CNET Amiga version 1.9 Typed verbatumn from the original docs. Please excuse the misspellings. A NOTE FROM THE TYPIST: I hope that everyone finds this information to be helpful. It took several llooonngg sittings to type this information in (actually I think that goes without saying). I found that C-net is a very good BBS program but we all know that we all have our own favorites. You will have to excuse the misspellings and typo's for I am sure that there is a lot of them with a doc file of this size. Very little text was left out of this doc file from the original docs, ie. usage aggrement, warranty, ect.. Upated material is also included in this doc file where that particular item was discussed and the obvious updated items have the "****>" at the beginnig of the affected line of infomation. The Aviator 2. Configuration Warning! Before you proceed with any of the configuration instructions, insure that you have a verified backup copy of the C-Net master disk! Accidents do happen! The Workbench DISKCOPY command is useful and satisfactory for this purpose. Store your original in a safe place and only operate from your backup. 2.1 Memory Requirements C-Net will operate using any Amiga model computer. To use many of C-Net's more advanced features such as its multiline/multiuser abilities, on-line AREXX files, or to be able to effectively mutitask, however, you will find it almost a necassity to have at least 1 megabyte of RAM. Having more memory will never hurt, but will open doors for you to be able to operate more ports (users online), larger on-line programs, and do more with your Amiga while the BBS is operating. Following are more precise memory requirements: 8 Colors 2 Colors Memory for first port: 360K 325K Each additional port : 310K 275K For AREXX, add : 85K For FastFonts, add : 4K If you receive a GURU when attempting to operate C-Net, chances are you've run out of memory. You may attempt to fix the problem by using fewer screen colors, or by not using other utilities that you may be running in the background (clocks, virus checkrs, memory monitors, ect.). C-Net will recognize whether it has enough memory to run or not as soon as it loads. If not, the program will exit immediately. All memory needed during program operation is requested at once at program execution. If C-Net appears to "not run" when told to, chances are you are out of memory, or have not copied "cnet.library" as instructed in the next section. As an added precaution, C-Net well check available memory before allocation, and will inform the user that too little memory is free to preform any function (notably the BASE sections) if the case arises. However, many programs I have encounterd will not do this, but rather "GURU" and crash your system. Be aware of this. To check your available memory at any time, you may enter AVAIL at your command prompt. The program AVAIL is normally in your C: directory. 2.2 Other Hardware Requirements Although it is possible to operate C-Net Amiga on a single or dual floppy drive system, it is highly recommended that a hard drive be used for speed, efficiency, and to allow your system some elbow room. Much of the following configuation information has been written with the assumption of the use of a hard drive. For floppy users, you will simply need to swap disks as required as you are called upon to copy files. C-Net Amiga will operate well with any Hayes Compatible modem, of any baud rate. The following need to be checked on your modem(s) to insure proper operation with C-Net Amiga: 1) Carrier Detection MUST be enabled. Some modems use a dipswitch for this, and some use a command "AT&C1". If your ,odem uses a command, you may add this to its configuation string (see section 2.4). 2) The DTR line must be enabled in order for the modem to be able to hang up the line. Some modems use a dipswitch for this, while others use a command "AT&D2". You may add this command to the configuration string as well. 3) Modems with ARQ error correction protocol (USRobotics) must have the command AT&A0 sent to them. You may simply add "&A0" to the modem configuration string (section 2.4). 4) If a dipswitch exists on your modem for autoanswer, insure that autoanswer is "OFF". Additionally, especially if you plan to use locked baud rates on any high speed modems, you need to insure that your modem cables are of the 7 pin (or more) variety. Without the full 7 pins, the Amiga will be unable to do hardware flow control. 2.3 Installing C-Net Amiga You will need to use the shell or CLI from your workbench to install C-Net. If you are using a hard drive, you may install C-Net Amiag into a subdirectory of your hard drive. Now you need to decide how you plan to distribute your actual system. C-Net is able to distinguish between the following BBS areas: SYSTEM: user data, system text files, menus, help, logs, bbslist. BASE: message base. UDBASE: files area. MAIL: user to user private mail. PFILES: AREXX files GFILES: general text files. VOTE: voting topics. NEWS: news bulletins. You may assign each of these to a seperate location, some on one hard drive partition, the rest on the another, or floppies, or however you wish. After you have come to some agreement with yourself as to where you will put these directories (listed above), simply create the directories with the "makedir" command from your shell or CLI where you wnat it. After creating the new directories, copy the files in the directory to the directory that you just created. ****> C-Net is able to distinguish between more than just one path for BASE: and one path for UDBASE:. You will find this invaluable in the event that you plan to operate your Upload/Download Files sections from more than one physical drive (hard drive or floppy drive), or more than one hard drive partition. At this time, C-Net is only able to split the upload/download files themselves, not the messages. It is unnecassary to use multiple BASE or UDBASE definitions if have only one hard draive without partitions. ****> IMPORTANT: In place of the BASE: and UDBASE: discussed in the manual, BASE0: and UDBASE0: assignments must be made! These paths will always house all of the messgaes of the system (the post, responses, long file descriptions, ect.). If you do not use additional path definitions, BASE0: and UDBASE0: will also contain all upload/download files. ****> Additional (optional) paths rae defined as follows: BASE1:, BASE2:, up to BASE6:, and UDBASE1:, UDBASE2:, up to UDBASE6:. Your next task will be to tell C-Net where it is that you decided to store your various BBS areas, and in particular the names of their directory paths (how to get there exaclty). To accomplish this, simply use the "assign" command from your shell or CLI. Example: If you have choosen to store your "SYSTEM" directory on DF1: under another directory called "CNET", you would type in at the shell or CLI prompt "ASSIGN SYSTEM: DF1:CNET/SYSTEM". This task of assigning the directories can all be accomplished in your startup-sequence so it will be done for you when you power up you computer. While you are editing your startup-sequence, it may be convenient to add other commands if memory permits. You may add "FF -0" to enable FastFonts ("FF" must be in your C: directory for this to work). The next command to add if it is not there already would be "STACK 10000". 2.4 Modem Cofiguration If you do nothing to affect your modem configuration, C-Net will default to a one line system, using the built-in serial port. However, if you wish to modify the modem intialization strings, or add other ports, you must edit the file "bbsport" found on your C-Net master disk (if you are using a floppy system) or your hard drive C-Net directory. Each line represents a port (or line) into your system. The first line is port one (1), the second is port two (2), and so on. Note that you may always have one additional line apart from those listed, which may only be used for "local mode", that is, logging on from your keyboard directly. This additional port is always called port 0. An example line of the bbsport file might look like this: serial.device 0 2400 0 0 ATH0X1V0E1S0=0M0&C1&D2 First is the name of the device, following by its unit number. The Amiga's built-in serial port is always named "serial.device" and has a unit of 0. Next, is the baud rate C-Net will use whilt waiting for a call, usually the highest baud rate the modem is capable of. Next, is the Flow Control specification, followed by the locked baud rate. Both numbers are usually 0, unless you are using a high speed modem (like the USRobotics HST) and wish to lock the baud rate (discussed later). Finally, the modem intialization string, sent at runtime, and also between callers. (Don't forget to add commands to this string, as required, see section 2.1). The most generic configuration string is probably ATH0X1V0. Use other commands as needed. The Supra 2400zi modems use "modemX.device" (where X is a number from 0 to the number of Supra's you have, see the Supra docs for more info), and units of 0. If you wish to lock the baud rate of a USRobotics 9600 baud modem, simply set the flow control to 4 and the locked baud rate number to whatever you desire (usually 19200 for HST modems). In addition, the commands "&H1&B1" must be added to the modem configuration string. An entry in "bbsport" for a locked baud rate HST might look like: siosbx.device 0 19200 4 19200 ATH0X1V0E1M0&C1&D2&A0 When you lock the baud rate of your HST, transfer rates above 16000 baud can be achieved by users calling in with HST modems (who have their terms to 19200 baud, and have sent the AT&H1&B1 commands to their modems, and have selected RTS/CTS flow control either using preferences or their terminal menus). Do not forget to copy device drivers supplied with these modems/cards into your DEVS: directory on Workbench or your hard drive's DEVS: directory. 2.5 Editing The General Configuration Options Several general system configuration options may be viewed/edited by using your text editor to edit the file "bbsconfig" found on your C-Net master directory. This file contains several lines, each with a descriprion of the use of each line. Simply change the values as you desire, and re-save this file. According to the first value in this file, C-Net will check for a specific number of free bytes before authorizing an upload. A two character ID prefix. Screen blanking time before blanking, and blenking intensity. Defaults for the pull down menu options sysopis, private bbs, and UD closed. Keep the stat screen on when someone logs on. Send feedback to the sysop's mail box. Default conference format: chat or forum. Time will be returned to an uploader depending on the next setting. This value is a precentage, 100 is full time back, 0 is no time back, 200 is double your time back, ect.. The password for the online shell is simply an added security precaution. In case someone somehow discovers your password to the system, this next password will likely keep them out of the shell, where they are likely to do the most damage. The number of pfiles that can be run at the same time si really something provided for you to limit depending on your memory. Find your longest Pfile and determine how copies of it can safely run at once (be in memory) at one time. New user game points is simply an initial value for a score which will track a user's winnings or losings in the pfiles, if according to the player's performance. The default text color determines the text color that the system will return to when it encounters the MCI command \q1 (MCI will be discussed in detail in a later chapter). ZModem upload resume ability means your system will not delete files which were in the process of being uploaded to your system when the uploader happened to be cut off the line, or hung up. Files that are "unfinished" will be marked as such when users read the items, and any user will be able to complete the upload, using ZModem, and will receive any applicable credits for the file. This provides an incentive for the original uploader to attempt to complete the file as soon as possible. If you allow guest accounts, this means that users will be able to call your system without selecting a password. Once they leave the system, their accounts are lost. Guests have access identical to new users, except they can not be "autovalidated" (described later). Log verbosity will determine the amount of information written to disk concering user activity on your system. For example: if you want everything to be recorded in your caller log then you should have the value of 255 there, if you want to only record chat then you should have 5 there. You derive the number from adding the options you want together. For example: log on = 1, log off = 2, chat = 4, AREXX = 8, bad logon = 16, download handle = 32, and SAM = 64. So that means that if you want chats and bad logons recorder then you should have 21 there (1+4+16=21). It's just that simple. Default for tone/pulse for auto call-back. 2.6 Editing The Function Key Macros Using your text editor, you can edit the file "bbskeys" found in you boot directory to change the function key macros. Each line of this file represents a function key, numbered from 1 to 10. Keys 1 through 5 are "print only", that is, they will display on your screen (and the user's acreen) but will not affect what is being entered at any command prompt. Conversely, keys 6 through 10, when pressed, will actually "typr" the text, allowing you to, for example, create a logon macro for yourself (your ID number and password). 2.7 Sysem Text Files The following files must be written into your "SYSTEM:" directory in order for C-Net to find them. All of the files are actually optional. In some case, default or example files may have been provided for you on the C-Net master disk's "SYSTEM:" directory. badnames = This file may be used to keep certain handles from use on your system. Each line represents a new pattern to restrict, and upper and lower case does matter here. To specify the end of a word, use the "_" symbol to represent a space. Examples are: Car = No Car at the beginnig of a word. car = No car anywhere else in a word. car_ = No word ending in "car". CAR_ = Not the word "Car" by itself. newquest = This file will allow you to create a new user questionaire. You may format it however you wish, but when you prompt for questions, you must use the MCI commands "\i0" through "\i4" to input a maximum of 5 responses. C-Net will atuomatically write the responses to the user's NewUser feedback message. sys.accessx = "x" represents an access group, 0 through 23. the file displayed to members of this group as they logon. sys.avalid = This file configures the AutoCallBack Validation system built into C-Net Amiga. The first line should contain your local area code. Each line following should contain an area code, followed by a local prefix, however many you have to your area. It might look like: 313 313981 313453 313996 ...ect Note that when an autocallback is successful, the user is always promoted from access group 0 (new user) to group 1 (validated). sys.end = Displayed to users after they have selected to logoff. sys.info = Displayed to users when they have selected "I" from any command prompt. Usually, this file contains information about your system, software, hardware, ect.. sys.new user = Displayed to users once they have selected to sign on as new. sys.second = Displayed to new users on their second call only. sys.start = Displayed immediately after the "press your backspace key" prompt at logon. sys.validation = Displayed to users immediately after they have uploaded file(s) which require validation before they receive credit. sys.welcome = Displayed to users once they have successfully logged onto the system. sys.conf = Displayed to a user as he enters the conference system. sys.private = Displayed when a user attempts to enter the file transfer area and it is temporarily closed. badnumbers = Will work exactly like badnames, except will cut users off of the system who use forbidden phone numbers. Many system text files have graphics aternatives. Instead of using "sys." in the case of "sys.start", "sys.welcome"' ect., you may use "TTn." where n is replaced with the TerminalType number (0=dumb, 1=C/G, 2=ANSI). 2.8 Configuration Of Automaintenance One of C-Net's more powerful features is auto-maintenance. you must specify a time during the day, and C-Net will automatically take itself down to perform several clean-up activities, including user purge for inactivity (not calling in a specified time period), and deletion of old or not recently used files, messages, and more. Whenever you enter a file into news, pfiles, gfiles, or enter a subboard into a base section, you will be asked for "days to keep" or "inactive days". Entering nothing will result in the file remaining indefinately. Speciying 30, for example, will cause automaintenance to delete the file after approximately one month of non-use. For news, pfiles, and gfiles, this is 30 days after the last response. For files, this is 30 days after it's last download. Files and messages may individually be "protected" against auto-deletion. Use your text editor to create a file "sys.amaint" in your "SYSTEM:" directory. The first line should contain the hour (military 0-23) that you wish auto-maintenance to take place. The second line will contain the number of user inactivity days before auto-removal from the system. Two months (60) is usually a good number here. Note that C-Net will limit time for users just before auto-maintenance occurs to insure that all users are off the system at that time. This is necessary due to the nature of the file processing being performed. 2.9 Configuration Of Time Restrictions C-Net has the ability to restrict access to logon, upload, download, or use the pfiles bases on the time of day, the user's baud rate and access group. To configure this feature, you must use your text editor to create a file "bbstimes" on your boot directory. This file must contain 24 lines, each representing an hour of the day, from 0 to 23 in 24 hour time. Each line contains the following information, separated by spaces: A B C D E F A = MINBAUD LOGON B = MINBAUD DOWNLOAD C = MINBAUD UPLOAD D = ACCESS LOGON E = ACCESS UPLOAD/DOWNLOAD F = ACCESS USE PFILES Access configuration here, and in the rest of the system must be entered using a comma/semicolon range scheme. For example: 0,23 = All 24 access groups. 1,10;15 = Groups 1 through 10, and 15. 2,7;9,14 = Groups 2 through 7 and 9 through 14. 4;9;10;15 = Groups 4,9,10 and 15 only. Millions of other combinations are possible. An example line of this file would look like: (Here, any baud rate can logon, but at least 1200 is needed to upload or download. Any group can logon, but only groups 5 and higher can upload or download, and only groups 9 and higher can run pfiles.) 300 1200 1200 0,23 5,23 9,23 Alternatively, you can create files "bbstimesx" where x is a port of your system. Different lines of your system can have different restrictions, as you might have different modems and rates, ect.. 2.10 Altering Menu Structures And BBS Text With C-Net Amiga, you have the ability to completely alter the format of the menus structure, as well as the text of the program. this allows you the ability to completely alter the appearance of your BBS, as well as the commands used to perform various functions. When you use your text editor to edit the file "bbstext" from your boot directory, you will see before you everything that C-Net displays to the user throughout the running of the program. The only rule here is that you keep the file under 14500 bytes (This is not true any longer as the file is already approx 22300 bytes long), and maintane the line structure, that is, do not insert lines or remove lines. Lines can be, however, as long as you would like to make them. Colors can be inserted by using the MCI commands "\c" and "\z" (see that chapter for more information). The "%s"'s and the "%d"'s that you see throughout the file represent "formatting" commands for the BBS (where to place text strings and numbers). On any line which contains these commands (may be the line for scanning message titles, or other lists), you must not alter the order of these commands. In "bbsmenu" you will find several lines of commands seperated by commas. Each line represents a "menu string" for a particular part of the system. These are as follows: All-area MAINTENANCE commands. All-area NON-MAINTENANCE commands. Main menu specific commands. U/D base and Message base commands. Read new commands. News/gfiles/pfiles commands. Read Mail commands. Read new commands. Read post commands. Read all commands. Search commands. Editor-empt commands. Editor-text commands. Justify commands. Edit User commands. BBSlist commands. Edit Subboard commands. Conference commands. Mail verify commands. Vote commands. Edit post commands. The most important rule in modifying this structure is that the order of the lines and the order of the commands must not be altered! If you need to know what a particular command does in the program, see the appropriate menu for that area. Commands can be 1 or 2 characters in length only. You must also remember that "ALL-AREA" commands are checked first before the local area commands are. What this means is that if you have an all area command "I", and a files section command "IN", the "I" command will always be executed, and "IN" will never be used, even if a user enters "IN". Be carefull here! One additional feature here is command aliasing, that is, several commands performing the same function. You will see an example of this with the "Q|O" (Q or O) command at the main menu, both used to logoff the system. More than two commands may be aliased to the same function. C-Net allows you several opportunities to "add your own commands" to the existing menu structure. Here's all you need to do: (1) Add your command to the appropriate menu line in "bbsmenu". Remember that only 1 or 2 character commands are possible. Seperate your command from the others by using a comma ",", similar to the other commands you already see there. Save the file. A maximum of 3 commands may be added to any menu line. (2) In your "SYSTEM:" directory, you need to create a text file according to the menu, and letters of the command you used. Menu command files are of the following format: cmd.main.xx = The main menu. cmd.comm.xx = Command commands (both lists). cmd.base.xx = The Base and UDBase. cmd.post.xx = The end of post menu. cmd.list.xx = The g/pfiles, news/vote menu Simply create a file of the appropriate format, substituting the 1 or 2 letter command for the "xx" you see above. (3) When your command is entered, C-Net will read the file you have created. Your command may simply be a text file of information, or it may contain MCI commands (see chapter 8) which runs an AREXX program, or executes an AmigaDOS command. 2.11 Cofiguration Of The DOS Shell The DOS shell uses a modified "AUX:" handler to operate. Follow these steps in order to make your Shell functional (the "S" command from the main menu). Note that if you are short on memory, this isn't such a good idea. (1) Copy the "aux-handler" from the C-Net master disk into your "L:" directory (on boot disk or hard drive), replacing the old one. (2) Use your text editor to edit your file "DEVS:mountlist". Add the following code for an AUX: driver. If there already exists one, replace it. AUX: Handler = L:aux-handler Stacksize = 4000 Priority = 5 GlobVec = 1 (3) In your "S:startup-sequence", add "mount AUX:" somewhere before the end of the file, possibly with the "ASSIGN's" from earlier. 3. Usin C-Net Amiga This chapter will provide instructions on putting on-line an already cofigured system (read and follow the instructions found in chapter 2 if you have not already done so). 3.1 Running C-Net Amiga From CLI Ideally for the purposes of running C-Net Amiga, your stratup-sequence should be modified so that you are taken directly to AmigaDOS CLI or Shell mode. Loading workbench is cumbersome here, and memory consuming. To run C-Net from the CLI, you must first change your current directory to you C-Net BBS directory which you created at the beginning of the configuration step in the last chapter. Following the example of the last chapter, this is accomplished with the following command: 1> cd dh2:CNet Next, you simply need to use the "run" command as follows to get the BBS running. If you are operating with limited memory resources, and plan to operate only copy of the BBS, without background multitasking, you may elect to simply enter "bbs" here. 1> run bbs The "1>" prompt should return immediately while C-Net loads. Soon, the screen will clear with the C-Net copyright message at the top, and some information will be displayed. To return to the AmigaDOS screen, use the mouse to click on the "screen to back" gadget at the top right corner of the screen (actually, the left one of the two smaller gadgets there). to switch back to C-Net, click the analogous AmigaDOS screen gadget. Note that you may have to shrink the size of the AmigaDOS window in order to reveal the screens or programs, you may have to use the left mouse button and click the pointer inside of the screen you wish to use to make it the "current" screen before you will be able to communicate with that screen. At this time, if you wish, you may run additional copies of (ports into) C-Net, provided you have the memory to do so (check requirements in the previous chapter). Simply type "run bbs" again. Note that you can always run one additional port into the system than you have modems or phone lines. In this way, you can use your system from the Amiga console while your BBS is running. Note that you must always wait until the first port displays "Idle" at the top of its status window before attempting to run additional ports. Note that the current screen's port number is displayed in the upper left hand corner of the window, after "P#". As you run additional ports, this number should change from 1 to however many modem ports BBS you run, and then to 0 for the first port that isn't matched to a modem (according to the "bbsport" file, consult the configuration chapter). It is unwise to run more than one "port 0". If port 0 appears unexpectedly, check your "bbsport" file for proper configuration. There are a couple of modifiers that may be added to the "runn bbs" command to affect C-Net's normal operation. C-Net normally defaults to 8 color mode, with colors similar to those that users will see when they call in using ANSI compatible terminal programs. By specifying "s" and a number, either 2, 1, or 0, you can instruct C-Net to use only 4, 2 or no colors at all, respectively. With 4 or 2 colors, C-Net will generate the colors it uses from the current AmigaDOS screen colors. Thus, if you wish to change these colors, you may do so by using the Preferences tool. The advantages are much faster text output, and the use of less memory (if you leave a port unattended, it is recommended that you use 2 color mode for highest system efficiency). When you specify "s0", C-Net will not open a window at all, operating completely as a background task on your Amiga. Note that the only way to close a background (hidden) C-Net task is by using the "close" program located in your C-Net directory. ****> Interlace mode is now supported. To activate interlace mode, place the modifier "i" following the "run bbs" coomand. By entering "i49" you can specify a 49-line screen. ****> Using the modifier "s4" will alloew 16 color mode. The second set of 8 colors will appear as "intense" versions of the first 8. Note that this terribly slows down the Amiga, and degrades overall performance. ****> PAL resolution is now supportd. If this program is used in Europe, the PAL bit should be detected, and a 256-line screen should be used fully. C-Net normally follows the order of "bbsport" in terms of which lines and modems are used in which order. that is, the first "bbs" you run will use line 1, then second, line 2, and so on. The first "bbs" you run which does not match a line in "bbsport" by specifying "1" and the line number following the "run bbs" command. Line 0 always refers to the "no modem, local made oly" port 0. Here are some examples: 1> runn bbs 13 = Run third line of your bbs. 1> run bbs s1 = Run 2 color mode of your bbs, next available line. 1> run bbs 10 s2 = Run local port, 4 color mode. 1> run bbs s0 = Open background port, next available line. Note that "run bbs s0 10" makes no sense at all! In order to multitask with other programs, you must be able to run that program from the CLI command prompt. Simply move to the AmigaDOS screen and use whatever commands are necassary to execute the other program. Programs which are "multitask" friendly and take little processor time (databases, word processors, ect.) you will have the most success with. If you wish to place the "runn bss" command(s) within your startup-sequence file so that your bbs atuomatically sets itself up upon power-up (or power loss), you must remember that it is unsafe to "run bbs" immediatley after having just done so. the solution to this problem is to insert delays into your startup-sequence, of at least 10 seconds between the first and second ports, and 5 seconds between the others. This is easily accomplished using the "wait" command (see your AmigaDOS user's manual for further information). 3.2 The C-Net Screen To switch between the various C-Net port screens, you may use the paging gadgets at the top right corner of each screen. Note that in the case of AmigaDOS, you may have to move the window out of the way first. To make a screen the "current" screen, use the left mouse button and click inside that screen. The initial C-Net Amiga screen contains the "status window" at the top, and the System Activity Monitor (SAM) at the bottom. SAM's duties are to monitor several system usages, such as blocks uploaded, downloaded, pfiles ran, post made, and more. These are tracked individually for the last caller (on that port), and since setup, total since day one of system operation, and for a specific period of time (these for the entire system, all ports). The "current" column tracks what's there now. you will easily be able to glance at your screen to determine the number of feedbacks or mails that you have waiting for you. The status windo will be populated by such user data as Account Number (A#), Access (AC), Time Zome (TZ), Handle, Real Name, Address, Phone Number, Birth Date, Last Call (Last), Balance (Bal), Computer Type (CMP), Signon time and type (ON@), minutes used today (MIN), Baud rate (CPS), and the number of users your system has (USR). The "CALL" field contains several peices of information. A display such as: CALL 004:02377 01/02:0002 means the user is the 4th since you last setup the system, the 2377th since day 1 of system operation. Also, the user has called once today, out of a maximum of 2 calls per day, and has called the system a total of 2 times. The parameters (PAR) field contains information about the user's terminal type. Something line 80:24 shows an 80 column by 24 line screen. Various other user options area also noted there, such as Paranoia (PA), More Mode (MR), Help Level (HL), Line Feeds (LF), and Terminal Type (TT). 3.3 Pull Down Menus C-Net uses the Amiga's pull down menu system to offer a variety of options for you to use. The first menu, entitled "BBS", contains options available only while the system is waiting for a call, or "Idle" Logon = Will allow you to enter the system from your Amiga console. Note that C-Net will send "ATH1" to the modem connected to this port to take it "off-hook" while you are using the system. The spacebar may be used instead as a shortcut. AutoLogon= Uses ID 1 and password to bypass Logon, News, and Welcome. Display = Will toggle the "waiting for call" screen between either SAM or the System Activity Graph (SAG). the system activity graph plots the usage of your system as a function of the time of day. At a glance, you can determine your "peak" and "valley" usage periods. The "Enter" key may be used instead. About = Will simply display a file of information pertaining to the origins of the C-Net Amiga software. Quit = Will remove the port from your Amiga. Terminal = C-Net offers a simple terminal to call out with. The terminal also supports Zmodem uploading and downloading. Select 8 bit word size if you are calling a BBS with IBM graphics, or Amiga international characters, turn this option off otherwise. You will need to use the appropriate font to view the characters of your choice. ResetSAM = Will reset your SAM "period" column to 0's. The only time that the SAM period is reset is when you choose to do so. The "P" key may be used instead. DumpUser = Immediately drop a user's time to 0, logging him off the screen. Iconify = Place the current C-Net screen as an icon on the workbench screen. Double clicking this icon will cause C-Net to reopen. While iconified, memory normally used by C-Net for the screen is freed, and overall performance of C-Net is greatly improved. Colors = Directly change the number of display colors used by C-Net Amiga without taking the system down. The "Options" menu contains several "toggle flags" some of which are for use only when a user is on-line. ChatMode = When a user is on-line, it will bring the user to an area where you and he may freely type to one another. SysopIn = If checkmarked, it will notify the user that you are being called when he selcts to "Chat" with you. Otherwise, the user will instead be offered a chance to leave you feedback. PrivateBBS = If checkmarked, it will disble the new option when signing on. If you wish to run a private "members only" BBS, this is the way to do it (you made users manually yourself). UDClosed = If checkmarked, it will not let users enter the "UDBase". Note that if you also have file transfers in your "Base" that users will still be allowed to enter. LocalMode = If checkmarked while a user is online, it will temporarily "detache" the modem from the input/output stream, allowing you to perform maintenance functions while he is still on-line, waiting for your return. Note that all maintenance commands are always active in LocalMode. PrinterOn = If checkmarked, it will attempt to print everything that is displayed also to the printer, as configured by the Preferences tool. If C-Net encounters trouble doing this, a requester will be generated on the AmigaDOS screen, and the checkmark will automatically be turned off. While a user is on-lin, you may alter his time remaining (TIME=), his access group (AC), or his upload kilobytes of credit (UK) by using the "User" menu. With one of these checkmarked, you may use the up and down arrows (next to the keypad) to raise or lower this value, respectively. Note that you will not be able to see what your doing unless the status window is on the screen, and the window is defaulted OFF when a user is logged onto the system. The last menu, "display", will allow you to toggle the status window on and off, and toggle "split screen" mode on and off. Although the top line of the screen always contains the handle of the user currently on-line, the status window switches to off when a user connects to the system, and on when the system is waiting for a call. Split screen mode is useful when you wish to view two user's activities simultaneously. Select split screen mode for each port, then "drag" one screen in front of the other. With three or four ports, it may also be convenient to "layer" the screens so that each of the status windows from the screens are simultaneously visible. 3.4 System Control Keys There are several Control keystrokes active whenever you are entering commands or other text. to use one of these, simply hold down the "CONTROL" key on your keyboard, and press the appropriate command letter. These are as follows: Control B = Automatically delete all keys back to the beginning of the line. Control V = Reprint what you've typed so far. If there is noise on the line, this might be useful to verify what you've typed. Control W = Delete the last word you entered. Control X = Cancel the current line, and start over. Other Control keystrokes are useful whenever text is being printed to you. Most important are those that pause or stop text. Control S = Temporarily Pause the text output, maybe to catch up reading before information scrolls from the screen. To re-start text output, press any key (except Control S). Spacebar = Terminates (aborts) the current message or file that you are reading. Reading will continue at the next message (if you are reading a series of messages). / = The Slash key "/" is a more powerful version of the spacebar abort function. If you are reading a series of messages (such as a post and it's many responses) you can skip them all at once using the Slash key. Control C = Even more powerful is the Control C. Using Control C will attempt to abort all messages, and also clear the input buffer, meaning that if you've for instance, pressed several commands at once, even those unprocessed commands will be skipped. Another example is you've pressed [RETURN] a hundred times, and the system if endlessly reading messages, and you would like to stop. Note: C-Net will display large numbers in a shorthand way. Whenever a number ranges from 0 to 9,999, the actual number itself will be displayed. Above 10,000, C-Net will move to "K" (kilo) notation, something like: 10K for 10,000 and 100K for 100,000. Once this number reaches 10,000,000, C-Net will enter "M" (mega) notation, something like: 10M for 10,000,000 and 100M for 100,000,000. This makes reading large numbers found in program sizes and status displays much easier to read. You should note that "K" here refers to the user-friendly 1,000 and not 1,024, as is sometimes a common reference to "K" in the computer world. 3.5 Command Stacking And Quick Commands C-Net Amiga allows you to enter several commands all at once on one command line by seperating them with semicolons ";". For example, the following command will enter the Base, and read all new messages on all subboards: B;RA This next one will print your status, your Activity Summary, then log you off of the system, answering "Yes" to logoff, and "No" to leave feedback: ST;AS;O;Y;N Many features of the system stop to ask "verfifcation" usually in the form of "Is......correct?" or possibly "Are you sure?". By appeanding an exclamation point "!" to your command, you are able to tell C-Net to skip this verification. Some common uses are as follows: "MS1!" = Automatically selects to MailSend to accoutn 1 (the sysop), skipping prompts which ask you for an account number or handle, and whether your selection of an account number was actually correct. "O!" = Skips the reading of "sys.end", and prompts of "Want to logoff of the system" and "Want to leave feedback first." 3.6 Terminal Parameters Your terminal parameters affect the way C-Net communicates with your terminal or computer. To view or edit your terminal parameters, press "E" from the main menu. here are explanations for many of the options: Your terminal type may be selected as dumb, ANSI, or Commodore Color/Graphics. Commodore C/G mode is only usable by people with Commodore 64's or 128's with color/graphics terminal package. Most other computer terminal emulation programs support some variation of the ANSI standard. If you see an abundence of "[36m" and the like on your screen, yours probably isn't one of them. C-Net keeps track of your screen width (columns) in order to properly format messages for you. If a word will not fit at the end of a line on your terminal, C-Net will atuomatically move to the next line before printing the word. Your screen height (rows) is used to determine where to stop when asking "More?" if you have that feature enabled. The "More?" option allows you to let your screen fill up without worry of text scrolling off of the top before you have a chance to read it. In most cases, pressing "N" (for No) at the More prompt will abort the current message. Also, pressing the egual sign "=" at the More? prompt will cause More? to temporarily disable, until the next command prompt. In this way, you may choose to have an entire message or file displayed without pausing for More?. If you select yourself to be "paranoid" then whenever another user request information about you by using either the "UI" or "UL" command, all he will be able to see is your last call date. Otherwise, your address, phone number, and date of birth will also be displayed. Your "Help Level" (beginner, novice, or expert) determines the amount of redundancy that C-Net will suppress based on your familiarity with the system. At beginner level, all command level prompts are proceded with the most commonly used commands spelled out for you to choose from. At novice level, this is dropped; only prompts themselves are displayed. At expert level, even the entry files into individual subboards are dropped, printing only the subboard titles themselves. This can be a time saver if you have read them all many times before. Your "time zone" is a measure of your time difference from the system's time. For example, if the system is in the Eastern Standard Time Zone, and you are calling from Hawaii, your "time zone correction factor" is probably -5. All dates that are displayed throughout the system, even those stored in the system's time, will be displayed to you in your time. You may also select your preferred "time format", that is, standard AM/PM format such as 3:22 PM, or 24 hour (military time) such as 15:22. 4. The Main Command Level The Main command level acts as the "center point" of the system. From here, the user may branch to any one of the other major subsystems. 4.1 Main Level Commands Following are the commands which are only accessible from the Main level of the system. A = Accounting system summary. The user is able to select "Detailed" for this command. Without detail, only a short summary of this calls charges and the user's balance will be displayed. With detail, an itemization will be displayed, containg the amounts that the user has been charged for each of the various system functions. B = The Bulletin Board. See chapter 5 for details. G = General text file base. See chapter 6 for more details. J = Join a public conference. Built directly into C-Net is a multi-user conferencing program, which allows users from the various ports to communicate in a "forum" setting. The conference area is divided into three "rooms" where each room may have a seperate conversation amoung various users. L = List of other BBS's. See chapter 6 for more information. N = News file base. See chapter 6 for more information. New news files listed in the main directory of the news files base are displayed to users as they logon to the system. O = Off the system. P = Program files base. See chapter 6 for more information. R = Relogon to the system. if the user has the proper privelege flag, this will allow him to return to the "Press your BackSpace Key" prompt when logging off instead of having the system hang him up. This is useful when a user wishes to use several accounts. S = Shell, Command Line Interpreter. This will take you into your CLI so make sure you don't forget your password that you have already setup in your "bbsconfig" file. U = Uplad/Download base. See chapter 5 for more information. V = Vote files base. See chapter 6 for more information. Actually, vote topics can be added to any of the file areas, News, Pfiles, Gfiles or Vote. The Vote area was simply added to provide a convenient place to seperate them from the others. X = Call-Back Validation. New users who are within local calling distance as determined by the file "sys.avalid" are given the chance to have the system call them back once they have completed the new user logon application. If for some reason they missed this opportunity, they may elect to do it from the main menu. Only new users (not guest) may us this feature, and are always given access level 1 when the call-back is successful. Z = Edit personal data. You may choose to allow your users to be able to edit their Handles, Real Names, Addresses, Birth Dates, and Phone Numbers. Access to this command is controlled by a user privelege flag. 4.2 Commands Available Throughout The System The following commands are available not only at the Main command level, but also the base, udbase, and all filing system prompts. AG = System Activity Graph. AS = Activity Summary. This function will inform a user as to how many files that he has uploaded and downloaded, as well as bytes, for this call and since he ahs been a user of the system. C = Call the Sysop to Chat. F = Feedback for the Sysop's. H = Help utility. A series of help files are available to the user to provided information about the general operation of the system. These are the files "help." found in your "SYSTEM:" directory. I = Information about this system. This will display the file "sys.info" from your "SYSTEM:" directory. HIn = Hide from a port (which port). A user may remove himself from the "WHO" list for any port. A user may not hide from the sysop. MSn = Send private mail (account number or handle). A user may leave mail for any other user, provided he has the privelege flag set. Mail is checked for when a user first logs on, and occasionally while he is online (incase mail arrives from other ports). A return receipt provides a way for the user to find out that his message has actually been read, even if it is not replied to. He'll receive a notice in mail to this effect. Note that a return receipt is sent even if the mail is forwarded, but the user will be informed of this fact as well. When a user selects from his message to be returned, it will be included as part of the recipient's reply, or the return receipt. This is a handy function if you send a lot of mail, and are always wondering what user's replies are concering, when you've forgotten what it was you were talking with him about. With the proper privelege flag set, a user can send "URGENT" mail, which means that it will be displayed to him before the logon process is complete on his next call to the system. MR = Read your private mail. If you have mail waiting, this will provide you the ability to display the messages you have one by one, with several options active between: A = Read the message again. E = Edit user. A sysop may perform the EA command directly here. F = Forward. With the privelege flag, a user may "give" any piece of his mail to another account. Note that once a message is forwarded, it may not be kept in your own mail box simultaneously. G = Sysop's can change the group number of the message sender. K = Keep. The message will be re-filed into your mail box for later use. Q = Reply. The equivalent of using MS back to the sender of the message. U = User info. This will display the sender's stats. See the UI command below. Also, all of the "Common Commands" like Feedback, Chat, ect. are available from this prompt. Default is to move on to the next message, forgetting the current message. Before exiting the MR command, an option will be given to Re-Read your messages, giving another opportunity to perform the above functions again. MUn = Muffle a port (port number). If you decide to muffle a port, that port that port will not be able to send OLM's to you (see below). A sysop cannot be muffled. NU = Re-Read the new user message. This simply reads the file that was originally read to the user as he first applied for an account. OLMn = Send an On-Line Message (port number). Users may send each other messages or send the message to all ports (broadcast) which will be displayed at the next command prompt, or even while in the editor or the conferencing program, provided the user is at the first column of a line. A user may be "Muffled" against sending OLM's to any specific port(s). PW = Change your password. ST = Your current status. T = Time information. UI = Information about a user. This option will effectively allow any user to do the equivalent of "Status" on any other user. However, if the user you wish to find the status of has selected that he is "paranoid" then only the Handle and Last Call date will be displayed. The full information is displayed to the sysop. UL = Complete user list/search. A user-list consists of a tabular list of account numbers, handles, last call dates, and for non-paranoid users, real names and phone numbers. options are given for an alphabetical list, and a short list of handles only. A starting position in the list can also be specified. In addition, users may search for specific patterns to be found in real names, handles, and phone numbers (area codes only). Sysop's can obtain lists of members of specific access groups as well. WHO = Who else is on-line? This command will display a tabular list of all users currently looged onto the system. Information displayed includes port numbers, handle, city, logon time, baud rate, location currently in the system, and "flags". The flags refer to the status of the hide and muffle commands. The flags are: H=You're hiding from this port. M=You're muffling this port. h or m = he's hiding from or muffling you. AU = Auto user monitor. Sends OLM's to the user notifying him of the logon or logoff of the other users. EP = Edit system preferences. Here a user selects his help level, default download protocol, whether he wants the "More?" pause, wether or not he is paranoid (others can see his personal information), his time zone, time display format, mailbox status (open to accept mail or not as well as auto-forwarding to another account), and his personal MACROS. ET = Edit Terminal Parameters. Here, the computer type, graphics set, ANSI mode, line feeds, and the screen size can be set. Graphics sets available are: ASCII (7 bits only), Commodore Color/Graphics (the 64 & 128 users can see color, and enter the C= graphics characters), IBM graphics (IBM users can see IBM graphics characters, and enter a limited set of these), AMIGA Internarional (AMIGA users can enter all language characters), and AMIGA SkyPix (equivalent to AMIGA International, but will also allow SkyPix codes to be transmitted). Currently, translation only occurs between IBM and C/G users to view each others graphics characters. ANIGA International characters are NOT yet translated for IBM and C/G users, and vice versa. To see AMIGA International characters on your local screen, just remain using the Topaz workbench font, not the C-Net font. LDn = Change your last call date and also hour. Use a comma "," followed by the 24-hour time hour to change the hour. For example: "LD -2,10" will change the date to 2 days previous, at 10 AM. 4.3 Maintenance Commands The following maintenance commands are available not only at the main level, but also throughout the rest of the system. A user must have sysop access in order to use any of these commands. Alternatively, they are ALWAYS available while connected from the Amiga's console, or in Local Mode. AM = The System Activity Monitor. this will display the screen of information that is normally displayed while the system is waiting for a call. SAM monitors many system activities, through several seperate "time frames" of reference (last call, since set-up, specific time period, total, and current). DUn = Dump port #n from the system. This command will attempt to log a user off of the system by dropping his time and idle to 0. File transfers will not be aborted. EAn = Edit a user's account (which account). This will allow you the ability to edit a user's acces, password, calls today, minutes today, balance (cents), game points, network credits, u/d counters, as well as his custom ratios and privelege flags. The basic idea is that you can edit everything that a user can't edit himself. You are also able to kill an account. ECn = Edit a Group's Charges (which group). The first value that you are able to edit is the group's maximum debt. That is, how far a user's may fall below zero before he'll not be able to use any charge options. The remaining settings are measured in hundreths of a cent. Entering 9999 here, for example, the maximum value, represents $.9999, almost a dollar. Eighteen seperate system options may be charged for. Note that if you supply a negative number value here, the result would be credit to the user's account for that particular function. What this means is that you can charge for certain activities, and credit for others. In this way, you operate a total system credit system, possibly arranged to have users post or reply to a message before being able to download, or use the conference. The possibilities are endless. EGn = Edit an Access Group (which group). This will allow you to change any of the default valaues for an access group, including the title of the group. You will be able to edit the following ratios and limits: Calls per day : 0 = infinite Minutes per call : 999 = infinite Minutes per day : 0 = infinite Idle time : 0 = infinite. The number of minutes a user may not type a key before being automatically booted off the system. Downloads/call : 0 = infinite Uploads/call : 0 = infinite U/D File ratio : 0 = infinite. The number of files that one is able to download for every file that is uploaded. Note that if this value is non-zero, a user must upload at least one file before downloading at all! U/D Byte ratio : 0 = infinite. The number of bytes one is able to download for every byte that is uploaded. Free Bytes : The number of bytes that one may download before the U/D byte ratio comes into effect. Messages/call : 0 = infinite. The number of posts, responses and E-Mail one may leave per call. Feedbacks/call : No infinite value possible. The number of feedbacks one may leave per call. Editor lines : A value between 7 and 250, for the maximum number of lines a user may use in the editor. And the following privelege flags are: Use of the E-Mail system. Use of the Pfiles (on-line games) system. Use of the Gfiles (on-line text files) system. User list command. Conference system. MCI level 1 (most commands). MCI level 2 (sysop or priveleged access commands). Ability to relogon to the system. Ability to edit personal data. System maintenance (sysop). Bypass of U/D ratios. Bypass of calls per day. Bypass of minutes per call. Bypass of all time restrictions. Ability to send urgent mail. Ability to alias when writing messages (use someone else's name as the author. Ability to adopt orphans, that is, allow files to be added from the disk into the list of items for an area. Read private messages, if private messages are allowed in your message base. Delete any U/D file. Delete your own U/D files. No inactive purge (won't be autodeleted by automaintenance or the up command). Autovalidate files which means user's files are instantly validated even in areas requiring validation. Write anonymous messages, and then, only if anonymous messages are allowed in a particular area. Trace anonymous which is the ability to see the author of anonymous messages. Anonymous messages are marked with "*" beside the authors name. Ability to leave private messages in the public message areas. This includes private uploads. Conference control to close doors and interrupt speakers. Forward your mail to other accounts. ESn = Edit a SAM variable (which variable). If you notice that any one of your SAM "current" values has become inaccurate, you can manually adjust it by using this command. use n=0 for feedbacks, n=1 for mail sent, ect.. LA = Read/reset log of auto-maintenance. This file contains information detailing the works of the auto-maintenance function. If files are deleted, or users purged, a note of it will be made in this file, providing your log Verbosity is set to at least 2 (see chapter 2). LC = Read/reset log of callers. For every logon or logoff to the system, a note is made into this file. At the beginnig of the line is the serial caller number, noting the total number of calls to your system. Because local calls do not count towards this total, a "-1" will be displayed for local calls. Several various signon and sigoff methods are also noted in the log. Here's a list: SON = Normal signon. REL = Relogon command used. NEW = New user. ACB = Auto-called back. TIM = Ran out of time. CAR = Carrier was dropped. IDL = Idle time ran out. INS = Used instant logoff "O!". REL = Relogged onto the system. SOF = Normal signoff. LU = Read/reset logs of uploads and downloads. Actually, seperate logs are kept for downloading and uploading. If your Log Verbosity is set to at least 2, notes will be made to this file detailing the who, what, and where of a file transfer. At the beginning of each line, the baud rate and protocol used will be noted. In place of the protocol (X,Y or Z) you may see the following: U = for unfinished file (zmodem), or R = for resume file (zmodem resume). The upload and download logs may be reset individually. RF = Read a file. You will be prompt for a filename or path to read. UP = User purge. After prompting for a number of days, this command will remove (kill) all users who have not called within that specified number of days. A user is "safe" from this if he has an appropriate privelege flag set. UT = Transpose user defaults. Because access groups simply provide "defaults" for user ratios and priveleges, if you make a change to these defaults, the changes are not automatically made to user accounts as well. this command provide the ability to "copy" the defaults into user accounts. It can also be used to move all users of one access group to another. You will be asked for a "from" and a "to" access group. To simply re-copy the defaults, enter the same group for each prompt. Note that doing this will cause a loss of all "customized" accounts with that access group. Note that this also physically changes the access groups of the users it affects, from the old group number to the new group number. VF = View feedback. this will behave exactly like MR, except what you will read is the feedback that users left using the "F" command. VN = View new user applications. This will behave exactly like MR, except you will be reading mail that is actually new user applications. The EditUser command comes in handy here to give access and/or account balances to your new users. WF = Write/edit file. You will be prompt for a filename (or path) to edit. The file will be loaded into memory for editing. If you "abort" the file, you will have an opportunity to delete it altogether. This provides an easy way to edit menus and other text files on-line. Y,YN = Yank all mail, new mail. This gives you the opportunity to read your system mail. The system will prompt you with file titles, allowing you to select files which were updated since your "NewItems" date. 5. The Message And File Bases C-Net's filing system uses a subdirectory system, which makes possible an INFINITE number of subboards. Each subboard list may contain a maximum of 50 subboards, some or all of which may be subdirectories. Although there are two seperate "base" areas, the UDBase (normally reserved for file transfers, uploading and downloading), and the Base (normally reserved for public messages), it is possible to designate any subboard in either of these two areas as a Message area, a File area, or a mixture of both. There is one other type of subboard, the "direct exchange" which will be discussed later in this chapter. Each subboard may house up to 300 items (files and/or "post") as well as up to 1000 responses. It's most appropriate to think of files as actually messages themselves, except with an "attached" file that may be downloaded. In this way, responses can be left (optionally) to post and files. Entering the Base or UDBase, you may optionally add a subboard number, or path of subboard numbers (in case of subdirectories) to the command to move immediately to the 5 subboard: B5 Or to move to the 3rd, which is a subdirectory, and then to the 6th subboard in that subdirectory: B3;6 5.1 Essential Commands If you wish simply to read the next item, you may simply press [RETURN] at any time. When all items have been read, reading will begin from the beginning. All commands that act on an individual item will default to the previous item read, unless an item number is specified following the command. Here are the more important of the Base commands: Rn = Read an item, and it's responses, if any. First, the "header" of the message will be read, consisting of the name of the author (or uploader), the date the item was created, and an optional "to" heading. if the item has an attached file, additional information such as the length of the file, it's last download, number of downloads, and estimated time of download will be displayed. If responses are enabled for this subboard, a prompt "End of item option?" will be displayed following the reading of any item. Most of the commands listed below are available from this prompt (About, Download, Extract, Grab, ect.) in addition to several others, namely: Pn = Leave a private message for the author of response #n (just entering "P" will allow you to leave a message to the author of the item itself). R = Respond to the item. See the Post command below for some of the message options. Un = Receive userInformation about the author of response #n (just entering "U" will display information about the author of the item itself). Sn = Scan item titles (beginning at item). "Scanning" will display the item number, date, the number of responses, and the tile. if there are new responses, a "*" will be printed following the date. If the item is a "sysop favorite" a "+" will be printed following the item number. P = Post a new item. this command is only active on a subboard which allows messages. You will be asked for a title, and, depending on various privelege and subboard flags: (1) If you would like to address this message to a user. the benefit here is that the user you address the message to will be informed of its presense at logon. The message is not automatically a private one, others can still read it. (2) If you would like to use an alias. With proper access, you can write a message under someone else's account. If you have several accounts for the system operators, this might be a handy feature for you. (3) If you would like the message to be private. If the subboard is so configured, you may leave "private" messages in the public message area. Only the indended recipient of such messages will be able to view them. In the case of a file, only this person will be able to download it. (4) If you would like the messgae to be anonymous. The subboard must allow anonymous messages, and the user must have the access to leave anonymous messages. Someone with "trace anonymous" access will be able to view the name of the anonymous author, having a "*" placed beside his name to signify his intentions. Dn = Download an item's file. If an item has an attached file (in the case of a Files only area, they probably all do), this will allow a user to request to download a particular file. Such a request may be denied for many reasons, inluding not enough time, not enough credits according to either the byte ratio ofr the file ratio, time restrictions (see chapter 2), the item is private, and others (the appropriate condition will be reported to the user). If all is O.k., the user will be given several options before actually commencing the transfer. Amoung these are: P = Change the protocol. normally, the default protocol will be used (as specified by the users terminal parameters), but may be changed temporarily for this transfer only. L = Logoff upon completion. If a file is substantially long, a user may wish to have the system automatically log him off when it is finished with the transfer (especially if long distance). A = Abort. Forget you said anything. Credits are subtracted only if the transfer was successful, in full. If an item is marked as a free download (see the "Y" command), no credits or accounting will be altered. When a user is a sysop, or a suboperator of a particular board, credits or charges will never be subtracted for the downloads from (or uploads to) a file area. ****> NOTE: Dx,y = It's now possible to enter a RANGE to download, and have all of those files selected automatically. U = Upload a file to the system. When the subboard allows Files, a user may use the "U" command to send files to the system. He will first be asked the Protocol, Logoff upon completion, Abort, or Begin prompt, in order to determine the protocol he will be using. In the case of Xmodem, or any "non-batch" protocol, the user must then supply the name of the file, as well as the description (short and long, where the long description is optional) before beginning the transfer. In the case of Ymodem or Zmodem (both batch protocols), the user will be instructed to begin sending immediately. After a batch protocol, the user will be prompt for descriptions (short and long) for each file he uploaded. Note that if at least a short description is not provided, the file will automatically remain "unvalidated" until a description is added. Descriptions may be added later using the "W" command. When using Zmodem, a file may be left on your system marked as "unfinished" meaning that the uploader was cut off or hung up during the transfer. Any user may at anytime later "upload resume" such a file. to use this feature, you must enable it in the file "bbsconfig" (see chapter 2 for details). Unfinished and Resume files will appear in the uplaods log (LU from main) as marked with "U" and "R" respectively. Note that when a file is unvalidated, either because it was uploaded to a subboard which requires validation, or a description was not provided, or the file was unfinished (with Zmodem), credits for the file will not be awarded until these conditions are each met. RNn = Read all new items (beginning at an itme number, normally 1). Items will be displayed that are new since your NewItems date. New responses to old items will also be displayed. SN (scan all new) is a variation of this command. RAn = RN on all boards (begin at a specific subboard on the list, normally the current subboard). This feature will do a "global" read new, on all subboards accessible from the current list of subboards ("L" command). The movement will begin at the current subboard, and enter any subdirectories on the list that follow. SA (scan all subboards) is a variation of this command. En = Examine the content of an ARC, LZH, ZOO, or ZIP compressed file. This is useful when sometimes the title of an items isn't all too descriptive. In order to use this feature, you must have the following files in your command path (the C: directory is perfect): ARC LHARC renamed as LZH ZOO ZIPVIEW renamed as ZIP These files are in the public domain, and can be obtained from almost any source of public domain programs. Due to restrictions on their distribution, we were unable to include them with C-Net software. SE = Search items for occurrences of text. This feature will search text messages for several specific text strings. The search is not case sensitive. You will be prompt to an item number, or "A" for all items, or "G" for global (all subboards accessible from the current list of subboards). Q = Quit back to the main prompt. 5.2 Moving Around The Base L = List available subboards. Along with the list of subboards, the messages "DWN" (meaning the subboard is closed, see the "EL" command), and "DIR" (the item is actually a subdirectory, housing more subboards) are printed. In order to move from one subboard to another, it is only necassary to enter that subboard number (from the list of subboards) at the prompt. = Move to the next of Previous subboard according to their order on the list of available subboards. / = If inside of a subdirectory, this command will immediately return to the listing from which that subdirectory was chosen. That is, in the "path" of subdirectories you choose to arrive where you are now, this will "back up" one step. B = Board information. this is the information that is displayed to the user as he enters the subboard. In the case of "expert' help level, these entry files are normally skipped, but the "B" command can always be used to view the contents of this file. Jn = Join/drop a subboardd (which subboard, defaults to the current subboard). Whe a subboard is "dropped" all commands which globally process (such as Read All, Search Globally, and others) will skip that subboard. In addition, the ">" and "<" commands will "go around" dropped subboards. ****> NOTE: Jm,n = A range of subboards may be selected to be dropped. VI = View the names of the suboperators. If you have designated individuals to be "suboperators" for a particular subboard, this command will list these people. See the "EL" commadn fro information concerning adding suboperators. M = Mail to a suboperator. Again, the View list will be displayed, and a prompt will be given to choose which one of the suboperators you would like to leave mail for. Generally, it is desirable that users leave the suboperator messages concerning his subboard, instead of leaving them in general feedback. +,- = Forward, reverse read direction. Normally, the order of reading messages and scanning their titles is in the "forward" direction, from 1 to 2, to 3, ect.. the "-" command can be used to reverse this, reading the newest (the highest numbered) to the oldest. "+" will restore things to normal. 5.3 Selecting Items *n = Select or unselct an item. this option simply adds an item to a list of "selected" items which may be operated on as a group. If an item is again selected, the effect is actually to "unselect" it. Note that a selection request may be denied for the same reasons that a download request may be. SS = Scan selections. Display the list of selected items so far. A summary is displayed of the total number of items, their length in bytes, and estimated download time. There is also an option to "remove" a file by number from the list of selected items. SS is automatically performed before a multiple file download. DS = Download selected files. If you are using batch protocol (Ymodem or Zmodem), this command may be used to transfer all files at once. If a non-batch protocol is being used, only the first file will be transferred. As a file is successfully transferred, it is removed from the selection list, so that transfer may be resumed if ever it is interrupted. RS = Read selected items. This command will perform a Read of the selected items. Note that an item must be within the current subboard in order for it to be read with this command. Items outside will simply be skipped. *C = Clear selection list. Reset the selection list. Note that selecting to download a single file using the "D" command, or uploading will automatically reset the selection list. *N = Works like the "SN" command except that the system will stop to offer to select each item that is displayed. Only files are displayed, not post, and only displayed if the file itself is new, not just new responses. *A = Works like the "SA" command except that the system will stop to offer to select each item that is displayed. Only files are displayed, not post, and only displayed if the file itself is new, not just new responses. 5.4 Other Commands Mn = New respnses to an item. This command is equivalent to the Read command with the exception that only new resposes will be displayed. Also similar to the Read New command, but only for a particular item. If there are no new responses, this is equivalent to the Read itself. Gn = Grad an item's contents. You will be prompt as to whether you'd like ASCII or HAEX display. Only text files meant to be read ("typed") may be displayed legibly in ASCII. Kn = Kill an item. A sysop, or a user with the proper privelege flag set may delete any file or item. In addition, a user with proper privelege flag set may delete his own files and messages. At this time, individual responses to an item may not be killed. When a file is killed, an option is provided to be able to "remove" upload credits that were given for a file. Credits subtracted in this way will take effect the next time the user calls. Yn = Edit item's attributes. using this command, a sysop (or suboperator) can mark any file with any of several flags, or edit parts of it's header. F = Free download. Credits will not be subtracted, and charges will not be made fro such a file. P = Protected. Automaintenance will "skip" this file, even if its old. R = Responses disabled. Only sysop's will be able to respond to this item. S = Sysop's favorite. When a user reads this item "sysop favorite" will be displayed. N = Re-name the item. I = Change the short description of a file. D = Change the date of an item. An = About an item. This displays the header of the item. Wn = Write file info after upload. In the case of a batch upload, and the user misses his chance to add descriptions to his uploads immediately after the upload (ran out of time or simply aborted the process), he may use this command to "go back" and provided the descriptions necassary to receive credit for his uploads. Note that in addition, many other important commands which are listed on the main level menu are also available here. These include: Chat, Feedback, Help, MRead, MSend, Off, STatus, Time, WHo, and OLM. See chapter 4 for a complete list. 5.5 Maintenance Commands AL = Add a subboard to the current list of subboards. Note that it is necassary that you NOT be "within" a subboard at the time you use this command. You must either be at the BASE or UDBASE prompt, or just have entered a subdirectory. You will only be prompted for: Title: What you would like to call it. Note that ALL subboard titles must be unique, regardless of whether they are memnbers of subdirectories or not. Subdirectory: Whether or not you'd like this listing to be a "gateway" to other subboards. Note that the option to directly enter the TYPE of subboard here (1=message, 2=Files, 3=both, ect.). Location: Just pressing [RETURN] will default to BASE0 or UDBASE0 alone. Note that C-Net will automatically make the appropriate directories for you when you press [RETURN] here. If you enter your own specification, you are then responsible for creating whatever directories that need to be created. Your specification must terminate with a "/" in the case of a subdirectory or a ":" in the case of a volumn label. Entry Access: Which groups may enter. Use a format with commas and semicolons (see chapter 3). AO = Adopt orphan files. When you first configure your C-Net BBS, or anytime after that point you wish to add new files into the list ot items for a subboard, you may do so with this command, and the proper privelege flag set. First copy the file(s) into the subboards directory (inside of BASE: or UDBASE:, or an alternate location), then select the command. After asking for a filename pattern (press [RETURN] for all files), C-Net will prompt you with the files on the directory (that aren't already part of the subboard), and allow you to select whether you'd like to add them. You may select up to 50 files at one time. Once you have made your selections, C-net will prompt you for descriptions. Note that the shory descriptions are required for the file to be validated, while the long descriptions are optional. ****> NOTE: AOn = Adopting orphans now has an argument, to tell it wich path you wish to adopt from. "AO 0" for BASE0 or UDBASE0, "AO 1" for BASE1 or UDBASE1, ect.. Also, if a filenote exists on a file you are adopting, it will automatically be used as the short description. "AOn!" will cause the adoption of all files without prompting. V = Validate a file. This command provides that the last step for a file to be usable if it has been uploaded to a subboard on which you requiree validation. once all of the requirements are met for file validation (finished if Zmodem uploaded, validated, and description added), credits will be added to the uploaders account. ****> NOTE: Vx,y = Attempts to validate a RANGE of files. You'll be notified if a file needs a description first. Also, if already validated, option will be given to "unvalidate" a file. X = Alphabetize items. This command will re-organize the subboard according to the alphabetical ordering of the titles of items and files, not case sensitive. Warning: this is irreversible! (I think this command has been deleted from version 1.9 and on, this is controlled through the "EL" command to edit the subboards). MOn = Move an item to another subboard. You will be prompted for the title or subboard number from the current list of subboards to send the item to. In the defaultl case of all subboards having their subdirectories within the UDBASE: or BASE: areas, such a designation example may be as follows: Move to? UDBASE:AMIGA Games Note that C-Net will infrom you if that directory does not exists, or if an item with this name already exists in that subboard. In the case of a Direct Exchange subboard you are transferring to, C-Net will still create the appropriate "_Count", "_Items", "_Meassges" files in that new area. Simply delete these if you need to. ****> NOTE: MOx,y = Instead of entering the entire path to move a file, you may enter the subboard number from the current list of subboards. Alternatively, you may still enter just the title of the subbaord without the "/". The path number will also be queried. KLn = kill subboard from list (you must specify which one). In order to use this command, it is necessary that you not be "within" a subboard, but rather at the BASE, UDBASE, or a subdirectory prompt. All files contained within the subdirectory for this subboard will be erased, including the subdirectory itself. If you wish to save any files, you must copy them out first! If you specify the location for a subboard yourself manually, then C-Net will not attempt to delete any files. ELn = Edit subboard (which subboard, defaults to the current subboard). This command can be used to change many of a subboards options. These include: ****> NOTE: ELn = A suboperator may only "EL" his own subboard. on his subboard, he may not change the locations, the suboperators, or the subboard type. Several of the "boolean flag" options have been grouped together under the heading "Flags" from the "EL" options menu. Select "Flags" to change the "Closed" status, Verification of files, Private Messages, No Responses, No Anonymous, Free Downloading, and the new "Address to?" option flag. Other new features here include Download Access, and automatic ordering of itmes, either alphabetically or by date. N = The name of the subboard. C-net will attempt to rename subdirectory files if the location of the subboard is the default UDBASE or BASE location. L = The location. If you change the location, you are responsible for the creation of whatever subdirectiories you may specify. See the "AL" command. S = Suboperators. You may specify up to 5 suboperators per subboard, each having complete maintenance access for that area. this includes unlimited U/D ratios, validating files, providing descriptions for files, and killing files. You must supply the account numbers and ID numbers for your suboperators. The ID numbers are attainable from either the "UI" or "EA" commands, at any prompt. B = Board type. A subboard may be a file transfer only, messages only, a mix of both, or "static" meaning that no one can post or upload. P = Password. If you select a password for your subboard, a user must supply it each time he wishes to enter. Sysop's will have the password displayed to them when they enter the subboard. E = Entry access. The list of access groups which may enter the subboard. W = Write access. The list of access groups which may upload or post on the subboard. Y = Youngest age in years of a user to be able to enter this subboard. O = Oldest age in years of a user to be able to enter this subboard. I = Inactive days. this determines the number of days that a post may go unresponded to, or a file may go undownloaded before it is automatically deleted by automaintenance. Files that have been "protected" are excluded (see the "Y" command in the last section). C = Closed. you may temporarily close the subboard for maintenance operations. Note that the sysop's and suboperators are always allowed entry. V = Verification. If you select that you wish new uploads to require validation first before other users may use them, you will need to use "V" maintenance command to validate new files. Users will not be given credit for files unless they are validated. A user privelege exists which overrides this for his uploads. Z = Write or edit the subboards "entry" file. Entry files are displayed to users as they enter the subboard. The exception is that the user has selected "expert" help level, in which case entry files will be replaced with simply the name of the subboard or subdirectory. The "B" command from the prompt will always display the entry file. LO = Attempts to obtain a "lock" on the current subboard (will not allow others on other ports to enter). this is useful when you are planning to do multiple maintenance commands. "LO" again, or exiting the subboard will release the lock. EDn = To edit the contents of a message, or kill an individual responses. Also, the author's name, "TO" name, and dates of the message may be edited with this command. PAx,y= Used to change the partition of any range of files. If you wish to move files between your UDBASE0: and UDBASE1: for instance, you'll have to use this command to tell C-Net where the files new location is. 5.6 The Direct Disk Exchange Mode C-Net provides a way for you to operate a subboard which requires no special "adopting" of files in order for them to be used. If you run this subboard on a floppy disk (maybe with a location specified as DF2: or something) you are able to directly swap disks in and out while users are on-line, and possibly "trade" with them in this way. The direct exchange subboard may still operate out of a C-Net created subdirectory in BASE or UDBASE. The disadvantage of this type of subboard are the facts that it does'nt track the uploaders name with the file (although it still will enter into the logs), or provide some secondary information (long descriptions, number of times donwloaded, last download, ect.). C-Net is also unable to use it as a verification subboard, or kill the files during automaintenance. However, the following command variations are made while in a direct mode subboard: S = Scan items will actually read the titiles from the disk, and also display filenotes, is available. SN = Scan new will read the directory to determine which files have been updated since your NewItems date. * = Select will prompt for a file pattern, and prompt for files to select directly from the disk directory. N = Add a new filenote to an item. In addition, such commands as Download, Grab, Kill, Note, and Extract will prompt for a filename to act upon. 6. List Base Subsystems C-Net's News, Gfiles, Pfiles, and Vote systems use the same command structure, so they will be discussed together in this chapter. It's also convenient to note here that the file types can be mixed. you may place Vote topics in News, AREXX files in the Gfiles, and more. 6.1 The Commands A = Add an item to the list. When you choose to add a new item to the list, you will be prompted for the title, and then whether or not the item will represent a subdirectory. If you choose to create a subdirectory, C-Net will automatically create a DOS subdirectory within the current area (Gfiles:, Pfiles:, News: or Vote:). Even though subdirectories appear to be nested, C-Net will always create new subdirectories inside of the current area's directory itself. Any items that you add within a subdirectory will be place (or you will place) within the appropriate DOS subdirectory. Due to this organization, you may not have two identically named subdirectories anywhere inone area. Next, you will be prompted for the access configuration allowed to use the item, and then for a short description. The TYPE of file is requested next. You may select that the item is an AREXX file, or a Vote topic. If you select neither of these, the item is assumed to be a standard read text file (as a news file or gfile). See the section below if you select a Vote topic. If you select that the item is an AREXX file, you may select that the file should be exclusive access, that is, no other user can use the same AREXX file at the same time. This is wise if this possible that data files may be corrupted by simultaneous access or modification by multiple user. Next you may select an offset for the date of the item. If you simply press [RETURN], today's date will be used. By using a "future date" you can effectively have a news file appear as "new" for many days into the future. You also may select to have the file autodeleted by automaintenance after a specific number of days. Simply pressing [RETURN] will keep the file indefinately (you manually kill it). Finally, you are given the opportunity to edit the item now, if it is a text file (news, gfile or vote topic). See below for the proper way to format a Vote topic. In the case of AREXX files, and already-made gfiles, be sure you have copied the file into the appropriate area (or subdirectory). ****> NOTE: When adding, you are asked to set the default MCI environment. 1 = NoMCI, 2 = NoWordWrap (for text file viewing), 8 = NoSysopMCI (for AREXX files), 32 = View SkyPix. (Add any combination.) En = Edit an item (which item). This will allow you the opportunity to change the title, description, access configuration, and autodeletion days for the file. In the case of a text file, you will be given the opportunity to edit it. In the case of a pfile, you will be given the opportunity to change the Exclusive use flag. You may not change the "type" of file here. ****> NOTE: When editing an item on the list, you are given the option to alter the date, or directly "update" it to today's date. Kn = Kill an item (which item). This will remove an item from the list. You will be given an option to not delete the file itself. S = Scan the file titles, along with dates of creation. If the user is using an 80 column display, short descriptions of the files will also be printed. Dn = Download file n with protocol. A user may only download a text file (not a pfile or vote topic). He must meet the same requirements here as he does when downloading from the Base (see chapter 5). V = Verbose list of files. Along with the titles and dates, other information is printed on the second line, including the number of days before automaintenance will delete this file, and access groups which can use the file. Q = Quit back to the main level. / = Return to the previous list (if currently within a subdirectory list of files). X = Alphabetize the items on the current list, not case sensitive. Warning: this is not reversible! Z = Edit the entry file for the current area, or subdirectory of an area. The entry files are displayed to users as they enter the area, unless their help levels are set to "expert". An item may be "selected" (gfile read, vote case, or pfile ran) by entering its number from the list of items at the command prompt. Note that in addition, many other important commands which are listed on the main level menu are also available here. These include: Chat, Feedback, Help, MRead, MSend, Off, STatus, Time, WHo, and OLM. See chapter 4 for a complete list. 6.2 Vote Topics The vote topic interpreter of C-Net is actually a vey simple one, yet substantially powerful. Basically, it displays your text file to the use, and then prompts for a choice from the user. Choices always begin at "A" and may run to "J". C-Net then automatically displays a tally of the users choices so far. A user may note vote repeatedly on the same topic. Your file should introduce the topic, and then list the choices, beginning at choice "A", running as high as you need to, "B", "C", ect., up until a maximun of "J". 6.3 The BBS List System C-Net's built-in BBS list routines are quite powerful. A storage structure is used which allows storage of in excess of 10,000 numbers, all ordered by area code and phone number, randomly accessible, and quick search. A BBS list entry may have a BBS name, a location, a maximum baud rate, and a long comments field. Once a BBS Listing has been added, only a sysop or the user who added the listing can delete it. 6.4 The AREXX Interface If you are attempting to convert an AREXX from Skyline system, there are a couple of things you need to modify in the AREXX file. You must remove the line that reads "address'skyline'". Next, if the program attempts to access a logical device "JMP:" at any point, you may substitude this with "PFILES:". Alternatively, you can include a line in your startup-sequence to "assign JMP: PFILES:". In most cases, that's all you need to do; follow the instructions that usually accompany the files otherwise. It is O.K. to create the directories that some files ask for within your "PFILES:" area directly. If you are writing your own, there are a couple of things you should be aware of. The first is that you should include a line "options results" in your AREXX file somwhere near the beginning. This provides your program with the text returned from C-Net from some commands. there are also some useful error trapping routines you can find in some of the AREXX files already written that do a nice job of closing up shop in the event of a syntax or I/O error. Some files will print "Command returned 30"'s scrolling up your background screen when it executes certain DOS commands. Although I haven't yet stumbled upon the meaning of this, it is no cause for alarm, the files run fine otherwise. Following are the commands which C-Net supports thus far. Even though many of them don't seem to be as logical as they possibly could be (PRINT would have been a much better choice over TRANSMIT for example), most of these are actually Skyline derivitives to allow some compatibility with the large number of AREXX files out there already: TRANSMIT string Send a string to screen and modem. A carriage return is added to the end. SENDSTRING string Same as TRANSMIT, without the appeanded carriage return. RECEIVE Input a string into the RESULT variable. GETCHAR Get one key press, store into RESULT. GETCARRIER Get the status of the carrier detect signal, will either be "TRUE" or "FALSE". BUFFERFLUSH Empties the contents of the input buffers, keyboard and serial. BBSCOMMAND Attempt to execute a BBS command (all uppercase, such as WHO, TIME, STATUS, ect.). QUERY string Use the supplied string as a prompt. Otherwise, this is identical to RECEIVE. ADDTIME string Add a specific number of minute to the user's time remaining. Use negative numbers to subtract. SENDFILE path Read the text file specified with the supplied path. This will interpret imbeddeb MCI codes and ANSI as well. SHUTDOWN Does nothing. Added for compatibility. SPAWN {path} Asychronously run another AREXX file. CHECKIO Will return "1" if there are characters waiting to be input using the GETCHAR command. "0" returned otherwise. VERSION Returns "C-Net Amiga v1.0" LOGENTRY string Writes a line to your caller log. GETUSER number Used to pull various pieces of the user data file into the AREXX program. Number may have one of these values: 1: Handle 2: Password 3: Real Name 4: City and State 5: Zip Code 6: Street Address 7: Time Remaining 10: Phone Number 11: Last Call Date 12: Current Date/Time 15: User's Access Number (0 to 23) 16: Access Group Name 17: System Maintenance (1=Yes) 18: Number of Minutes today 19: Screen Clear Code (always 12==^L) 21: User's Game Points 22: Total Calls to the System 23: Current Port 24: Current CPS (Baud/10) 25: User's File Ratio 26: User's Byte Ratio 27: Line Length 28: Terminal Type (0=dumb, 1=C/G, 2=ANSI) 40: User's Account Number 41: User's Unique ID Number ADDINGPOINTS string Will add a number of "points" to the user's Game Points total. This is a new command, and to me makes more sense than have several files award time for good ply. The Game Points is displayed to a user through th AS BBS command. One last note, you must allow for the users "hanging up" while in an AREXX file. C-Net will return "###PANIC" in the place of the normal return from the QUERY, RECEIVE and GETCHAR commands in order to allow you a chance to check for this condition. An alternate method is to allow a "fall through" architecture, where continuously pressing return or entering nonsense commands will lead the user out of the AREXX file. If you one day come home and find that someone has hung up while running an AREXX file which doesn't check for this, and you see text scrolling madly off your screen, there is a way to break this. On your background CLI, use the AREXX command "HI" (sets the global interrupt flag for AREXX). 7. C-Net Amiga Editor Subsystem The number of lines that a user may use while in the editor is determined as the number of lines his access group (or he individually) has been configured to use. If disk space is low (generally less than 10K), C-Net will automatically begin limiting editor lines in order to maintain a specific amount of free space. When a user runs out of time in the editor, he is not immediately logged off of the system. The system will wait until he has finished, or his idle timer runs out. All editor commands are termed "dot" commands, because in order to activate one, you must first press a period "." at the beginning of any line. 7.1 The Commands .A = Abort, return to prompt. Attempting to ".S" without any text, or loss of carrier is equivalent to aborting. .D * = Delete lines. .E * = Edit lines. .I = Insert before a line. .L * = List lines, with line numbers included. .N = Clear all text, start over. .R * = Read what you've entered, just as you've entered it. .S = Save text, return to prompt. .B = Put a border around text. There must at least be two free lines in order to do this, for the top and bottom boarders. .C * = Copy lines to insert point. .F * = Find a string of characters. The Find command (and the replace option) will not locate strings which begin on one line and continue to another. .G = Read file into editor (sysop access only). You may enter a full path name here. If you begin the name with "+" then the file will be appeanded to what is already in memory. .H = A help menu, list of commands. .J * = Justify text lines (see below). .K * = Replace lines with new ones. What is entered (even blank lines) will replace the old ones. .M * = MCI read text (interpret MCI also). .O = Toggle line number on/off. .P = Put text into a file (sysop access only). You may enter a full path name here. If you begin the name with "+" then the file will be appeanded to the end of the file you specify. Otherwise, an existent file will automatically be replaced. .T * = Toggle paragraph markers "\" (see below). .V = The ANSI visual editor (see below). .W = Toggle word wrap on/off. .Z = ZIP ASCII transfer ("^Z" ends). When a user attempts to dump his buffer or a file into the editor, this large number of characters being echoed back to the user may cause extra line noise to occur. By selecting ZIP ASCII transfer, this character echo is temporarily disabled, until the user resumes normal operation with a "Controll Z". .> = Set the right margin. .$ * = Search and replace text. Note that this command con not be used to replace MCI commands with others. .= = This will allow you to enter an "available everywhere" BBS command while in the editor, including "WHO", "OLM", ect.. The "ESC" key will print a TILDE on the screen, so that users may directly enter ANSI codes into messages. MCI Read will interpret ANSI as well as MCI. 7.2 Specifying A Line Range For many commands, you may specify a RANGE of lines on which to perform their function. These commands have been marked with asterisks "*". Here are some examples of valid ranges. 5 Line 5 only. 5,10 Lines 5 through 10. 1;7 Lines 1 and 7. 5,10;14 Lines 5 through 10 and 14. If a "range" command is executed without specification, or with line numbers out of range, C-Net will use thses defaults: Last line: Delete, Edit, Replace ALL lines: List, Read, Find, Copy First line: Insert 7.3 Justification Options There are currently 7 different ways that you can justify text: Right: Move text to right border. Left: Move text to left border. Center: Move text to center of screen. Expand: Add spaces to fill line. Packed: Remove extra spaces. Indent: Add a space to the beginning of a line. Unindent: Remove a space from the beginning of the line. 7.4 Automatic Text Formatting System C-Net has been designed to automatically format text for each current user's column width, so as to avoid broken words as the end of lines, regardless of what column width a message was written in. To effectively accomplish this, it is necassry that the editor system know where paragraph breaks are in your message. Whenever the [RETURN] key is pressed in the editor, it assumed that the user is at the end of a paragraph, and will at this point in the text always perform a carriage return during output. Conversely, all lines which required a word to be wrapped to the next line will be taken as paragraph body, and will be printed as to fill the current reader's line as far as possible. The "T" (toggle) editor command may be used to place or remove paragraph markers from specific lines. The "R" or "M" command may be used to preview your text as it will be read by others with your column width. The "L" command prints lines which mark the end of paragraphs with "\" characteres at the end of them. 7.5 Editor Control Keys Several control key commands are available to expedite the editing process. To use a function, hold down the "CONTROL" key, and press one of the following letters: B = Erase back to the beginning of a line. D * = Delete character from old line. F * = Insert character into old line. I = Move to the next column (this is the tab key). N * = Retype to end above line. O = Duplicate text line (copy). V = Verify (reprint) text so far. W * = Delete word (stop at last space). X = Cancel line (start over). Y * = Retype one word from old line. "*" These control keys are active only when editing lines using the ".E" command. 7.6 The ANSI Visual Editor C-Net features an ANSI visual editor, which operates similarly to a small word processor, with paragraph wrapping and formatting. The ".V" command is used to enter the Visual Editor. In order to use the editor on-line, you must use an ANSI 24-line terminal program in order to use the editor fully. VT-100 emulation lacks certain features of the ANSI set. Here are the control keys active while in the visual editor: X = Exit back to the line editor. Q = Move up one page. A = Move down one down. Z = Move to the end of text. V = Re-print current line. R = Re-print entire display. B = Move to the beginning of the line. N = Move to the end of the line. I = TAB, move to the next 8th column (does not insert space). D = Delete a character INTO the cursor (same as the "DEL" key). F = Insert a space. 8. The Message Command Interpreter The Messages Command Interpreter (MCI) is one of C-Net's more powerful features. it allows users to insert "command sequences" directly into messages to be interpretted by the system when the message is later read. These commands include changing colors, moving the cursor, and many other useful utilities. MCI commands may be inserted in any text, including AREXX files, menus, system text files, and the file "bbstext" (modification of this file is discussed in chapter 2). It is wise to withhold MCI from some users, as it is easily overused and abused. There are now 3 MCI access levels instead of 2. Sysop access is needed to use the commands "A", "*", "#", "$", and "%". MCI level 2 now consists of the following commands "D", "E", "F", "G", "I", "S", "T", "V", "X", "W", "Y". All others are level 1. All MCI commands begin with the special character "\", which is visible as the English Pound sign on older Commodore models. Following immediatley is the command character, and, in most cases, a single character argument. For example, in a message, "\c2" will change the text output color to red. Here's a complete list of the MCI commands currently supported: You may choose to give or deny any group (or individual) access to the MCI. additional access must be provided in order for a user to be able to use commands marked with "@". See chapter 4 for information concerning the access privelege flags. @ n = Sets the MCI environment (add any combination of these). n = 1, disable MCI itself n = 2, disable word wrapping n = 8, disable the sysop MCI commands @ An = Disable message aborting using the SpaceBar or the "/" key. Bn = Print #n Bells (beeps). Cn = Change the cursor color to #n. Colors where #n is 8 through f, represent the INTENSE versions of the first 8. 0 = black 1 = white 2 = red 3 = cyan 4 = purple 5 = green 6 = blue 7 = yellow Color codes 8, 9, a, b, c, d, e, & f are available for Commodore Color/Graphics users. Dn = After a Test operation, branch it test failed to label #n. En = After a Test operation, branch if test successful to label #n. F0 = Move cursor to home position. F1 = Move cursor to home position and clear screen. Gn = Wait for a key press. If n<5, the key pressed will be stored in one of the MCI variables. Hn = Print #n backspaces. In = Input a line. If n<5, the input will be stored in one of the MCI variables for later use (testing, display). Jn = Jump to label #n. If nonexistent, the message will be exited. Kn = Kolorific mode on/off. When enabled, the text color will be changed automatically as each character is printed. Mn = A label, #n. This "marks a spot" in a message. Used in conjunction with the "D", "E", and "J" commands. Note that branches may only be made forward in a message, not backward. Nn = Print #n new lines. On = Set FLASHING text (Commodore C/G) or BOLD text (ANSI). Pn = Set print mode #n: 0 = Normal printing. 1 = Print "stacked" all on top of one another. 2 = Print upward. 3 = Print downward. 4 = Print backwards. Q1 = Cancel all active MCI modes (colors/print modes, ect.). Rn = Set REVERSE video on/off. @ Sn = Set the number of 1/50 seconds to pause between characters. Tn{v}\ = Test a variable for equality to {v} (up to the number of characters specified by the length of {v}). 0-4 = The MCI variables (inputed using "G" or "I"). 5 = Access level (must be 00-23). 6 = Maintenance access (0 or 1). 7 = Terminal type (0=dumb, 1=C/G, 2=ANSI). 8 = Terminal width (23-80). Un = Set underline mode on/off. @ Vn = Display a system variable: 0 = Current date/time. 1 = User's last call date/time. 2 = User's handle. 3 = User's real name. 4 = User's phone number. 5 = User's password. 6 = Access group name. 7 = Afternoon, Morning, or Evening depending on the time. 8 = Number of calls to the system. 9 = User's address. a = User's city and state. b = User's zip code or postal code. c = Time user has remaining. d = User's total calls to the system. e = Number of files user has downloaded. f = Number of files user has uploaded. g = Number of bytes user has downloaded. h = Number of bytes user has uploaded. i = Number of public messages use has left. VJ = Displays the last caller's name. VY = Displays the current subboard number (for use in BBS prompts). VZ = Displays the current subboard title. @ Wn = Wait for #n secods to pass. X1 = Immediately exit message. Yn = Display MCI variable (n=0 through 4). Zn = ANSI users, change background color to #n (same as "C"). ^n = Move cursor up #n lines. !n = Move cursor down #n lines. >n = Move cursor to the right #n spaces.