Note that the MANUAL was written for v2.5. The following outlines changes since then: NEW FOR 3.00.......................INTERNET ACCESS.................... New Internet Address For Support: Russell_Frey@PowerBBS.Win.Net (* Internet forum must be between 1-199; Internet Network News forums must be between 1-999 *) File Manager ------------ For the File Manager and the CD2HD program, you need VBRUN300.DLL. Internet with Qwk Mail ---------------------- The current QWK mail standard limits names to 25 characters. To get around this, PowerBBS permits the following trick that will allow your users to enter Internet messages with their Qwk mail readers. As the first line of the main body text use "TO: NAME" where name is the internet address. For example, a user with a QWK mail program would prepare the header of the message and then use: TO: Russell_Frey@PowerBBS.Win.Net As the FIRST line of text. PowerBBS will use that TO: portion in Internet forums which permits up to 64 characters. This gets around the problem of not being able to create reply packages off-line! Internet Access --------------- PowerBBS for Windows v3.0 provides an EASY connection to the Internet. Everything you need including a server connection, mail importation/exportation, and more is included. By connecting to the internet your users will have their own internet access code [name@bbsname.win.net]. Users may enter messages directly to internet users (an Internet forum on your BBS will be set up for this). In addition PowerBBS provides support for Usenet News Groups, giving you access to a choice of 6000 message conferences on the Internet, of which you may set up as forums on PowerBBS! PowerBBS handles files across the Internet just as it does with PowerBBS. Enclose a file via [F]ile Enclosure and PowerBBS takes care of the rest. Similarly PowerBBS will import files and place as a [F]ile Enclosure. Server/Protocol Dialer ---------------------- PowerBBS uses the WinNet mail connection. Download WNMAIL.ZIP on the PowerBBS Support BBS. Connection through the internet will be made by the WinNet server. Be sure to install WinNet onto the same drive that you have PowerBBS located! [Be sure to pick up WinNet mail from the PowerBBS support BBS, as this version is written with PowerBBS in mind.] First unzip WNMAIL.ZIP into a temporary directory, and run SETUP.EXE from that directory. Although WinNet was originally intended as an application for an individual to connect to the Internet, PowerBBS uses WinNet to connect your entire BBS and all its users to the Internet! After running Setup, you will need to set up an account. WinNet will ask for your name, address, credit card #, etc. The only item that is different for PowerBBS is the EMAIL Name used with WinNet. Be sure this is set to RFREY, the system name should be the name of your particular BBS. By using PowerBBS with WinNet, you do not have to look for a service for connecting to the Internet! We made it easy for you! The userid you will end up using is your name. Ie: TOM_SMITH where your Internet address is TOM_SMITH@systemname.win.net. PowerBBS simply takes mail addressed to TOM_SMITH@systemname.win.net and places it into the internet directory, converting the address to TOM SMITH. This is the same as if someone left TOM SMITH mail on the BBS. PowerBBS Systems Running FrontDoor ---------------------------------- If you are running FrontDoor, be aware of these differences. Set up an EVENT under FrontDoor. When this event is run, set [EXEBBS INTER] in your batch file and then return control to PowerBBS. When PowerBBS reads a INTER in the baud rate, it will run the EXPORT.BAT in your powrbbs directory (run IN_OUT in this batch); then it will run UUCICO.EXE; lastly it will run IMPORT.BAT in your powrbbs directory (run IN_IN in this batch). Setting up PowerBBS ------------------- 1) Create a forum, and call it Internet (This is the name of the forum). Never use forum #0 for any Internet forum. 2) Edit the properties of the ICON for starting up PowerBBS. Add /I, ie: C:\Powrbbs\Powrbbs C:\Powrbbs\Powrbbs.dat /I 3) Be sure you have an active event set up on your system. 4) If you want Usenet News Groups set up individual PowerBBS forums for each UseNet News Group. The name of these forums should begin with INTNN For example, if you want to receive the ALT.BBS news group, call the forum name in CONFIG of PowerBBS something like INTNN BBS Forum. Just remember to always start the forum name with INTNN. 5) Edit your EVENT.BAT file. Be sure the export routines are included. 6) Edit a new file C:\Powrbbs\IMPORT.BAT (Where C:\Powrbbs shoulds be replaced by your main Powrbbs forum). Be sure the import routines are included. 7) Be sure \WNMAIL is in your path (to run UUCICO.EXE) 8) Be sure the files: UUENCODE.EXE and UUDECODE.EXE are in your path. PowerBBS accomplishes mail exchange in the following fashion: ------------------------------------------------------------- A) Your EVENT.BAT is run at the event time you set up. At some point in your EVENT, the IN_OUT will export the InterNet Mail. B) As soon as the EVENT.BAT window closes, PowerBBS will automatically run the UUCICO.EXE program to actually talk with an Internet server to exchange mail. C) As soon as UUCICO.EXE is done, the C:\Powrbbs\IMPORT.BAT file is run to import the received Internet mail via the IN_OUT program. Notes ----- *** You MUST run IN_IN.EXE & IN_OUT.EXE on the SAME drive as your \WNMAIL directory. The Export/Import routines work very similarly to PowerNet. First create a dummy user, and give that dummy user 150 security level. Export Routines --------------- PowerBBS exports mail from the PowerBBS message base files to be compatible with the Internet UUCICO. You should add one line to your EVENT to export the mail. First create an EXPORT.BBS file which IN_OUT (the Internet Export Program) will use to export mail from PowerBBS. The add a line to run the IN_OUT program in your EXPORT.BAT file. EXPORT.BBS File: |10 ;powerbbs 1,1,0 2,alt.bbs,0 |# signifies the message counter. Set to |10 to start out. ;SYSTEM signifies the system internet name set up with WinNet With ;SYSTEM Internet addresses would be name@SYSTEM.win.net #1,#2,#3 #1: PowerBBS Forum Exporting FROM #2: Network News Group NAME #3: Last Read Message Pointer (0 = Start reading at msg #0) This is updated after every IN_OUT run automatically. In the EXPORT.BBS you will have one line indicating where to send the private email. All the other lines will be for each separate network news group. For the private Email set options #1 and #2 equal. So if you want the private Internet mail to go to forum #1, put 1,1,0. If your INTERNET forum is forum #5, put 5,5,0. All the other lines are for network news groups. As example shows 2,alt.bbs,0 all messages in forum #2 will be exported to the alt.bbs network news group. Add some sort of line like this to your event: in_out c:\powrbbs\powrbbs.dat glen frey powerbbs c:\powrbbs\export.bbs ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ [IN_OUT] specifies the IN_OUT.EXE program to RUN. [C:\Powrbbs\Powrbbs.Dat] should be the full path to your PowerBBS datafile. [GLEN FREY] should be the dummy user that was created and given security level 150. [PowerBBS] should be the SYSTEM NAME that you set up in the ACCOUNT SETUP of WNMAIL [C:\powrbbs\export.bbs] should be the full path to the export.bbs file that was created above. FULL PATH to EXPORT.BBS file must be given. Import Routines --------------- After the UUCICO.EXE program is run (which calls the server to exchange mail), you need to import the messages received into your PowerBBS forums. This is taken care of in an IMPORT.BAT file that PowerBBS will look for in your PowrBBS directory. (note that the winnet system has to take care of the messages before the following import procedure is actually done. PowerBBS automatically pauses for 2 minutes before running import.bat. HOWEVER, THIS MAY NOT BE LONG ENOUGH. Use the WAIT.EXE program in the powerbbs directory to wait longer (such as WAIT 120 as the first line in the import.bat file to wait for 2 minutes). IMPORT.BBS FILE: ;powerbbs 0,1 alt.bbs,2 ;SYSTEMNAME - Specifies the system name being used (your WinNet ACCOUNT name) 0,1 - Second line should be 0,INTERNET FORUM. 0,1 signifies to put all Internet direct mail into forum #1. 0,2 means forum #2, etc. alt.bbs,2 - The rest of the file should contain network news groups info. alt.bbs,2 means place network news group ALT.BBS messages into forum #2. The C:\Powrbbs\IMPORT.BAT file: in_in c:\powrbbs\powrbbs.dat glen frey powerbbs c:\powrbbs\import.bbs ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ The setup for IN_IN is the same, except you include IN_IN to run the import internet mail program, and you must give the path to the import.bbs file. Notes for using Internet on PowerBBS ------------------------------------ When writing a message in a network news group, you must use E to enter a message. If you select a direct internet message to send a message to it will be sent as private internet mail. If you want to POST a message in a Network News Group, send a message to ALL. Sending FILES ------------- Users may send files, just by using the [F]ile Enclosure option. PowerBBS automatically will UUencode the file, and send over the internet. Note although PowerBBS will not split up the message, the Internet messages left counter will be incremented by File Size / 10000 bytes. So it is still easy to set a max internet message count and permit people to send messages. Note that users do NOT need the FTPmail option on to send files via mail. The FTPmail option is needed to send mail to ftpmail@... Receiving Files and FTPmail --------------------------- If PowerBBS receive a UUencoded message, it will automatically decode the message and place it as a [F]ile Enclosure. So it is VERY easy for users to receive files, without ever having to understand UNIX. PowerBBS charges messages (size / 10000 bytes) for [F]ile Enclosures that are to the person directly and not in a network news forum. This means that if someone FTPmails a file, or someone else sends them a file via internet directly, they will be charged as if they sent 10 messages if the file is 100000 bytes. Restricting Internet Access On Your BBS --------------------------------------- Internet access costs you money, so you will probably not want all of your users to have access to it. PowerBBS provides two new user items: * Allow FTPmail * MAX Internet Messages/Month The first item when turned on allows your users to send mail to the ftpmail site to receive files. MAX Internet Messages/Month gives you the ability to set a restriction on the number of internet messages a user will be able to write each month. Note that you will probably want to make your internet forums restrictive to a minimum security level (say security level 60); as soon as you grant someone level 60 they will be able to leave mail so you will probably want to also set the maximum option at the same time. Note: Users are defaulting to 0/0 (meaning they cannot leave any Internet mail before you upgrade them!) Summary Of Setup ---------------- Remember that PowerBBS will take care of the importing, exporting. Once your account is set up, do NOT run WinNet mail reader. \WNMAIL contains UUCICO.EXE program. \WNMAIL is in PATH IN_OUT.EXE; IN_IN.EXE; UUDECODE.EXE; UUENCODE.EXE; IMPORT.BAT in \Powrbbs Example EXPORT.BBS File: |462 ;powerbbs 1,1,233 2,alt.bbs,418 Example IMPORT.BBS File: ;powerbbs 0,1 alt.bbs,2 Example line added to EVENT.BAT: in_out c:\powrbbs\powrbbs.dat glen frey powerbbs c:\source\export.bbs Example IMPORT.BAT file: in_in c:\powrbbs\powrbbs.dat glen frey powerbbs import.bbs New |MACROS| ------------ |INTMAX| Translates into the maximum number of messages a user may enter each month |INTMSG| Translates into the number of internet messages currently entered by user CBV --- Added PREFIX that must must be called at all times. IE: PREFIX=9 Default RIP Screen ------------------ The default RIP Screen is displayed before transmission of text screens. The file DEFAULTR in your Powrbbs directory will be displayed. If not found, PowerBBS will send its own internal default RIP screen. Continue RIP Screen ------------------- The following code is implemented in PowerBBS upon a get_enter key: println_modem(^A'|Y00000100|1B0000020QOG030F000F080700020F07000000'); println_modem('!|=00000001|1U6E7C9G7S0020<>Continue<>^M|#|#|#'); If the file PAUSE1 exists in your powerbbs directory, that will be displayed in replace of the above! PAUSE RIP Screen ---------------- The following code is implemented in PowerBBS upon a pause: println_modem(^A'|Y00000100'); println_modem('!|1B0000020QOG030F000F080700020F07000000|=00000001'); println_modem('!|1U507C827S0000<>Continue<>^M|1U967CC87S0000<>Stop<>S'); If the file PAUSE2 exists in your powerbbs directory, that will be displayed in replace of the above! The following code erases the above: println_modem(^A'|S010F|S0100|B4P76CI7X|#|#|#'); If PAUSE3 exists in your powerbbs directory, that will be displayed in replace of the above! Added Forward Mail ------------------ New [W] command when reading mail to forward a message. Convert DESCRIPT.ION, WILDCAT.TXT, 00_INDEX.TXT, FILES.BBS on CD ROMs to PowerBBS File Listings! ------------------------------------------------------------- Download CD2HD2.ZIP on the PowerBBS Support BBS. This program will do the conversion for you! Telcor Systems Corporation -------------------------- The T/Port is a great serial port card that comes with its own Windows drivers. The T/Port is compatible with PowerBBS. Telephone: 508-653-3999 Fax: 508-651-0065 BBS: 508-655-1762 **************************************************************************** WANT SOMETHING NEW: Leave a msg on the BBS. Most of the new features ------------------ are suggestions from users. For those wishing to contract us, we will implement features you require. For most features, we usually charge less than $30 for the entire job! Just ask us for a quick quote and you'll be surprised! **************************************************************************** ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- NEW FOR 2.72........................ Run a PowerLang script file, in a message, on an ascii/ansi screen... --------------------------------------------------------------------- New MACRO: |PL:###| Where ### is the PowerLang script file # to run. Example: |PL:001| will run PowerLang script file #1. Be aware that this macro MUST begin on position one of the screen (the start of a new line). |PL:150| will run PowerLang script file #150. Enhanced Teleconferencing ------------------------- --> SHARE.EXE <-- --> SHARE.EXE <-- NOTE: YOU MUST BE RUNNING SHARE.EXE for PROPER EXECUTION OF MULTI-NODE CHATTING!! --> SHARE.EXE <-- --> SHARE.EXE <-- Add SPLIT SCREEN SYSOP CHAT MODE (In ANSI mode only) Increased sending speed of line/line chat for multi-user chatting. When paging person for CHAT, BBS asks user whether they want to directly enter that chat. If they select YES, they are automatically brought into the chat mode the paging person is in. (Either Group/Channel/Unlisted Channel) If person doesn't want to chat, paging user will be notified that they do not want to chat. (ie: Node #2 denied Chat) Added ONE-TO-ONE chat mode (via W)ho command). This chat mode permits two people on-line to have a direct chat, just as the Sysop/User Chat. SPLIT SCREEN ONE-TO-ONE chat mode is supported in ANSI mode. NEW FOR 2.71........................ Fixed file problems, including those dealing with SHARE violations (thanks to good 'ole MICROSOFT!!) Now include the PowerNet files, UPQWK.EXE and GETREP.EXE in the \Powrbbs directory! Join QWK net today! NEW FOR 2.7......................... NEW GUI CONFIG!! ---------------- PowerBBS's CONFIG Program was totally rewritten. Its new GUI format, makes it EASIER THEN EVER to get your PowerBBS up and running! Call Back Verifier (New Feature / See CBV.ZIP on Prof Source Disk) ------------------------------------------------------------------ (* NOTE THE CALL-BACK VERIFIER IS PRESENT ONLY IN THE PROFESSIONAL VER *) The Call Back Verifier feature is built into the professional version of PowerBBS. It is run AUTOMATICALLY at logon, right after the STATS screen is displayed. It will only be run for the security levels you specify in the CALL5 file. A Call Back Verifier calls the user back to verify the number they are giving is correct. It is built around the phone number format ###-###-####. If your country uses some other format, you will have to modify the code yourself. (The complete Call Back Verifier is now included in the source code package of the Professional Version). The Call Back Verifier automatically updates LOCAL users. The Call Back Verifier will make sure that a duplicate phone number is not used. Be aware that it only searches phone numbers that have already been verified via the Call Back Verifier (it does not check users phone numbers who have not been through the Call Back Verifier). There are 5 new files that the Call Back Verifier uses (CALL1-CALL5). All 5 of these files should be placed into your POWRBBS directory. \POWRBBS\CALL1, \POWRBBS\CALL2, etc. It should be in the same directory as your POWRBBS.DAT file. CALL1 This file is displayed to the user, when the call back verifier will not call out because the user is not within the same area code. CALL2 This file explains what the Call Back Verifier does. It is displayed right before the user is asked whether or not they want to continue. CALL3 Screen displayed right before the Call Back Verifier takes its action. CALL4 A List of phone numbers NOT to call. Ie the Police, Fire Station, etc. Use *### to make all numbers starting with ### bad (IE: If you put *974 then 9741111 would be bad); Otherwise ####### should be used. Ie: 9382828. Use #### to specify an AREA code that is bad. (IE: If you put #900 then all 900 numbers will not be called). CALL5 Setup of the call back verifier. Example file: ;This is the list of security levels. ;Description of this example: ;Line1: Update Security 10 to (Line2) Security 30 ;Line3: Update Security 20 to (Line4) Security 30 ;Only Security Levels 10 & 20 are updated here *BBS_AREACODE=516 *CALL_ONLY_BBS_AREACODE=TRUE *DOCALLAREACODE=607 *DOCALLAREACODE=914 *USE_ONE_FOR_LONG_DIST=TRUE *ALWAYS_DIAL_AREA_CODE=FALSE 10 30 20 30 The *BBS_AREACODE=###, tells the call back verifier which area code you are running the BBS from. *CALL_ONLY_BBS_AREACODE=TRUE tells the Call Back Verifier to only call numbers in the area (7 digits) *CALL_ONLY_BBS_AREACODE=FALSE tells the Call Back Verifier that it is ok to call long distance. *USE_ONE_FOR_LONG_DIST=TRUE tells CBV to dial a 1 + areacode + phonenumber for long distance calls. *ALWAYS_DIAL_AREA_CODE=TRUE tells CBV to always dial area code (Some states require this). CALL6 Notifies user that they have been verified. They are then disconnected (to avoid you having to pay for them to get a FREE call!) CALL7 Used to inform user that a FAX is about to be sent (FAX CAPABILITIES ARE IN ALL VERSIONS). Automatically Send RIP Icons ---------------------------- PowerBBS will automatically determine if your RIP callers need ICONS. Run ICONLIST.EXE (supplied by RIPaint) to create an entire list of all your icons. Call the file ICONS and place it into your \POWRBBS directory. Next copy all your icons (.ICN files) into your \POWRBBS directory. If a user does not have an ICON it will be automatically copied from your \POWRBBS directory to the users ICON directory. List Users Command ------------------ Made the LIST USERS command available to your menus (same one as is on the SysOp menu). This command is now built in command #45. Also added the following capabilities to User Searches: Select: [A]ll, [F]ind, [L]evels, [S]earch? Carrier Detections ------------------ Added /P(Base #) Option Some people have mentioned that PowerBBS may drop carrier after running some doors. If this happens to you, you can try the following. Add this option to your command line for running PowerBBS. An example for $3F8 would be (converted to integer): /P1016 Added SysOp Commands -------------------- Added T)ype file command at DOS utilities Added F)ile Maintenance REMOTE UPDATE YOUR FILE LISTS! M)ove Files, D)elete Files, between forums and file lists! Just select this new option, and you'll be able to do all your file maintenance remotely! Added [E]dit option to edit file descriptions! Added [P]lace option to move a file from any where on your hard disk, to a file list (copies file to download directory, and lets you leave a description). Updated CBV (Prof Ver): ----------------------- After call-back verification, tell the user that they are upgraded and they may call back for new access (CALL6). Hang-Them up, to avoid having to pay for a free call. Does not hang up callers, just because they are out of the area-code. The number verified is now displayed at the SysOp's menu, Update User Screen. Fixed problem in verifying duplicate numbers. Added NEW option to CALL5. You may now specify AREA CODES that you want to call (use this if you have CALL_ONLY_BBS_AREACODE=TRUE). Example: *DOCALLAREACODE=607 The above permits calls to the 607 area exchange! This way you can specify all the area codes you would like to call. Auto-RIP Sending ---------------- Time Limit (10 minutes) at logon now remains. Before a user might have been logged off because of time limit when too many icons were to be downloaded. PowerLang --------- Added the following IF commands to have different prompts for different protocols (MONO/ANSI/RIP) IF RIP DISPLAY "IN RIP MODE" ENDIF IF MONO DISPLAY "IN MONO MODE" ENDIF IF ANSI DISPLAY "IN ANSI MODE" ENDIF Added FILE_EXISTS command, to detect if a file exists on disk. IF FILE_EXISTS "C:\AUTOEXEC.BAT" DISPLAY "EXISTS" ENDIF Added F_ILE_EXISTS command, to use STRING for file check DISPLAY "CHECK FILE"; INPUT_STRING 25 1 IF F_ILE_EXISTS S1 DISPLAY "YES S1!" ENDIF Added SEND_FILENAME command, to send ONE FILE. SEND_FILENAME "Name Of File" ie: SEND_FILENAME "C:\AUTOEXEC.BAT" Added ASSIGN_STRING command, assigns the contents in QUOTES to a STRING ASSIGN_STRING 1 "C:\AUTOEXEC.BAT" IF F_ILE_EXISTS S1 DISPLAY "YES S1!" ENDIF Added SET_DOLLARS command, to charge dollars for sending files. If you want to restrict users to files by dollars, first you must edit the DOLLARS field in the Update User Command. Then call SET_DOLLARS to set the amount the file is worth. IE: SET_DOLLARS "5" SEND_FILENAME "C:\AUTOEXEC.BAT" Charges $5 for downloading the Autoexec.Bat. If you DO NOT use the SET_DOLLARS command, the SEND_FILENAME command works without charging any dollars. Ratio Calculation: Fixed BUG with extreme numbers ----------------- PERSONAL MAIL SEARCH: Added capability to download file enclosures. --------------------