FALKEN Multi-User BBS USER GUIDE Version 5 for IBM and PC Compatibles Copyright INFO*SHARE Corporation, 1990 FALKEN BBS User Guide The Main Menu: The MAIN MENU is the major branching point to all areas of the system. This section of the documentation will give you a brief overview of each of these subsystems. For more detailed information, please refer to the respective sections within this manual. The basic Main Menu appears as follows: ****** MAIN MENU ****** H = Help Screen A = Edit Account Information B = Bulletins E = Electronic Mail D = Downloads from Program Library T = Multi-User Teleconference O = Open Doors System M = Public Message Base W = Who else is logged on C = Chat with the System Operator F = Feedback to Sysop I = User Biography Files U = User List S = Subscriber's Account Status L = Last 20 Logons X = Exit (logoff) Help Screen - This screen provides some general guidelines to those first accessing the system. Edit Account Information - Whenever you need to find out the status of your account or to edit your computer's system parameters, you may do so by accessing this function. Electronic Mail - Each subscriber is assigned a personal mailbox on the system. This function allows you to send and receive private messages to/from other subscribers. Bulletins - Here the System Operator can place information about the system or other pertinent information for users to reference. These bulletins can be flagged as "must read" for new user first accessing the system to inform them of policies and registration information. Downloads From Program Library - Public Domain software library for all major types of computers is available for downloading using the popular XMODEM, XMODEM/CRC, YMODEM, or ZMODEM batch file transfer protocols. Page 2 FALKEN BBS User Guide Multi-user Teleconferencing - This exciting feature allows all users to participate in open (or private) multi-user discussions while on-line. Open Doors - This area contains programs or utilities that can be executed on-line by users of the system. Public Message Base - This subsystem will contain general information posted by other subscribers, computer clubs, or business accounts. Users may respond to messages publicly or privately, or post their own. Who Else Is Logged On - Provides a list of other users currently on-line and indicates where on the system they are currently active. Chat With SYSOP - When selected the host system will "beep" the System Operator. If available, you will able to talk to him/her privately on-line. Feedback To The SYSOP - By using this feature a user sends an electronic message to the SYSOP. You should encourage your users to provide you with their comments about the system. Any ideas they have are usually appreciated and can be considered for implementation. If users find any errors they can use this function to notify you. User Biography Files - One of the most interesting aspects of a system such as this are the people you find using it. This option allows you to enter information about yourself as well as display information about other users. User List - Provides a list of all users, when their account was created and the last time they logged on to the system. Subscriber's Account Status - Displays information about your account including number of times called and time total on-line. The following documentation describes each subsystem in detail: Account Information: From the MAIN MENU select option "A" to display your account information. Some of the displayed data may be changed by selecting the number (or letter) corresponding to the item you wish to change. For example: selecting "M" will change the system message display status to "Short Messages" from "Verbose". This tells the system to only give you short descriptions of each area of the system entered. Once you are familiar with the system, having only short messages displayed will save you time. Other data can only be edited by the System Operator. User Parameter Edit Name Jack Smith (contact SYSOP to change) Page 3 FALKEN BBS User Guide 2. Street 3961 Holly View Drive 3. City Lake Ridge 4. State Virginia 5. Zip Code 22192 6. Phone 7034915823 7. Computer 0 8. Linefeed y 9. Width 80 G. Graphics: ANSI Graphics M Short Messages P Change password S Save changes and exit X Exit without saving changes Item number to change or S or X or P The Editor: You will enter the editor whenever you write a message on the system (i.e. post a message, write e-mail, or provide feedback). When you enter the editor you are in "insert mode", meaning that whatever you type will be placed into the edit lines. You have 50 lines of 80 characters, no more! Enter your message without pressing RETURN until you reach the end of a paragraph. The system will automatically "wordwrap" your message for you so don't be concerned about where words end on a line. Once you list the message you will see that the editor has properly "word-wrapped" each line. When in the editor you can be in "INSERT" mode or in "COMMAND" mode. When in INSERT mode, what you type becomes part of the text. When in COMMAND mode, what you type are instructions to the editor. Commands: You may enter "command mode" by pressing "/" RETURN on an otherwise empty line. When you are in "command mode", a short list of edit options will be displayed and a "?" will appear on the left side of the screen, to the left of the cursor. You may now enter commands to the editor. Commands are single letters, followed by one or more prompts, as described below. Following is a list of commands recognized by the editor: A Append text lines to the end of the buffer. This is similar to insert, above, but all text lines entered will be appended to the end of the buffer. C Replaces (changes) the first occurrence of a text string to a new text string in the specified range of lines. D [start line] [number of lines] - delete lines of text. Text is moved down to replace deleted lines in the buffer. F locates the first occurrence of the specified string Page 4 FALKEN BBS User Guide starting at the specified line. H Or ? - Displays this help information while on-line. I Insert lines of text. This command places you in "insert mode". Text lines will be inserted in front of the line number specified. L List lines of text. If you enter just "L", without specifing the start line the entire text buffer will be listed, (all lines). If you specify a line number that line and all lines following will be listed. Q Quits, i.e. returns you to the previous command level without saving your message to disk. S Or W - write text buffer to disk. This command actually saves the message you have composed and returns you to the previous command level (message base, e-mail, etc.). G (SYSOP only) - get text file from disk. Sysop level users can can read a file into the editor from the system's hard disk, and write files to the hard disk from the editor. The command "/g filename" will get (read) a text file into the editor buffer. P (SYSOP only) - The command "/p filename" will put (write) a text file from the editor buffer. Public Message Base The message base consists of messages and responses. All messages in the message base are public, as are all responses. The message base is broken into "Folders", each folder being concerned with a different subject. When you enter the message base, you can press RETURN to obtain a list of the active folders. From the Message Folder Menu you have the following options: S# Skip folder # when searching for new messages. This folder will always be skipped unless you later Unskip it. U# Unskip folder #. N By selecting a folder number you will be taken directly to that folder. R Reads all NEW messages in each (unskipped) folder. P Post a message. The system will prompt you for a message folder. H Displays Message Base information. Page 5 FALKEN BBS User Guide Q Quits to FALKEN Main Menu. When you enter the folder of your choice, you are presented with the Message Folder menu. From there you can scan message subjects, read messages, post messages, cancel or edit messages and responses you posted, or exit back to the Message Base or Main Menu. The "new" option on the scan and read commands (SN or RN) allows you to single out messages which were posted or responded to since the last time you accessed the folder. The read command also allows you to specify a particular message number to start reading from (R#x where x is the message number). To edit or cancel a message, include #xRn after the command, i.e. C#3R0 to cancel message number 3 Response 0. When reading messages, you will be shown the message, then the responses. After each response you may enter "X" to exit back to the Message base menu, "F" to advance to the next message (not the next response), or just RETURN to read the next response. When all responses have been read, you may enter "Y" to respond to the message, "S" to skip this message and its responses, "X" to exit to the message base menu, or RETURN to read the next message. If you press RETURN while a message or response is printing, the output is stopped, and the next response is read. If there are no more responses, you are allowed to respond to the message. You may add a response to a message at any time when you are viewing the message or its list of responses. Entering "R" to the "Next Response" prompt will allow you to add a response to the response list, and then continue through the rest of the responses. You can leave a private response to the originator of the last response by replying with a "P". To send a private reply to anyone other than the originator, reply with "P" . When posting a new message, you will be asked to provide a subject. Limit the subject description to under 40 characters. Command Summary: The following is a summary of message base commands to be entered at the end of each displayed message: ...Takes you to the next response ........Returns you to the Message Base Menu ........Skip responses and go to the end of this message thread ........Read NEW responses to this message and skip previously read responses .......Backup 'x' responses within the current message

........Send a private message to the originator of the last read response. ........Add a response to this message ........Go forward to the next message The following is a summary of message base commands to be entered Page 6 FALKEN BBS User Guide at the Message Base prompt (when Current Folder:) is displayed - R Read all messages and responses. RN Read new messages and responses. Any new messages will be displayed, and if a message has new responses, the message and new responses will be displayed. R#x Read all messages starting with number x. Example : R#14 S Scan message subjects. Shows who posted, subject, when posted, number of responses, and time of last response. SN Scan new messages and responses. S#x Scan starting at message number x. C#x Cancel message number x. It must be a message you posted. All responses to the message are deleted with the message. C#xRy Cancels a particular response (y) from message x. E#x Edit a message - allows you to modify a message that you posted. E#xRy Edit a response - allows you to modify a response you posted. X Exit back to Active Folder list. # (any number) - go to a different message folder by entering its number. P Post a new message. H Online help file. X Exit to Message Base Menu. Q Exit to FALKEN Main Menu. Electronic Mail: When you logon to the system you will be notified of your E-Mail status. If you have private mail waiting you will see the message: "EMAIL : x new lettesr found.". To read your mail enter "E" from the MAIN MENU then "R" from the E-Mail menu. All mail written to you will be displayed along with a header indicating who sent you the message and the date and time it was written. After each message has been displayed you will be given the option to Delete that message, Forward it to another user, Reply Page 7 FALKEN BBS User Guide to the sender, or eXit back to the E-mail menu. If you just press [ENTER] you will go to the next message (if there is one). To send mail to another user you must know their system name. If you are unsure, you can browse the User List (U from main menu). Enter "S" from the E-Mail menu then answer the prompt to indicate to whom the message is to be sent. You will see a message verifying the name of the user you are sending mail to. Once completed and saved you will not be able to edit the message, so be sure everything is acceptable before saving. To check the delivery status of mail you have sent, select "D" from the E-Mail menu. You will be prompted to enter the name of the user you have sent mail to. If not read the entire message will be displayed and you will be given the option to Delete this letter or Copy it to another user. You can use the Copy feature to easily send a single message to multiple users. The Mailing List Option allows you to create a special group of users for which you would like to send mail to on a frequent basis. You can View, Change, Add, and Delete these mailing lists as required. Teleconferencing: The teleconference area is an open CB-type forum. When you enter the teleconference area, you are first put into the "open" teleconference. This conference is always present, and always public. You may create your own "sub- conference" if you wish. You can join other sub-conferences or remain in "open". When you are in the teleconference area, anything you enter on your computer will be broadcast to others in your teleconference; however, nothing is broadcast until RETURN is pressed. This allows you to make corrections prior to making your inputs public. Once you press RETURN to send your message you will receive all text entered by others in your conference while you were busy typing. Remember that while you are typing you will temporarily be unable to receive inputs from others until RETURN is pressed. Certain commands apply to the teleconference area. All commands in this area must be preceded by a "." to distinguish them from a broadcast message. Whenever a "." is found in the first column, a command is assumed. Note - in the examples that follow, [ ] denotes required parameters, while { } denotes optional parameters. Commands: .LIST - shows all active conferences, subjects, and members. Page 8 FALKEN BBS User Guide .WHO - shows who is logged on and where they are on the system. .USER [name] - displays the information file provided by the user indicated (See Section XI - User Information Files). You may also enter the user's handle. .USERLIST [starting point] - displays a list of which users. If no starting point is given, the list starts at the beginning, in alphabetical order. If you give a starting point, such as a name or even just a letter, the list starts at that point. .STATUS - shows your current teleconference status. .MAKE [conference name] (subject} - creates a new conference with the given name, and places you in it. If no subject is given, "general" is used. .JOIN [conference name] - places you in the named conference, unless it is private. .LEAVE - if you are in the "open" conference, you exit the teleconference area and return to the main menu, else you are placed in the "open" teleconference. .PRIVATE - declares the conference you are in "private". No one else may join it unless you issue the .INVITE [handle] command. .PUBLIC - declares the conference you are in "public". Others may join it. .INVITE [handle] - allows "handle" to join your private conference. .SAYTO [handle] [message] - send a private message to another user. If the other user is in the teleconference area he/she will receive the message, even if the user is in a different conference, whether private or public. No one else will see the message. .PAGE [handle] - pages the specified user to the teleconference area (except when that user is in the process of transferring a program file). .SUBJECT [subject] changes the subject field for your conference as it appears in the .list command (limit to 40 characters). .EXIT - return to main menu from the OPEN conference or any other private or public conferences. .POST [message] - allows users to leave one line (70 character) messages on the teleconference "chalkboard". The chalkboard can hold up to 20 messages before the oldest message will Page 9 FALKEN BBS User Guide scroll off to make room for a new message. .VIEW - allows users to view messages on the FALKEN "chalkboard". .ERASE [message#] - Erases the chalkboard message number indicated (Sysop can erase any message while other users can only erase messages they posted). .SEND [handle] [message] - sends a message to any user, even if the user is not in tlcf at the time. This command is reserved for SYSOPS only, to allow a sysop to send instructions or information to any online user. .PERM - this is a SYSOP command that makes the current conf- erence permanent. Usually, conferences created with the .MAKE command disappear when the lastr user leaves it. This command causes the conference to remain active even if no users are in it. .NOPERM - This SYSOP command removes the effects of a previous .PERM command, allowing the conference to disappear when the last user leaves. .TIME - displays date and time. .BUFFER - allows a user to 'buffer' input, where all input is stored in a text buffer for subsequent transmission to the teleconference. .SENDBUF - transmits the contents of the text buffer to all users of the conference, allowing multi-line messages to be sent. .CANCEL - cancels the effects of a previous .BUFFER command. FALKEN Software Library: One of the most popular features of BBS systems is their store of public domain and shareware programs for users to download and use. FALKEN supports software downloads, allowing up to 10 different libraries, or categories, of files. Information for each of the files is maintained in a keyed database file for fast access. This allows keyword searches and various listing options. Most of the files in this section have been created with a file compression program. Most of the file names end with ".arc" or ".zip". These are the compressed programs. Most often, the program files and documentation files have been combined into the compressed file to simplify downloading. Page 10 FALKEN BBS User Guide In order to use these files, you must first download the appropriate archive program for your system. These archive programs are the first files listed in the available files list. You will have to download the executable file and the documentation file. Once you are familiar with the archive utility, download the ".arc" file you want. Use the "extract" function to make normal files from the ".arc" file and you are ready to use the new program. Many of these programs have extensive documentation. The documentation files are often larger than the program files. Commands: Options available at the Software Library menu are : L List available files. You will be asked for keywords, and for how many days back to look for files. A short, one line listing of the file information will be displayed. V Same as above, except the full (verbose) description of each file will be displayed. C Change categories within this library. To see all categories, select 0 for ALL. F Change file libraries. T Transfer (download) a file. This command tells the system that you wish to receive one of the files. The system will ask you to supply the file name, and the file transfer method. After you see the message "Ready to send file', you should initiate the file transfer on your computer. U Upload a file (you send a file to the BBS). If you have a program or other file that you think would be of interest to other users, upload it. You will be prompted for the file name, transfer protocol, and will be asked to supply a description of the file for the sysop. Q Exit back to main menu. System Operator Library Functions For those who have SYSOP or SUBOP privilges several other choices are presented at this menu. You may do a directory list of either the UPLOAD or DOWNLOAD directory. You may delete files from either directory. You may save files (move from uploads to downloads). When you SAVE a file, you are asked for the file name in the upload directory, and what file name to save it as. You are also asked who uploaded it, and you are asked to supply a password. If you just press return, no password is assigned, and none is needed to access the file. If you enter a password, then the file Page 11 FALKEN BBS User Guide cannot be downloaded until the user provides the password. There is 1 UPLOAD path and 1 DOWNLOAD path per library. All saves go from the upload path to the download path. All uploads go to the upload path. When a user wishes to download a file, the normal download path is searched for the file. If the file is not found in the normal download path, then the "extra" download paths are searched. This should allow enough flexibility for the CD-ROM users. The BBSCFG utility has a separate input screen for "Extra Paths". You may also perform a directory list of the download directory ('W'), or the upload direectory ('Y'). You can delete files from the download library ('D filename') or from the upload directory ('Z filename'). You can also move a file from one down-load library/category to another ('M filename'). User Information Files: Once entering this subsystem you have the option of creating or editing your personal information file. This file will be displayed to any user who wants to find out more about you. Information you share should include your age, school or place of work, and whatever interests you may have. To view information about another user you can enter their System Name. You can also display this file from the teleconferencing system by using the command ".user name" where name is the name of the user whose biography you wish to view. Edit or create your biography by typing EDIT at the prompt. You may see which users have entered a biography by typing LIST at the prompt. Return to the main menu by typing X at the prompt. Feedback & Support: Selecting the "Feedback" option from the MAIN MENU places you into the system editor so that you may write a private message to the System Operator (sysop). SYSOP's ON-LINE MENU Select option "Z" from the Main Menu and supply the correct password (specified in BBSCFG), and you will call up the on-line system operators menu: System Level Menu : Page 12 FALKEN BBS User Guide [K]ill a user [D]isplay user info [E]dit user info [L] Turn Log File Off [crashit] reboots computer [copy sourcefile destfile] [del filename] [dir filespec] [enter] to return to main menu Choose one : (K)ill A User - can be used to LOGOFF a user who is currently on- line. After entering the command the system will ask for the user name to LOGOFF. The LOGOFF will be immediate no matter where the user is on the system. (D)isplay User Information - will allow you to display the following information on any account: A == Name herb B == Real Name Herb Rose C == Street 12345 Ravenscar Ct D == City Centreville E == State Va F == Zipcode 22020 H == Access 5 I == Phone (703) 555-1784 J == Expires 06/01/92 1 5 10 15 20 : : : : : K == Message Read Flags 11111111111111111111 L == Message Post Flags 11111111111111111111 M == Upload Flags 1111111111 N == Download Flags 1111111111 O == General Access Flags 1111111 1=bios 2=tlcf 3=post-email 4=doors 5=subop 6=sysop 7=network functions P == Password power (E)dit User Information - Provides the sysop will the ability to edit the user information shown above. To change the Flags, you must enter the entire line of new values. For example - to give someone SUBOP access, BIOS access, TLCF access, POST-EMAIL access, but NOT DOORS access, you would type "1110100". To change a user's account field type the field letter and the new entry. For example: to change the expiration type the following at the prompt: J 01/01/91 You can change more than one field at a time: Page 13 FALKEN BBS User Guide H 3 P new X The above entries would change security level to "3", the password to "new", then save the changes. To exit without making any changes select "Q" to quit. To delete the account from the database, select option "Z" WARNING: Once deleted the data is lost! The account can only be recreated as a "new" account. To create a new account see the section below: (L) Turn Log File Off - Gives you the option to disable the system logging feature (See BBSCFG). When selected the System Log will no longer be captured on disk. (CRASHIT) Reboots Computer - Typing this command will reset your computer and execute your AUTOEXEC.BAT file to bring the system back on-line. This utility is helpful when you are calling in as a remote user and need to reinitialize the system. This action is immediate! The remaining SYSOP commands are a crude implementation of the often used COPY, DEL, and DIR commands. Be extra careful and use full path names when using these commands. Page 14