To: Everyone interested in 2AM-BBS From: 2AM Associates Date: November 27, 1988 2AM-BBS Version 3.0 Product Description What is this? Who are we? 2AM-BBS is a Bulletin Board System for the IBM-PC or compatible. Previously, 2AM-BBS was strictly a commercial product and had to be purchased. Rising advertising costs coupled with the fact that people really like to "try before they buy" made us decide to offer 2AM-BBS as a shareware product. Registration information is offered in the file: ORDER.FOR in this archive (or on this disk). Please read it! Why? Because we realize that registering costs you money, so we have tried to list lots of reasons why it is worthwhile for you to do so. 2AM Associates is a small software company located in Florham Park NJ. Our purpose is the development of high quality software (2AM-BBS) and the support of the product after a sale has been made. We are VERY available to answer questions about the software. Here's how you can talk to us: On the west coast, we maintain a BBS (in Southern California) called Wamblyville (There is a standing reward for the first person who can tell the sysop exactly where "wamblyville" is). Reach it (300/1200/2400 baud, 7 days, 24 hours) at 818-577-6758. This system is in a PC Pursuit area (CAGLE outdial). On the east coast, the 2AM Assciates have an even larger spread: the Drew Underground at 201-377-8245, -8193, -7861, and -6810 running a multiuser configuration of 2AM-BBS (Northern NJ). This BBS is the site for product development, and over 1000 users (2AM sysops, sysops using other software, and many other users) contribute to over 35 message bases and enjoy 150 megs of public domain software with an optical WORM (Write-Once-Read-Mostly) on the way to offer scads more software. This system is also in a PC Pursuit area (NJNEW). If you are starting to get the idea that we are a small group of excitable programmers who are out to write and support BBS software, you are on the right track. - [This part of the file was written by Chris. If it sounds light-hearted, it's because he hasn't been up all night programming for a while now.] Oh, you can also reach us by writing: 2AM Associates 59 Murphy Circle Florham Park, NJ 07932 Or, if you live on a computer network, send messages to us at the following addresses: (This is the BITNET network): NCLARKE@DREW CGORMAN@CITCHEM 2AM Associates has been in business for 3 years now and is in the process of incorporating in the state of New Jersey. Our Philosophy When you register 2AM-BBS, you get the special attention of people who want to see your BBS flourish as much as you do. We offer printed documentation and phone support in a sincere effort to make sure that all registered 2AM-BBS sysops can get their BBS's running and keep them that way. Since everyone has suggestions for improvement, we keep special message bases on our home BBS's where suggestions can be posted. These suggestions are taken very seriously. Most software on the market today insist that you take what you get, and put a lot of fancy restrictions on technical support. We keep support personal and try to listen. Program Specifications 2AM-BBS runs on any IBM PC-XT/AT or true compatible. It also requires at least 256K of memory, a Hayes compatible modem, and a 10 Megabyte (minimum) hard drive. Multiuser systems can be configured for two lines with a multitasker, or for up to 8 lines with certain PC Networks. (Please contact us for further multiuser information as this aspect of the program is always expanding.) 2AM-BBS currently retails for $50 which includes the software, complete sysop and user documentation, and technical support from the 2AM Associates. A shareware version of 2AM-BBS is available as 2AM3-1.ARC, 2AM3- 2.ARC, and 2AM3-3.ARC. This is supplied so that you can try out 2AM-BBS before to pay for it, allowing you to make sure 2AM-BBS is the system is what you want to use. 2AM-BBS v3.0sw (shareware) does not support multiuser configurations. [This part of the file was written by Neil. If it sounds a little formal, it is because he WAS up until 2AM (wonder where that name came from?) working on the software] Features of 2AM-BBS Let us brag about a few of the nice features in 2AM-BBS. Please remember, we are constantly improving/adding to the system. As a result, this list of features may not include options/features included in the system. If there's a feature that you don't see here, we might have already put it in. If not, tell us about it. We love adding, changing, etc. and are always open to improvments. The User's Side of 2AM-BBS 1. ANSI support in menus, login notes, message bases, and other system files. 2. Up to 9,999 message bases with the multiple reading and scanning capabilities, as well as an easy to use editor. 3. Ability to send private mail to another user or group of users. The ability to read incoming and outgoing messages, with such options as message forwarding, or editing your outgoing mail. 4. A voting booth that allows users to vote upon up to 24 different questions with 2-10 multiple choice responses for each question. 5. A trivia system that allows users to answer questions on up to 20 different trivia topics. 6. File transfers may be organized into libraries, each of which has a directory in a standard, easy to read format, complete with the ability to be scanned. Uploading and downloading may be done via Xmodem, Xmodem CRC, Ymodem, or any sysop supplied external protocols. 7. A BBSlister that can be used to list or search for information on various aspects of different Bulletin Board Systems. 8. An in-depth and expandable help system. 9. Standard chat module with word-wrap. 10. Configure system that allows a user to set terminal parameters or various preferences. 11. A section from which sysop supplied Jumpdoors can be run. 12. Other main options such as feedback, system info, base listings, daily logs and statistics, and status information. The Sysop's Side of 2AM-BBS 1. An online user validator that keeps track of various system logs, has the ability to edit, delete, view, or scan users by many criteria. 2. A maintenance section that allows you to add files to the FILES libraries, as well as maintain the upload directory. All files and files sections can be restricted by privilege bits so that you can release files or groups of files to selected users. The ability to set hours of availability for your files section as well as support for "free" transfers is also included. 3. The ability to edit/delete entries in the BBSlister. 4. Easy to customize system prompts, menus, and text files. 5. Email monitoring, and message limiting abilities. 6. Load and save text files from the system editor. 7. Bases can be restricted by user privilege bits in respect to access to read, write, or maintain a base. With these bits, you can easily set up special access bases and give users the privilege to maintain individual bases. Maintenance includes being able to delete, undelete, and edit messages on that base as well as grant or restrict access to that base for any user. Sysops may also restrict the number of messages that can appear on a base. 8. Trivia topics may be restricted by privilege bits & a maintenance section for creating question files and scoring answers that users have given. 9. In the voting booth, there are options to create and delete privileged voting topics. 10. A system maintenance section from which you can create/delete sub- directories, erase/copy/rename/download/upload files, and read text files. 11. Jumpdoors section to allow the sysop to add external programs for privileged use. 12. Many keyboard functions that will allow you to edit/view the current user, disable bells, jump to dos, reserve next login, print session, or save session to disk. 13. Built in scheduling system that allows you to run external programs unattended at specific times of the day (backups, etc). OK, sounds like good stuff. Why should I register it? This is the most important part of this file. [-This part was edited by Tom. He's been up all night trying to combine the sections from Neil and Chris into a readable document]. If you have read all the way down to here, you must be strongly considering registering your version with us. This is where we have to convince you that the $50 registrations fee is well invested. Actually, that's easy to do. All you have to do is read the following reasons: 1) You'll receive printed manuals. 2) You will receive access to our special discussion groups on our BBS's for product development. 3) You'll receive our undivided attention if you have a problem, question or suggestion. 4) Since we are constantly improving the software, notices about upgrades are sent out to all our registered users. 5) When you register, you will be sent the most current version of the software. The registered version of the software can support multi-line configurations (several are available, and we can get 2AM running on any multi-line hardware/software configuration you can provide us specifications for). 6) Currently under development is a network mail system for all 2AM-BBSs across the country. Only registered systems will be able to participate in this network. 7) As a registered owner, you'll be able to participate in our "clearing house" project. If you are looking for Public Domain/shareware files, we'll do our best to make all our software "toys" available to you. Most of this stuff is public domain or shareware, and includes jumpdoors, external file protocols, utilities that other sysops have written, etc. Need to get a files section started? For the cost of the disks, we can send you a few megs of public domain/shareware software to offer to your users. It goes on and on. 8) The money we make from registration does not go into paying the fees for our country club (we don't have one anyway). It goes directly into development and enhancements of the product. We are NOT trying to make a fast buck. We are trying to make a name for ourselves. We want to be associated with a quality product, good service, and customer confidence. When you register, you are not only receiving additional support, you are helping us improve on the product, which in turn, will benefit you. We have been in business for over 3 years. We are not going to disappear on you. We will continue to improve on 2AM-BBS. What more could you ask? Thank you for taking the time to read this and explore 2AM-BBS. We think the product is the best on the market (granted, we are a bit biased). If you are still doubtful, talk to us! If you have questions, talk to us! If you are looking for specific features, talk to us!. Very often, features get overlooked in writing these "read.me" files, and 2AM turns out to do what you are looking for. The numbers of our development BBSs are listed about in this documentation. We can be reached there. Sincerely, Neil Clarke, Chris Gorman, Tom Vogl (2AM Associates) [end of file]