multiple servers on the same network. Full support for AppleTalk Remote
Access.

• X.25 multi-sessions (up to 100) on a single line using the XBR X.25 NB card.
Using X.25 is the most secure protocol for transfering information online. Also
due to its international support, your users will be able to access your hi-BBS
server from more than 500 cities in 30 countries any time, without long distance
fees.

• ISDN, using an ISDN Nubus card (from XBR) or adapters. Fully tested with
Northern Telecom and AT&T switches.

• TCP/IP for a worlwide access.

• Any other third party connection tool.

In the near future, you can expect us to bring even more ways to publish your
information online.



Easy Server set-up

You heard horror stories about the telecommunication world? THEY WERE TRUE!

...Up to now, that is.

hi-BBS has been designed to be as easy to set up as to use. What's the need for
a fancy graphical user interface (GUI) when you can't even bring your online
system up to your expectations, because it needs a computer degree to set it up?

Publishing information with hi-BBS requires no special skills. Just move, copy
or alias your documents, remote volumes, and CDs to a folder. Published
documents can be spread all over your network, even remotely located!

No need to shutdown the server to add CDs, remote volumes, ... . As soon as
you install the selected CD or volume, your users will see them online.

Need to backup? Just use your standard backup program, even while the server is
running and go. The server will automatically reconfigure itself on restore.

A crash? Don't panic or lose sleep. No loss of information to fear, no databases
to re-index, or re-build. Never.

Need to shutdown the server and you're so far away? Don't despair; grab your
Powerbook to connect to your network, and use the hi-BBS Manager to do it, while
the server takes care of sending advance notifications to connected users. Ready
to launch the server again? Launch it from home, from your dream island, or from
the moon!

In short, forget the hassles and enjoy your new powerful communication
companion! And you know something? Apple was right! Applications such as hi-BBS,
taking advantage of System 7's advanced features, really make your life more
enjoyable.


hi-BBS Server Major Features:

• Very easy to install. Copy the content of the server disk to your hard disk,
then drop the included CTB tools in your System folder. Finally, double-click on
the hi-BBS Server application. A default server set-up will be automatically
created, complete with one organization and one user. All in all, the complete
installation takes about 2 minutes.

• Full background operation. The hi-BBS Server is a small "faceless" application
that uses less than 500K to run on a non-dedicated machine (from the Classic to
the Quadras). Once started, it becomes completely invisible and you can resume
using your computer as usual, while this multi-user application does its things.

• Complete Apple® Events control. The hi-BBS Server is managed using Apple®
Events (Æ) and can also control other applications using specific Æ commands.
Look for amazing new ways of using a telecom server in the near future, thanks
to that powerful feature.

• Full CommToolbox support. Using the CTB means completely standardized
configuration procedures for the Administrator, and a wider range of
communication options. One hi-BBS Server can be set-up to receive calls on ISDN
links, X.25 networks, multiple modems and AppleTalk all at the same time. Each
of these options is set-up in a single window, using the CTB standard connection
settings window.

• High Speed Modems. The hi-BBS server fully supports high speed, online
compression and hardware handshaking with modems.

• Security matters. hi-BBS offers its Administrator, complete control over who
has access to what, down to the file level. Using any number of organizations
(privilege groups), each having multiple access levels, an hi-BBS Administrator
can tailor its system to its very precise needs.

• CD ROM Access: The hi-BBS Administrator can install part of, or a complete CD
ROM on the server (or any hard disk), using System 7's aliases. Comments can be
added to any CD ROM section explaining its features, with the Get Info command
of the Finder. All information installed becomes available to users having the
proper access privileges. Through any communication link used (AppleTalk,
modems, ISDN, X.25, ...)

• Remote volumes: The use of System 7's aliases goes even further and lets the
Administrator install part of, or complete remote volumes from the network. The
server will automatically mount the remote volumes when needed. Comments can
also be added and all information installed becomes available to users having
the proper access privileges. This can be real helpful to share information
between multiple servers located on the same network.

• ISDN links: A server could be located on the other side of the world, while
being shared with yours, using ISDN high speed links. Again using aliases and
TheLink®, our AppleTalk Remote Access Half-Bridge, you could be sharing
information remotely in real-time. TheLink will automatically mount the remote
site on demand.

• Finder-based administration. Unlike most other BBS packages, we don't use
databases to hold file and forums information. This means that you'll never have
to worry about database corruption and re-indexing. This also means an easier
administration of the server, with standard back-up procedures, using
off-the-shelf products.

• Multiple Administrators. The main hi-BBS Administrator can create multiple
organizations (privilege groups), each having its own manager, with personal
password.

• Flexible Administration. The Administrator, using the hi-BBS Manager
application connects to the hi-BBS Server, through Apple® Events. This not only
provides LAN and modem access to the server, but also doesn't tie up a server
line in the process. The administration tasks can all be accomplished while the
server is running, of course…

• Remote shutdown. Using the hi-BBS Manager application, the Administrator can
shutdown the server remotely, while advance notification is sent to connected
users automatically. A delay before shutdown can also be set. Once ready to
launch the server again, you can use the same application to do it remotely.

• User Limits. The hi-BBS Administrator can limit the time a user can stay
logged on and also set the expiration date of its subscription. The server will
then take control of these parameters automatically.

• Connection statistics. hi-BBS creates a connection statistics file that can be
easily imported in most database and spreadsheet programs, ready to be formatted
for reports. A very detailed usage report, describing each and every user
action, is also available.

• Billing facility. Each organization can be set-up at creation time to have 2
different billing periods per day, with related connection fees. When the
Administrator wants to bill its users, he can use the hi-BBS Manager application
to automatically calculate the billing fees for any user or all of them and then
send the bill to their mailbox. Return address, summary information and billing
periods can be set for each organization individually.

• Shredder, the out-of-date message deleter. Out-of-date messages can be
automatically deleted after a period of time set by the Administrator.

• Single Copy of all Messages and Attached Files. When a user sends a message
with attached files to multiple recipients, only one copy of the package is
saved on the server. This insures a maximum saving of storage space.

• Easy Upgrade Path. Basic systems start with a 2 lines configuration. Every
system sold is based on the number of simultaneous connections your server will
accept. First, this means a no limit to the number of subscribers license, with
no additional cost charged for the growth of your user base. Second, there is no
restriction on how your users connect to the system. They could be using
AppleTalk, modems, X.25, ... When comes the time to provide more lines, the
hi-BBS Server really shines by offering up to more than a hundred simultaneous
connections, using X.25 networks. You won't be left in the dust as your needs
increase.

• Soft Number of Users Limitation. Even though the number of lines is limited by
your license, users can still connect to your server, using any communication
protocol. Let's say that you bought a 4 lines system. If 4 users are actually
connected to your server, two with modems and two others through AppleTalk, a
fifth user will still be able to connect and browse through the system. The
limitation being that he will be prevented from transfering anything. As soon as
another user disconnects, the fifth user will automatically regain full access.
As such, teleconferencing is not limited in any way by your license.

• ASCII access. Users can access your hi-BBS Server, using their favorite
telecommunication application. A menu will let them download the graphical
interface and read online information.

After reading about hi-BBS, go ahead and call us to test drive the system.
We are convinced that you'll love the experience.

For a full demo, call us at [phone]

Welcome aboard!

The hi-BBS Development Team

©1993 XBR Communications, Inc.,

Phone       : [phone]
Fax           : [phone]
AppleLink : XBR
Internet   : [e-mail]
AOL          : JPBTIC
hi-BBS     : 489-0445 (14.4 lines, account name : JP)