Get the Message ??

       Let's save some time right up front. This is the first in a
  series of articles directed to the many folks who have yet to
  discover the message section of their favorite BBS, or may be
  currently enjoying the message areas, but are unfamiliar with the
  ease of offline mail handling.

       If you regularly use an offline mail reader, you already
  understand the messaging systems, and you are free to explore the
  rest of the magazine. We're glad you stopped by, and please be
  sure to read all the other features in this issue of
  InterNational Online Magazine. TTYL, on the Net ;)

       Now that we've run off all the "experts", let's poke into
  this messaging thing, and for the benefit of those really new
  users, we'll begin at the beginning. Please bear with me, as it
  may be a little bit tedious in spots, but it will all come
  together in the end.

       Nearly all Bulletin Boards have some type of message
  handling system, whether it is just local to that BBS, or
  connected to one of the many national, or international, message
  networks (Nets). Yours may even be connected to several of the
  larger Nets, and provide you with a number of opportunities for
  exchange with users around the globe.

       Network message systems are a collection of specific
  Conferences, or subject areas, where messages from one user to
  another may be entered, read, and replied to. The Conferences are
  separate sections of the message system that work just like the
  Files Area partitioning. Messages sent to the Music Conference
  will be found by others only in that specific section.

       Messages on the Net are passed from one BBS to another, in
  "echo" fashion, until every BBS on the Net receives every message
  entered, hence the term "echomail". This is usually done using a
  "Hub" concept, where one BBS in a geographic area will act as the
  central point that several others use as their Net contact, and
  "poll" the Hub for the echomail.

       By uploading their users' messages to the Hub, the Hub can
  then pass all the messages from its group on to the "host" BBS.
  Using a series of Hubs, the Net can quickly pass large volumes of
  messages over very large areas, up to and including,
  internationally. Do keep in mind, this almost always means your
  BBS and the Hub BBS are making long distance telephone calls to
  move your messages. Hubs are usually required to poll mail daily,
  and when several others are polling the Hub and leaving large
  mail files, this can get quite expensive. In short, if you are
  paying anything to subscribe to a BBS, some of the "dues" are
  helping to cover LARGE telephone bills.

       All this message passing is done with files called "mail
  packets". Packets are collected by the Hub, combined into one Hub
  packet, and uploaded to the Host BBS. At the same time, each Hub
  collects from the Host all the messages that have come in from
  the other Hubs and downloads them. This process is referred to as
  "polling", or making a "mail run", and is usually accomplished
  after midnight by the BBS running an "Event", or automated
  program to do the calling and the packet exchange.

       As new messages reach the Host BBS, they are "stamped" with
  a sequential number that marks the messages in chronological
  order as received. The message will then be tagged with that
  number until it is deleted from the Host system. This allows
  tracking any attempts to upload or download the same message
  repeatedly, and, as we will see in the next installment, is a
  very valuable tool for the system to keep track of your personal
  mail history.

       Once the messages are exchanged as a packet, each BBS uses a
  "mail tosser" program to unpack the new mail file, sort the
  messages, and plunk them into the right Conference in the BBS
  message system. As a whole, this makes for a very fast and
  efficient operation, and with mail packets exchanged daily, your
  message is often delivered in a matter of hours.

       Now that we have echomail bouncing around Bulletin Boards
  all over the world every night, let's take a look at how we can
  join in ...

       Accessing the Message Area is usually as simple as selecting
  (M)essage Menu from the MAIN MENU of your BBS. This will move you
  to the message handling system where you have a number of options
  available. ( NOTE: If your BBS has a separate "area" for a Net,
  you may need to make a selection for that specific area, rather
  than just the (M)essage Menu ). While you're online in the
  message handling system, you will generally be able to perform at
  least the following; (J)oin or (C)hange to a Conference [or
  Area], (R)ead, (E)nter, (S)earch, (C)omment to the SysOp, (Y)our
  Messages, (N)ew Messages, (M)ail Door, and possibly several
  others.

       First off, you will want to "join", or change to, a
  Conference that interests you. When you select the (J)oin option,
  you will likely have the opportunity to (L)ist the Conferences
  that are available. Conferences are named to indicate the subject
  matter that will be considered "on topic", and most Conferences
  will have a "Moderator" assigned to help keep discussion going,
  keep it on the topics allowed, and to make sure the Net rules are
  followed. Should you have any questions, comments about the Net
  or the Conference, or conflicts, this is the individual to
  contact for information.

       Most of the Nets also provide a file that outlines in some
  detail the "spirit" of the discussion expected for each
  Conference. This allows you to select those conferences of
  interest with some assurance that you won't be reading about Rush
  Limbaugh in the Cooking Conference. Please note I said "some"
  assurance. Rush has a way of showing up everywhere sooner or
  later !

       There will likely be several Conferences that are not
  available to all users. Most Nets have Conferences set aside for
  the Moderators, SysOps, and administration that are accessible
  only by those involved in the system's operation. Also, if your
  BBS is not a "Hub", it may not carry all of the available
  Conferences on the Net, but your BBS probably does have a "Net
  Chat" Conference, and that may be a good place to start if you
  have never looked into the message area.

       When you have selected a Conference to join, you will be
  returned to the message area menu where you may now select (R)ead
  Messages. Selecting (R)ead may bring up a prompt for some
  additional information. You may have the option to select the
  message number you would like to start reading, or to read only
  messages addressed to you. You will also probably be told the
  "low" numbered message, and the "highest" numbered message. This
  will give you some indication of the total number of messages
  available in that Conference. Starting with a low numbered
  message will allow you to scroll through several before running
  out.

       Messages may be addressed to an individual by name, or to
  "ALL". Be mindful that your message addressed to a specific
  person is also available to be read by every other net user. Most
  message systems allow messages to be marked "Private", but there
  is no guarantee that the message will remain private on its
  journey through the net. For the most part, half the enjoyment is
  having the ability to read, and respond to, messages that were
  not necessarily addressed to you. It also insures that some of
  the messages you send will spark replies from unknown users.

       If you haven't looked into the Messages Area of your BBS, by
  all means do so !!  You will likely find it entertaining reading
  at the least, and you may well become a "regular" reader.

       If you find you enjoy the Message Area, you are generally
  free to read messages online, but you may soon find it eating up
  considerable amounts of your online time allowance. Next month
  we'll take a peek behind the (M)ail Door, where using the other
  features of the message system will let you download all messages
  in the conferences that interest you, for reading offline.

       Using a simple offline mail reader program will allow you to
  easily handle your own mail packets, and quickly bring the power
  of this incredible system right to your own PC. Be sure to watch
  for "Bring the Message Home", in next month's InterNational
  Online Magazine. 'Til then ... ~=:)

  Randy Britt, Contributing Editor InterNational Online Magazine