旼컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� � 1995 PCBoard / Online Communications Conference � � � � Session Descriptions � 읕컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� PCBoard For OS/2 賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽 Topic: Introduction to PCBoard for OS/2 This is part one of a two part presentation on how to harness the power of PCBoard using the OS/2 environment. This session will discuss the benefits and differences of using the OS/2 version of PCBoard versus the DOS version. Furthermore, it will cover the basics of setting up a system configuration using the OS/2 version, including setting up the new PCBoard Control Panel. Topic: PCBoard for OS/2 : Advanced Topics In this session, we build upon the information presented in the introduction to PCBoard for OS/2. Topics of advanced customization will be discussed such as configuring your DOS applications to run efficiently under the OS/2 version of PCBoard. This session will also go into more of the OS/2 specific capabilities of PCBoard for OS/2 that may be used to maintain a more efficient system. PCBFido 賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽 Topic: Connecting To FidoNet FidoNet is one of the most active message networks in the world next to USENET. With the release of v15.22, not only is FidoNet easier to use but the built-in Fido capabilities in PCBoard have been significantly enhanced. In this session the focus will be on showing how to connect with FidoNet and take advantage of the powerful features available. Topics such as Fido events and area fixing will be discussed along with many other features. Topic: Advanced PCBFido--Acting As a Hub The first session on this track covered basic FidoNet concepts, in this session we will expound on those concepts by discussing elements of PCBFido that relate to acting as a hub. You will learn more about the significance of the Fido user records, PassThru areas, and many other topics which are relevant to effective system management. Using PCBoard 賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽 Topic: Introduction to PCBoard Commands Whether you are trying to navigate the system or trying to show callers how to make the most of the system, it is important to understand the SysOp and user commands available. Using these commands, you can effectively select the messages to read or files to download or much more. In this session you will obtain valuable knowledge of commands which allow you to maximize the power of PCBoard. Topic: Advanced PCBoard Commands What command do you use to read only messages from JOHN SMITH that were written after July 1st of 1995? Are you aware that PCBoard has the power to do this type of search? In this session, you will learn more about the advanced commands in PCBoard and how they can be used to simplify processes. System Manager 賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽 Topic: System Manager - I As the SysOp it is important to know how to effectively manage user records on the system. Management of the user files is facilitated with the System Manager utility which is included in PCBoard. In this session, you will learn the basics about user record management and also how to customize the color scheme used by the PCBoard utilities (PCBFiler, PCBSetup, etc.) Topic: System Manager - II System Manager has a multitude of options for manipulating conference registrations and security levels. The focus of this session is to not only teach you what System Manager can do in these areas, but also when it is appropriate to use each function. PCBoard Setup & Configuration 賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽 Topic: The Structure of the System Before you can successfully operate a Bulletin Board System, it is necessary to understand how one is structured. The focus of this session will be the default installation of PCBoard. We will discuss why the file directories are structured the way they are, and structuring techniques that can be applied to better manage your system structure as it grows. Topic: Security & Maintenance As a Sysop there are many areas of focus, but few are as important as system security and file maintenance. This session will focus on how to ensure system security and also how to successfully maintain a current system that will attract callers. Topic: Optimizing A Multitasking Setup PCBoard's flexibility and design, allow it to operate effectively in several multitasking environments including OS/2, DESQview, and Windows. The CDC staff will share several techniques that can be used to optimize your setup in all of these environments. Topic: Door Installation When a door is added to a system, it becomes a part of the service you provide. As the system expands, modifications have to be made to the door setup even if it is just copying and modifying a few batch files. In this session, you will learn some valuable techniques to aid in the installation of door programs with system expansion in mind. This knowledge will prepare you to utilize a multitude of third-party door programs compatible with PCBoard. Topic: Troubleshooting PCBoard One of the most valuable skills that a SysOp must possess is that of being an effective troubleshooter. How often do you encounter a problem where simply rebooting the system is the solution? In this session our technical support staff will share some of the techniques they use to troubleshoot and solve common problems that arise in PCBoard setups. Knowing these techniques will prepare you to solve not only common problems, but also those specific to your system. Customizing PCBoard 賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽 Topic: Introduction To Customizing If PCBoard had to be described in one word it would be, "customizable." From reconfiguring keys used to access commands, to using PCBoard's built-in programming language, to completely configurable prompts, there is no doubt that PCBoard can be fully customized. This session begins a series of sessions that focus on customizing your system. If you are a SysOp who is interested in utilizing the customization features available in PCBoard, don't miss this series! Topic: Creating Sub-Menus For many users, limiting the choices on a menu makes it easier for them to navigate the system. With PCBoard you CHOOSE whether to add sub-menus to the system. In fact, you can have both sub-menus, and the traditional "flat-menu model" which has been used by PCBoard systems for years. The focus of this session is how to create and implement sub-menus into your system. Having a greater understanding of the menu option types and their uses will be beneficial when tayloring the system to the needs of your callers. Topic: Adding A GUI Interface One of the most popular additions to any online system is a graphical user interface. Over the past couple of years, Clark Development has produced a free add-on called RIPkit that can be added to your system so your callers can operate in a GUI environment. This session briefly discusses the RIPkit and goes into more detail of how you can customize the RIPkit for your system and your callers. Topic: Imagine The Possibilities with PPL One of the most dynamic and exciting add-ons available for PCBoard customization is the PCBoard Programming Language. This session will focus on where PPEs can be installed to customize your system. Whether you simply install PPEs written by others, or write your own PPEs the information covered in this session will be invaluable. Internet 賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽 Topic: Making PCBoard Telnetable The Internet is hot! Users want to be able to access your system in a cost effective and convenient way. With PCBoard the most popular way to put your system on the net is to make it telnetable. The flexibility built into PCBoard provides several ways to connect to the net. This session discusses two of the most popular methods: 1) VModem under OS/2, and using a terminal server. If you run a BBS and you are looking for more exposure, you cannot afford to miss this session! Topic: Internet Access From PCBoard PCBoard does more than act as a great destination for the Internet. It also acts as an effective platform to put your callers on the net. This is accomplished through the outstanding third-party following with PCBoard. In this session, you will learn more about your options with regards to getting your users connected to the net. Topic: Getting A USENET Feed Using PCBoard's UUCP One of the high-traffic areas of the net is known as USENET. In v15.2 PCBoard included all of the utilities required to get USENET newsgroups from a provider and post them on your system. Getting connected to a provider entails setting up a SYSTEMS file and a chat script. In this session CDC staff will provide valuable information on getting a news feed into your system. Topic: PCBoard's UUCP Unleashed Once you get PCBoard's UUCP installed on your system, there are several powerful features which can utilized. For example, the new version of PCBoard (15.22) has the capability of separating inbound list-server messages for easy reading by your callers. Furthermore, effective usage of inbound and outbound aliasing aids in sending and receiving e-mail by ensuring messages get routed to the proper location. Learn about these techniques and many others in this informative session. Programming Applications 賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽 Topic: PCBoard Programming Language Compiler - I This is the first session in a series of discussions on the PPL compiler. This session will focus on the basics of the PCBoard Programming Language. Our staff will teach you about the structure of the language and how to design simple programs. The techniques learned will prepare you to understand the topics discussed in the advanced session. Topic: PCBoard Programming Language Compiler - II PCBoard's award-winning program language is every bit as powerful as it's big brother, PCBoard. In this second session on PPL, learn about advanced topics such as user defined procedures/functions and how to apply them to your code. Topic: PCBoard Programming Language Compiler - III In this last session of the PPL series, you will learn how to take the principles developed in the first two sessions and develop a full-blown application to install on your system. Topic: PCBToolkit - I If you are planning to write a door application for PCBoard, the Toolkit provides an excellent platform for doing so because it is based on the PCBoard source code. Door programs written with the PCBToolkit are 100% compatible with PCBoard. The work involved in comm routines and getting information from the PCBoard data files is automated. In this session our programmers will discuss the advantages and disadvantages to using the PCBToolkit over PPL, and how to write simple doors using it. Topic: PCBToolkit - II This session provides an advanced look at the DOOR Developer's PCBToolkit. This session will focus on more complex programs and the CDC programmers will discuss the latest enhancements to the soon-to-be-released PCBToolkit. File Maintenance 賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽 Topic: PCBFiler - I Many Bulletin Board Systems now have thousands and thousands of files available for download. With such large quantities of files, management and maintenance becomes critical. This session will focus on the principles of file management including how to move or copy a file to another directory, and much more. Topic: PCBFiler - II Building upon the information presented in the first session of PCBFiler we will discuss PCBFiler's rich feature-set. For example, how filters can be used to make your job as the SysOp easier. Also topics such as updating file descriptions stored within files. This will be an informative session on one of the more important features of PCBoard. Topic: PCBFiler - III PCBFiler has some extremely powerful functions available to help automate file maintenance. For example, the rules file can be used to automatically move files based on words within the description. Furthermore, duplicate file reports that find not only duplicate files but also SIMILAR files can be generated by PCBFiler. Become a more efficient SysOp by attending this advanced session on PCBFiler features. Credit Accounting 賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽 Topic: Credit Accounting - I Pay-to-play is the rage in online communications. This should be no surprise since on-line services such as Compuserve have been doing this for years. PCBoard has built-in, flexible credit accounting capabilities. In this session, you will learn more about how to configure and plan a setup that works best for you and your users. Topic: Credit Accounting - II Working with the principles taught in the previous credit accounting session, you will learn more about ways you can customize PCBoard to charge credits for certain activities. For example, each time a user runs a certain door, they can be charged a set amount of credits. More of the advanced areas where users can be charged is covered in this session. PCBMail 賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽賽 Topic: PCBMail - I How does PCBMail fit into my BBS? If you are running a BBS in a corporate environment or an environment where local logins are prevalent, the question you should be asking is "How did I get along without PCBMail?" By harnessing the graphical user interface in conjunction with PCBoard's flexible message and conference structure, PCBMail is a real boon. This session discusses the basics of using and configuring PCBMail. Topic: PCBMail - II PCBMail has several advanced features to utilize such as mailing lists, automatically loading a corresponding PCBoard node, and much more. You will learn how to take advantage of these features and many more in this advanced session of PCBMail.