ÉÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ» º ÇÄ¿ º K E E P I N G I N T O U C H º ³ º ÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ º ³ º SPITFIRE Monthly Support Newsletter º ³ º for registered SPITFIRE Sysops! º ³ º December 1994 º ³ º Compliments of BUFFALO CREEK SOFTWARE º ³ º Buffalo Creek's BBS * 515-225-8496 º ³ º 38400/19200/9600/2400/1200 Bps º ³ º 2 Nodes º ³ º º ³ ÈÍÑÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍͼ ³ ÀÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÙ Edited by Jacque Shipley The Mother Board BBS - (515) 986-3464 - 57600 Bps Sysop Of The Month by Walt Crede Roam This Fertile Land - (515) 288-8755 - 14400 Bps Newly Registered SPITFIRE BBS List by Ann Woltz Other Contributions As Noted Merry CHRISTmas Wishes to all SPITFIRE Sysops! ÉÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ» º Notes from the author of SPITFIRE! ÇÄ¿ ÈÍÑÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍͼ ³ ÀÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÙ >>> MERRY CHRISTMAS <<< ----------------------- And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, an angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them; and they were very much afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not; for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you: Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manager. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. Luke 2:8-14 God gave each of us the most wonderful gift possible, a Saviour named Jesus Christ. This CHRISTmas, let's take the time to thank God for our Saviour. Without Him, there would be no hope. Let's put Christ back into CHRISTmas. Merry CHRISTmas to each of you from the Woltz family. Until next time, may God bless you... Mike, Ann & family ÉÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ» º Glory to God in the highest, ÇÄ¿ º and on earth peace, good will º ³ º toward men. º ³ º Luke 2:14 º ³ ÈÍÑÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍͼ ³ ÀÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÙ ÕÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ͸ ³ SPITFIRE UTILITY REVIEW - SFDFC10.ZIP ³ ÔÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ; SFDFC, SPITFIRE Duplicate File Checker, is a multi-functional utility written to test for duplicate files on a SPITFIRE BBS. However, SFDFC not only can be used to check for duplicates which already exist on the BBS, but can also be used to test a caller's uploads to determine if the upload duplicates existing files. Initially, SFDFC should be executed to build a database of all files available for download from your BBS. In other words, the SFDFC database should be created to include files which are downloadable from each of the SPITFIRE File Areas, as well as files stored on CD Rom discs and/or tape drives. When creating the database of available files several command line options are available. Using the MAKEFILE parameter, SFDFC will read SPITFIRE's SFFAREA.DAT and add all files listed in each File Area's SFFILES.BBS to the database. Using the ADDLIST parameter, SFDFC will read a specified file list (such as a CD Rom file listing) and add each file name contained in the list to the database. The later option, is especially convenient as a Sysop adds new CD Rom discs to the BBS. Sysops may also use the command line parameter CHECKDUPE which will test for duplicate files while building the database. If this is done, SFDFC will create a text file, DUPES.TXT, listing any duplicates found while creating the database. Sysops can then use this text file as a guide for locating files on their BBS which are duplicates of files stored on CD Rom discs. With this information, the Sysop can then erase the duplicates from their hard drive, freeing precious disk space. It should be noted the CHECKDUPE is an optional parameter and may require some time to do the required duplicate checking. But it is also important to note that the CHECKDUPE option should in most instances only need to be performed once. Once the database is created, SFDFC can then be used with SFCHKUP to verify whether or not a caller's uploads duplicate files which already exists on the BBS. Whether a Sysop uses SFDFC with SFCHKUP to test for duplicate files will most likely depend on the structure of his/her BBS. Sysops with multiple CD-Rom discs online might find SFDFC's file checking preferable to SPITFIRE's internal file checking due to the time required to read through many large CD Rom file lists. With SFDFC, the file checking occurs after the caller has uploaded the file and logged off the BBS, eliminating the need to scan each of the file areas/lists prior to allowing the upload. SFDFC should be used in conjunction with Buffalo Creek Software's SFCHKUP to check a caller's upload for duplication. SFDFC returns an errorlevel to indicate whether the upload is a duplicate of an existing file. Depending on the errorlevel returned, commands within CHECKUP.BAT can handle the file processing. If SFDFC determines the file is a duplicate, the CHECKUP.BAT commands simply erase the uploaded file and the caller's credit for the upload is removed. If SFDFC determines the file is not a duplicate, processing is continued and the ADDFILE command line parameter is used to add the uploaded file to SFDFC's database. Sample commands for CHECKUP.BAT are included in the SFDFC documentation. SFDFC is written by SPITFIRE Sysop, Richard Lemaster. SFDFC has been released as freeware. Sysops are encouraged to leave comments, suggestions, or problems encountered while running SFDFC to Richard on his BBS, Over The Line BBS, at (918) 250-0542 or in the Fidonet SPITFIRE conference. ÕÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ͸ ³ SPITFIRE UTILITY REVIEW - SFNOTICE ³ ÔÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ; If you find it difficult creating .BBS/.CLR display files, SFNOTICE could very well be just the SPITFIRE utility you need! It makes creating a display screen so simple even those very adapt at using the screen generating programs will find a use for this program! If you can type in the text of the message you wish to convey to your BBS callers, you can create a SPITFIRE display file with SFNOTICE! Configuration options of SFNOTICE allow the Sysop to specify the colors that will be used in creating the screen. In addition, the Sysop defines whether to clear the screen before the bulletin is displayed, the border colors, the text color and the background color of the display file. When the screen is completed, the Sysop name and BBS name entered in the configuration file is displayed on the screen, along with the date and time SFNOTICE created the screen. SFNOTICE will create any SPITFIRE display file in ANSI and ASCII format. A menu option appears that allows you to select the screen to be created. If the display file is not listed, an option is included that allows you to enter the file name of the screen. No extension is needed, as SFNOTICE automatically creates a .BBS/.CLR screen and places them in the drive/directory you have configured as your display file path in SPITFIRE. After selecting the display file to be made, SFNOTICE next allows you to select the type of border (or no border, if preferred) that will used for the screen. SFNOTICE also, will prompt you as to whether the screen being created should be 3 dimensional and whether the Ascii screen should be a text only screen. SFNOTICE, at the time of this writing, is still being beta tested. However, is is a wide beta test, which means that is available to anyone who wishes to give it a try and available on Buffalo Creek's BBS and the author's BBS at 605-353-1309. SFNOTICE is the first SPITFIRE utility by author, Colin Royal. Hopefully, this will be only one of many! As previously mentioned, configuration and use of SFNOTICE is extremely easy. Registration is also easy, a meager $3. ÕÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ͸ ³ SPITFIRE DOOR REVIEW - YANKEES AND REDNECKS ³ ÔÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ; Slam a key! Slam your head on another key! Are you a yella-bellied Yankee or a no-good Redneck? Thus begins a fun, new door game authored by SPITFIRE's own David Koons. Yankees and Rednecks is a role-playing game sparked by wicked wit. It is almost a parody of other role-playing games. Armor includes bad breath and weapons include spit! From a Sysops perspective, YankRed is relatively easy to install and the docs are detailed and delightful. Yes, contrary to popular myth, Sysops DO read docs! The author support is absolutely fantastic!! I chanced upon this door in its early days and experienced some problems. David IMMEDIATELY responded to my questioning message and even uploaded a revised .EXE file to my board!! The door has stayed stable and popular on my BBS. From a Callers perspective, Yankees and Rednecks is just plain fun. The graphics are crisp and clear. The menus are extremely user-friendly. The "correct" command flashes. Callers don't need to read any instructions to be able to play this game. Contrary to popular myth, callers do NOT read instructions! There are so many things to do in YankRed. There is a lottery at the beginning which is easily won. Blackjack is available in the Sports Lounge. It is not so easily won. Naturally, there is plenty of opportunity to steal and kill. Yankees and Rednecks has all the options traditionally associated with role-playing games plus much, much more! The latest version of Yankees and Rednecks is YANK104.ZIP. The shareware version is not crippled and registration is $20. I understand that David now accepts online credit card registration. David Koons is available on SFNET (Node ID A09910004) to answer any questions and does so promptly and cheerfully! He may also be reached at The PigPen BBS, 910-487-0363. Article contributed by Della Moore Moore Fun BBS - (417) 886-4051 ÕÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ͸ ³ SPITFIRE BOARD-OF-THE-MONTH ³ ÔÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ; Gamer's Paradise BBS SFNET HUB A0605000 Huron, South Dakota 605-353-1309 14,400 Baud Colin Royal, Sysop Today I got a call from Mike Woltz and the answering machine grabbed it since I was out of town. He sounded as if it was quite important by the way he worded the message. When I got in, I immediately started the redial process and got through and was informed the Gamer's Paradise was selected as the Board of the Month for December 1994. This was indeed important and I take it as a great honor. Thank you Mike and your team for the award! Gamer's Paradise started out August 1, 1989 as the Eight Ball BBS. A place to call and have fun some place that was different. The first computer was an Acer 8088 with a 40 meg hard drive and a 1200 Baud modem and running a copy of SpitFire 2.7 Shareware. With the help of Tim Maloney of Blue Foxx BBS I got the Eight Ball up and running and shortly there after I graduated to a 2400 Baud modem. The name changed several times and the format changed from having fun to messages to adult orientation to graphics and back to the current format of having fun with games and messages. Now, Gamer's Paradise BBS is run on an old 20 MHz ICT 286 AT with 170 megs of drive space and a 14,400 baud modem supporting SFNET and under eight doors using Spit Fire's menu extension program, there are 115+ doors fully operational. Talk about interesting! And as usual, I am always looking for more to load. In the near future I plan to upgrade to a state of the moment system and will continue to strive to be the best BBS in Huron, South Dakota. I had a local computer store owner and enthusiast comment me on the speed of the BBS. He said out of the three full time boards at that time, mine was the smoothest and fastest of them all. This is quite a thing since the other two are 486/33s running OS/2. I'll be saddened when the time comes to retire the old 286. She has treated me well, and just keeps on plugging at it. As the HUB for the 605 area code, I only have 3 nodes who poll me for SFNET, and only a total of 53 callers and gaining slow but sure. By far a small operation, but it's fun and I wouldn't have it any other way. I also offer my assistance with computer setup, hardware installation, software installation, setup and tutoring where I can at no cost to the individual. Also I am working up a system where I carry other BBS file listings for download and splitting the cost of getting the files with my callers. Also while flipping through the messages, I try to give help where I can or point the person to someone who can help. I guess, to me, the true meaning of a sysop is one who will give full support to their callers and this is what I strive to do at all times. The original reason for starting a BBS was to help me get through a tough divorce by taking my mind away from it for a few hours a day. It didn't take long to get hooked and with a serial number of SF350330, I have been around a while. I run this board as a hobby and I also play with software writing a bit. Gamer's Paradise and SFNET are second only to my family, who have put up with a lot of "dad's hooked to the keyboard". I come in from work and get down to the business of reading the SPITFIRE 3rd Party Programs and the General Religion conferences, which I moderate. Then it's off to the programming after the messages until wee hours many times. Recently, I have been trying my hand at writing a utility for SF. I decided to try something simple or so I thought. SF Notice is growing far beyond what I originally intended, to be a simple notice writer for sysops to send a quick note to the caller(s). Currently released for wide beta testing, I would say it's about 25% completed. It's amazing how much things get to growing when you start thinking. I will admit, I have played with other BBS softwares and have found only one to be easy to operate and maintain, SPITFIRE. I thank Mike for a great software and the fantastic support he delivers. There have been a few times where I have bungled and called him for assistance and it was being stared right in the face. I also wish to thank Tim Maloney and my family for the support and guidance they have given me through the years. Many fine folks have become friends through the BBS community and I wish to thank them for their support in the SFNET conferences. As a final note, I am proud to be chosen as the SPITFIRE Board Of The Month. This is a great honor and I will continue to support SPITFIRE through its and my life time. Thank you all and... Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones! Colin Royal, Sysop, Gamer's Paradise BBS ÕÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ͸ ³ SPITFIRE SYSOP-OF-THE-MONTH ³ ÔÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ; Thanks Mike for making me the Sysop of the month... I don't know how to start, so I guess I'll just jump in. My name is Dieter Awiszus, and I run Excalibur. I ran several other BBS packages before I found SPITFIRE BBS. The Sysop who is responsible for me switching to SPITFIRE is a gentleman named Jim Prohs, who used to run a SPITFIRE BBS in Nebraska. When I logged on to that BBS I was hooked... Jim had one good looking BBS, top notch all the way. (You old timers that ran your BBS's on steam power remember him don't you...) I asked my wife Diana what I should say about my self. She said I should mention that I am a computer fanatic, and that I should mention that I have a lovely and understanding wife who never complains about my HUGE phone bills. Diana and I have been married 20 years, and we have two teenagers, Adam and Kathy. I work for a major gas gathering company. I buy the natural gas from the oil companies, and start the process of getting that natural gas to your house, so you can stay warm at night, and blame me when you get your natural gas utility bill. I asked my callers what I should say about myself, and one of my kind, female callers said that I should say that I am 6 ft. 6 in. tall with long blond hair and blue eyes, and the body of a Greek God. Well, I do have long blond hair, and I do have blue eyes, but I am only 6 ft. 1 in. tall. Another caller mentioned that I should tell you about my experience with the local Newspapers. Well after all the bad press about bulletin boards, I ended up with a reporter logging on as a caller of my system, (this fella also is a stringer for a large newspaper so I was sweating bullets) and he wanted to do a story on me. Well I was reluctant, but concerned that he would do the story anyway so I granted him an interview, under the condition that it would be with a group of local Sysops, not just me. He agreed. I got with 5 or 6 of the other Sysops in town, we had a great session with the reporter and when the story came out it was all positive! I even got to get my picture in the paper. Running a bulletin board system has been an experience that I do enjoy. I am a member of our local community's computer users club. I try to help out members and guests with questions that I might be able to answer, at the meetings and on my BBS through local network echo areas. I also post the next computer club meeting date through my BBS using one of my logon screens and in turn the BBS club posts my BBS phone number in their monthly newsletter, and I get new callers from that newsletter. As for my ideas on running a BBS, well I try to treat the caller right! I try to run a BBS that works well, is quick and doesn't try to dazzle you with submenus that can get a new BBS caller lost. I started my BBS because I did not like what was available to me as a BBS caller, and I knew I could do better... I'm running SPITFIRE. As for Excalibur, well, it has been on 5 or 6 different computers, starting out with an 8088 a tiny 40 Meg hard drive and a 2400 baud modem. Currently I am running a DX-50 with 8 or 9 CD-Roms on line and available for d/l to my contributing callers. I run all of my door games through Wildfire, I am a Fido system, and recently joined SFNET, to offer my callers something not available elsewhere here in town. This part of my message is a little different and I hope you other SPITFIRE Sysops take time to read it. When I found out I had votes nominating my BBS for competition in the Board Watch 100, I was so proud of my callers that did this, and it was rather humbling. I also knew realistically that because I was in such a small area of callers that I had no chance of making any shot at that list. I ask you as SPITFIRE Sysops that if you really think that Mike Woltz's SPITFIRE software is a good BBS package that you get a copy of a Board Watch voting ballot this summer 95 and cast your vote to Buffalo Creek BBS. I know you all call it... so you are eligible to vote for it and I think it would be the greatest gift from all of us Sysops to Mike Woltz that he can't buy for him self at any cost... Maybe a few of you other sysops can take the ball on this and make some blank voting ballots available to other sysops this summer, and maybe mention my idea on the other NETs that I don't participate in... I would love to see a SPITFIRE BBS voted as the #1 bulletin board system in the world... Buffalo Creek has the callers... with 3 or 4 thousand votes all going in on one BBS we could do it... thanks, |\ /| | ``''' | \(O) (O)/ Have a good day... __ \ / __ from Dieter Awiszus --oooO--(_)--Oooo-- SPITFIRE's most dangerous Sysop Excalibur 307-682-3209 SFNET A0307000 FIDO 1:316/18 ÕÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ͸ ³ NEWLY REGISTERED SPITFIRE SYSTEMS ³ ÔÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ; A hearty welcome is extended to the following, who have recently become public registered SPITFIRE Bulletin Board Systems: Rob's Place...................................705-497-3028...14400 BPS Rob Allen, Sysop............................North Bay, Ontario, Canada The Hang Out BBS..............................402-293-0625...14400 BPS Timothy Millea, Sysop...............................Bellevue, Nebraska Kerygma system................................813-366-6713...14400 BPS Robert G. Vance, Sysop...............................Sarasota, Florida Timberlane....................................504-732-3475...14400 BPS Chad Adams, Sysop..................................Bogalusa, Louisiana Gate Way to Success BBS.......................314-456-3582...38400 BPS Donald Schramm, Sysop..............................Warrenton, Missouri The SysOp's HangOut...........................409-945-5909...14400 BPS Mervin Cockerham, Sysop..............................Texas City, Texas Strong Tower..................................816-454-2099....2400 BPS KCCRC, Sysop.....................................Kansas City, Missouri Puget Systems BBS.............................305-484-3356...14400 BPS Roger Stegman, Sysop..................................Sunrose, Florida Viper's Kingdom...............................907-457-5019....2400 BPS Melic Gregersen, Sysop...............................Fairbanks, Alaska Q.C.C. B.B.S..................................708-485-9039...14400 BPS Steve Bross, Sysop................................Brookfield, Illinois Erotica BBS...................................908-866-4118...28800 BPS Steven Blaier, Sysop..............................Freehold, New Jersey Crystal Dream.................................704-285-0050...14400 BPS Richard Wallace, Sysop.......................Asheville, North Carolina Entropy, Chaos & Magic........................414-679-2460...14400 BPS Dave Bloomfield, Sysop..............................Muskego, Wisconsin Thunder Dome..................................803-972-2881...14400 BPS Chad Shipman, Sysop..........................Townville, South Carolina The Outpost BBS...............................417-725-8361...14400 BPS Bill Fleming, Sysop.....................................Nixa, Missouri DOS Dungeon...................................419-562-8243...28800 BPS Mike Adams, Sysop........................................Bucyrus, Ohio The Home of Fluid Power.......................716-759-8641....9600 BPS Hughes Industrial Products Inc., Sysop..............Clarence, New York In addition, there was 4 new private SPITFIRE BBS Systems registered. The private SPITFIRE BBS was registered to Sysops in Wooster, Ohio; Boise, Idaho; Snohomish, Washington; and Warrenton, Oregon. There were 12 registrations for whom registration information was incomplete. These included BBS's in: Hurst, Texas; Tyler, Texas; Berwyn, Illinois; Kincardine, Ontario, Canada; Hartford, Connecticut; Benbrook, Texas; Des Moines, Iowa; Wabush, Newfoundland, Canada; Santa Rosa, California; Petaluma, California; Little Rock, Arkansas; and South Boston, Massachusetts. The increase in registrations where information is incomplete is largely due to Buffalo Creek's Software's policy of accepting on-line Mastercard and Visa credit card registrations. JUST A REMINDER...the newsletter is always looking for contributions! Please forward any articles in ASCII text to either Buffalo Creek's BBS or The Mother Board BBS.