 
           Master File Manager (MFM) Online Help
 
MFM has two primary modes of operation:
 
     Area Selection      List and select individual or combined
                         file area views
 
     File Selection      List and select files from the selected
                         file area views
 
Each mode offers a variety of search and download commands to
help you locate and select files for download.
 
--------------
Area Selection
--------------
 
This is the initial mode. MFM presents a list of file categories
(areas) available for selection. Several commands are available:
 
  <CR> ........... In all cases this is an indication that the
                   Carriage Return (also referred to as Return
                   or Enter) key will execute the described
                   operation. Most other MFM selections must be
                   followed with <CR>.
 
  <A> ............ Restarts the display of the file areas
                   available for selection.

  <C> ............ This selection Combines all available file
                   areas into a single sorted list of file names
                   as if all files were stored in one file area.
                   <J>umps are done on the entire selection of
                   files in all areas rather than only on one
                   area.
 
  <L> ............ Restarts the display of the file areas
                   available for selection.

  <N> ............ The New file display lists all files from all
                   available file areas in date order. You can
                   select how far back to list by entering the
                   number of days. The default is to list all
                   files with dates since your last time online.
                   If <N>ew is not available it was disabled by
                   the SysOp.

  <Q> ............ Quit or leave MFM and return to the previous
                   menu.

  <S> ............ Initiates a search using a text fragment you
                   enter. All file names and descriptions in all
                   available areas will be scanned for a match.
                   The search is not case sensitive meaning you
                   can enter  MEM  and both MEM and mem will be
                   located. If <S>earch is not available it was
                   disabled by the Sysop.

  <V> ............ Displays content and date information for file
                   areas.

  <$> ............ Enters a color and option selection menu if
                   you have ANSI output enabled. Colors and
                   options you select will be used every time
                   you call. Your selections always override the
                   SysOp's choices.
 
  area number      This is a number as indicated on the available
                   file area selection list. Once you see a file
                   area you'd like to select type its number
                   followed by <CR> to select the area and list
                   the files.
 
 
--------------
File Selection
--------------
 
This selection gives you access to a "directory" of files.
You can search the directory and download one or more files
from here. Several commands are available:
 
  <A> Select a different file area number. The area can be
      entered on the command or left off to list area
      numbers and descriptions. Select the special area C
      ( A;C ) to display all available file areas combined
      into a sorted list. You can also select the next area
      number by entering ( A;N ).
 
  <D> Initiates a download of one or more files. Multiple
      files can be selected and "queued" for batch download.
      Filenames can be entered directly or by "tag number".
      The tag number is the number at the left side of the
      display. Tag numbers are between 1 and 99.
 
      If you enter a filename or tag that cannot be located
      in the currently selected file area view MFM will
      search all available directories for the exact
      filename. If the file still cannot be located MFM will
      offer a list of filenames that are similar to the one
      you entered. This global filename matching is disabled
      when you enter multiple filenames and/or tags in one
      request.
 
      If you enter MFM.HLP as the filename you can download
      this help text file.
 
      MFM operates with a download batch "queue" so you can
      select more than one file for download. The number of
      files you can collect in your queue depends on limits
      defined by the SysOp.
 
        Queue operations will not be allowed if you have
        selected a default download protocol that is not
        compatible with multiple file operations. Please
        check the <P>rotocol selection before you start
        building queues.
 
      As you build your download queue MFM will give you a
      running total of k-bytes (1k = 1024 bytes) in the
      queue. As a general rule you can download about 800k
      in 1 hour at 2400 baud, 1200 baud callers can
      download about 400k an hour.
 
      Connect time limits are checked at the time of actual
      download so it is possible for MFM to allow a queue
      to be built but not allow it to be downloaded. MFM
      will try to detect this situation and if possible
      will give you a chance to save the queue so you can
      <E>dit it and <R>emove files to reduce the time
      needed for the download.
 
      It is always best to keep your download queue small
      unless you have unlimited time/bytes available.
 
  <E> This selection displays directories of archived files
      (.Zip, .Arc, .Arj, Lzh, etc).
      Filenames can be entered directly or by "tag number".
      The tag number is the number at the left side of the
      display. Tag numbers are between 1 and 99.
 
  <H> Displays this help text. As indicated previously you
      can always download this file just like any other
      file using the filename MFM.HLP.
 
  <J> This command <J>umps to the first file name in the
      current file area (or all areas in Combined mode)
      beginning with the partial filename you provide.
      This works best in file areas where files are sorted
      in filename sequence and can make Combined mode
      operations easy. Jumps can be forward or backward.
   
  <L> Restarts the display of files available for download.

  <N> The New file display lists all files from all 
      available file areas in date order. You can select how
      far back to list by entering the number of days. The
      default is to list all files with dates since your
      last time online. If <N>ew is not available it was
      disabled by the SysOp.

  <P> This selection lets you verify or change your default
      download protocol. Several protocols are batch-
      capable and are marked as such on the selection list.
      You can change your default download to the special
      value 0 so you can choose a protocol each time you
      download files. Or you can select any of the other
      values so all your downloads will automatically use
      that one protocol.

      The protocol selection can be either temporary until
      you <Q>uit the MFM session or permanently recorded in
      your user profile.

      It is best to change your default download protocol
      before selecting files for download. Additionally, it
      may be necessary to <Q>uit MFM and start again for
      some protocol changes to take effect.
 
  <Q> Quit or leave MFM and return to the previous menu. If
      a queue is active you will have a chance to edit or
      download it before the quit is executed.

  <S> Initiates a search using a text fragment you enter.
      All file names and descriptions in all available
      areas will be scanned for a match. The search is not
      case sensitive meaning you can enter  MEM  and both
      MEM and mem will be located. If <S>earch is not
      available it was disabled by the Sysop.

  <$> Enters a color and option selection menu if you have
      ANSI output enabled. Colors and options you select
      will be used every time you call. Your selections
      always override the SysOp's choices.


All displays can be interrupted by pressing the ESCape key.

If you have a page length saved in your terminal profile
that length will be used for all scrolling displays.

If your TBBS user profile indicates that you want ANSI
sequences MFM will use color prompts and screen control.
If the screen positioning is in odd places on your screen
you might have called in with a different screen size
than you used in your user profile. In that case you can
either adjust your profile or change your terminal program
screen size to match the profile size.

Use the area select menu <$> selection to change the display
colors and parameters.

[v2.10 1993 Mar 12]
