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2AM-BBS, Version 2.0 User's Manual (c) Copyright, 1986 by: Chris Gorman Neil Clarke 2AM Associates December 1, 1986 Across the Country... put your signatures here! - 2 - 2AM BBS User's Manual Making the CALL! ____________________________________________________________ Chapter 1 Making the CALL! 1.1 The Raw Materials To call any Bulletin Board System, you are first going to need the following: 1. A computer or a terminal. 2. A modem -- This device MOdulates data bits into sounds so that they can be transmitted and DEModulates incoming sounds into bits so that the computer/terminal can make sense of them. There are several different kinds of modems. Each will use slightly different communications parameters. More on communications parameters later. 3. A telephone line. Refer to your modem's user manual for instructions on how to connect your modem to the phone line. 4. A terminal program (if you are using a computer). If 1 you are just using a dumb terminal you will not need this program. Terminal programs instruct your computer how to "talk" over the RS-232 port, which is the thing your modem is plugged into on the computer. Without this program, the computer knows no more about using the RS-232 port as it does about using a printer or any other device. You will have to set up your terminal program. This set up is accomplished in many ways depending on your terminal program. However, we will get to some basic guidelines in a minute. 1.2 Communications Parameters In order to effect a communication link between two machines, you need to set various parameters on each side. ----------- 1. dumb terminals do not run programs, you just turn them on and they automatically are set up to communicate thru a modem. 1-1 2AM BBS User's Manual Communications Parameters ____________________________________________________________ Basically a parameter is a variable that must be set correctly for proper communications. Many years ago, parameters had to be changed frequently. Different links used different parameters. There was no real standard. Now, almost all communications between microcomputers is done using a standard set of parameters. Here they are: 1. Baud: Baud rate is the speed in which characters are sent/received. This parameter is dependent on what kind of modem you have. Cheaper modems transmit and receive at 300 baud. More expensive modems run at 1200, 2400, 4800, or even 9600 baud. Baud rates over 2400 are used primarily in large applications in the corporate world. 4800 and 9600 baud modems are very expensive and require special phone lines for such high transmission speeds. In 10 or 15 years, when Ma Bell, et. al. convert the nation's phone system to digital, we will all be 9600 baud. For now, most phone lines will not transmit accurately at this speed. Baud rates of 2400 baud are possible at the time this manual was written, but are expensive. Many BBS's still do not use 2400 baud modems. The average 2AM-BBS will go at either 1200 or 300 baud. You set up for the highest baud speed your modem can transmit at. The BBS will "autobaud", that is, set its baud rate at the speed at which you are set up at. 2. Duplex: This parameter can be set to either FULL or HALF. It determines whether the two computers should echo characters back at each other. Using HALF duplex, characters are echoed. Using FULL duplex, characters are not. You should set your terminal program and/or modem for FULL duplex. This is standard to the BBS world. If you set your modem wrong, the characters you type and/or receive will echo, i.e. HHEELLOO TTHHEERREE If you get this sort of transmission, change your duplex setting. 3. Bits (or bits per word): This gets tricky to define without launching into some more complicated stuff. Let's make it simple and say, set up for 8 bits. 4. Stop bits: A little too complicated to explain. Set up for 1 stop bit. 5. Parity: This parameter allows for some error checking while transmitting. Basically, when a character is sent, a code is built in which tells the other machine whether the character was received correctly or not. It is not used much in the BBS world. Set parity for NONE. Other parities are ODD, EVEN, MARK, and SPACE. 1-2 2AM BBS User's Manual Communications Parameters ____________________________________________________________ Don't use them. If you get garbage when you connect, very often it is because your parity is set wrong. I notice a lot of 'p' and 'x' characters when parity is set wrong. 6. Linefeeds: This is to decide whether your terminal program should skip down a line when you receive a carriage return or whether the BBS should transmit a linefeed character. It can be set either way (usually easier to let the BBS transmit the linefeed, thus answer CR only versus CR+LF in your terminal set up area). You will be asked whether or not you wish the BBS to transmit linefeeds in the new user login procedure. If your terminal program is not setup to supply linefeeds, reply YES to the linefeeds question. Otherwise reply NO to the linefeeds question. Oh, if all output is double spaced, it is because both your terminal program and the BBS are supplying a linefeed. Either turn linefeeds off in your terminal program set up section, or use the BBS's Configure utility and set up for no linefeeds from the BBS. Put all together, you have what is called the 8-N-1 standard. That is: 8 bits, 1 stop bit, no parity. You may find that, with no set up at all, your terminal program is already set up this way (by default). 1.3 Protocols One of the first things that a computer hobbyist probably learns is that you cannot take an Apple program and load it into an IBM (or most any other machine). Different computers have different sets of instructions and different methods for computing. However, in the BBS world, different computers can communicate. All of this communication is accomplished by using what is called a protocol. When you are just communicating normally with a BBS, you are sending and receiving codes that correspond to each letter on the keyboard. The terminal program functions to convert these numbers back into letters. However, when you are communicating, you are, in reality, sending and receiving these codes. These codes are known as ASCII (The American Standard Code for Information Interchange). They are standard to almost every computer made today and allow Apples, Commodores, IBMs, and many other types of computers to communicate. ASCII can be thought of as a communications protocol. It is standard to many computers. However, when you get to more complicated things such as transferring files, you need protocols that can do more. You need error checking to make sure that everything transmitted is 1-3 2AM BBS User's Manual Protocols ____________________________________________________________ received correctly, and you need a protocol that can efficiently transmit information. ASCII is an efficient protocol for posting messages and reading bulletins, but is not so great for sending programs back and forth. If you want to do file transmissions, your terminal program must support another communications protocol. The second protocol that 2AM-BBS uses is called Xmodem. Xmodem is efficient and has error checking and is thus very good for file transfers. Since it sends data in blocks (chunks of data rather than one character at a time), it is not useful for posting and reading messages, however. Read through the manual to your terminal program to see if it supports the Xmodem protocol. Basically, there should be a method for sending and receiving a file using Xmodem. 2AM-BBS also supports a modified form of Xmodem called Xmodem CRC. The differences between Xmodem and Xmodem CRC are minor, but Xmodem CRC allows for faster file transfer times. 1.4 The person on the other end! BBS's are run for all sorts of reasons (pleasure, business purposes, etc.), but in all cases, one person normally supervises the BBS's operation and solves all the problems that come up. This person is known as the SYStem OPerator or SYSOP. If you have problems with the use of the BBS, methods for contacting the sysop will be explained shortly. However, remember that sysops get busy, and if you have questions about other aspects of BBS'ing, there are always lots of other users to communcate with as well! 1.5 HELP! When using a 2AM-BBS, do not ever let yourself become confused. Help is available from ANYWHERE by hitting 'H' and then RETURN. You are strongly encouraged to make use of help files! Hitting 'H' from the main menu will take you into the master help file section. Here you can get help on any part of the BBS. If you are at a prompt and want to know what commands are available, type a question mark (?) and hit RETURN for a menu of commands. 1-4 2AM BBS User's Manual Basic Concepts used in the Software ____________________________________________________________ Chapter 2 Basic Concepts used in the Software Before you launch into all the descriptions of what the various sections of 2AM-BBS do, here is a little bit of information on how to give commands to the board. In this chapter, there are lots of examples of typical commands that you could give. These examples come before any information on using the board, so they won't mean much, but this chapter is useful for getting some basic ideas on moving around. 2.1 Basic Command Parsing At any prompt (a prompt is where the BBS stops and, with a neat little arrow, nudges you to type something in), you will have to enter commands. These commands are then parsed. What is parsing?? Well, keep in mind that computer programs do not just glance at phrases and understand them. In most cases, they are taken apart letter by letter and examined in order to try and figure out what to do. The programs that do this reading/interpreting are called parsers. In 2AM-BBS, most utilities have parsers, but since it is one program, each parser shares information with the others. The user's job is to give the parser input that it can deal with. If you do not, you will get errors. Most errors are easy to read. If any are cryptic, we will explain them further in this manual. Most commands are only one letter long (i.e. command to send feedback from the main menu is 'F'), but some are longer, and many need additional information. For instance, to go from the main menu to message base 2, you would type in 'g2' and hit return. Now, if you forget a part of the command, (i.e. put the 'g' and forget the '2'), the BBS will always prompt you. 2-1 2AM BBS User's Manual Multiple Command Parsing ____________________________________________________________ Example 1: (the slick way) Example 2: (the tedious way) Main:> g2 Main:> g Moving to base 2 :: System News Base to move to :> 2 12 Messages, 5 New Moving to base 2 :: System News Base-2:> 12 Messages, 5 New Base-2:> 2.2 Multiple Command Parsing You can enter as many commands on a line as you wish. Just separate them with slashes (/). This practice is encouraged just because it gets you around faster. An example: Main :> y/e/ri/m/ra This command will show you your current status, take you into Email, read your incoming messages, take you back to the main menu, and set you up to read all new messages on all message bases. NOTE: you may be prompted for additional information (ex: in Email, you might be asked if you want to answer or re-read each message). Some of these additional responses can be put into your command line; others will not work. Just take each case as you have to. In addition, if you mistype a multiple command line, you may get a slew of syntax errors as the parsers try to interpret commands that are in the wrong place (ex: ri is great in Email, but will really upset the parser at the main menu). If you ever get the message "Unrecognized command", you know that part or all of the command you just gave was incorrect. 2.3 Ranges Many commands will operate on a range of values, and this section lays out how 2AM-BBS parses ranges of numbers. From a base prompt, you may wish to read messages 2 thru 6. 2 thru 6 is a RANGE of messages. Other places you will find ranges are in the editor (delete lines 1,3, and 5 thru 7) or in the voter (vote on topics 1 and 3). This is how they work: 1. The simplest range is just a single number (i.e. R12). 2. To specify several numbers, separate them with commas (i.e. R1,3,5,6,7). 3. If the numbers are in order, you can use a dash (i.e. R1,3,5-7). 2-2 2AM BBS User's Manual Ranges ____________________________________________________________ 4. You can go backwards (i.e. R12-6 is legal). In some cases the range will not work backwards even though it is legal to specify it backwards (i.e. 11-7 will come out just like 7-11). 5. The asterisk is a special character that is useful in some ranges, and illegal in others. In the message bases, it means 'new' (so R* means 'read new'). In the Voter, it means 'all' (so D* might mean 'display all'). In some cases, it doesn't mean anything (from the main menu, R1-7 means 'read new messages on bases 1 to 7, but R* will give you an error. When the asterisk is inappropriate, we have tried to print out the message 'Asterisk invalid in this range'. Hopefully that message will guide you a bit. 2.4 Pauses and Aborts These commands are used to pause and abort output. They are not normal commands; you do not type them from a prompt. They are interrupt commands (named so because you use them to 'interrupt' what is happening). There are two sets of pause and abort keys in 2AM-BBS. The first set is the standard set (called buffered set) and, if you are a new user, you will use these keys. The second set (called non-buffered set) is a little simpler to use and is prefered by some users. 2.4.1 Standard (Buffered) Pauses and Aborts When normally using 2AM-BBS, you can type commands at any time, and they will be printed out and executed when you get a prompt. This type of input and output is known as "buffered" input and output. With buffered IO, you must use control keys to pause or abort output. They are as follows: 1. Control-X or Control-K or TAB aborts a message or textfile that is typing out on your screen. 2. Control-C or Control-A aborts a whole range of messages or textfiles that are outputting. No matter what is going on, either of these two keys will get you back to a prompt. 3. Control-N skips to the next base when you are reading a range of bases. If you are on base 3 and hit control-N, you will immediately go to base 4 if you are doing an RA (read all new messages on all bases). 2-3 2AM BBS User's Manual Non-Buffered Pauses and Aborts ____________________________________________________________ 4. Control-S pauses at any time. Hit any key to resume output. 2.4.2 Non-Buffered Pauses and Aborts A simpler set of pause and abort keys are available. If you turn off buffering (a user option in configure, see the section on the configure utility for information on doing this), you no longer have to use control characters. Output is slowed down a bit by this action, but some users prefer simple pause and abort keys. In non-buffered mode, you can always use the control keys listed above to pause/abort, but, in addition, the following keys are available: 1. [Spacebar] will abort a message or textfile that is outputting (like Control-X above) 2. [A] will abort everything and return you to a prompt (like control-C above) 3. [S] will skip a base when reading a range of bases (like control-N above) 4. [P] will pause output (like control-S above) 2.5 Conventions used in this manual Most commands are only a few letters long. When this manual makes reference to a command, it encloses it in brackets ([]). When you enter the command, do not include the brackets! Example: If you want to use the [S] command, type "S" (no quote marks either) at the prompt and hit the RETURN key. For those of you who are computer lingo readers, qualifiers are enclosed in the brackets with the command and parameter lists (if any) follow outside the brackets. 2-4 2AM BBS User's Manual New User Logins ____________________________________________________________ Chapter 3 New User Logins This chapter will guide you through the process of becoming a new user on a 2AM-BBS. When first logging in, you will get the BBS Name/ID, communications parameters, and a <HIT RETURN> prompt. Make 2 sure you are setup for 8N1 and hit the RETURN key. Now, the account number prompt is displayed. If you have already gotten an account number, you would enter it here, followed by your password, and you would then go straight into the main section (login notes, login stats, then main prompt). However, let's go the new user root. 3.1 A New User Login From the account number prompt: 1. HIT RETURN. You are playing new user 2. You will now have to supply: a. Username b. Password c. Terminal info: (all these responses can be changed later, so don't worry if you are unsure about something) i. Do you need linefeeds?: If your terminal program does not generate linefeeds, reply [Y] here, otherwise reply [N]. ii. Terminal width: Either 40 or 80 columns. Most terminals are 80 columns. However, check your terminal. Just count the width of a line in characters. It should be obvious whether it is 40 or 80 columns. ----------- 2. for more information on communications parameters, see the previous chapter 3-1 2AM BBS User's Manual A New User Login ____________________________________________________________ If your terminal displays less than 40 or more than 80 columns, pick 80 columns. iii. Uppercase only: Answer [N] if your computer can display lowercase characters. iv. Ansi menus?: If your terminal program can recognize ANSI escape sequences, respond [Y] here otherwise respond [N]. If you are unsure, play safe and say [N]. v. Number of Nulls: If you need to slow things down a bit, you can ask 2AM-BBS to send null characters in between each character it sends. If you get any garbage characters while connected, set nulls to some number between 1 and 30. If you are really confused here, set nulls to 0 and worry about it later if you get garbage characters. 3. Verify your information is correct when you are asked "Is everything correct (Y/N)?" by hitting the 'Y' key. 4. You are now asked for: a. Real name b. Address c. Voice/Modem Phone numbers d. Age e. Privacy statement (can we release this information (Y/N)) 5. Now, there are some multiple choice questions to answer. Each question can have up to 8 choices for answers. The choices will be output and then you will be instructed: Input all choices that apply Input one choice per line Hit RETURN on a blank line when done You can pick as many of the choices as apply to you for each question. When you are done, hit return on a blank line to exit. If none of the choices apply, just hit return on a blank line without selecting any choices. 6. Now you are asked to verify that this information is true. If all is OK, respond [Y]es. If not, respond [N], and you may start the user application procedure over. 7. After some closing comments, you are given your account number and your password is displayed. You are instructed to write these down and remember them. When they are written down, hit return. The screen will clear and you will be tested to make sure you got the right stuff written down. If you provide the correct account number and password, you continue. 3-2 2AM BBS User's Manual The Second Login ____________________________________________________________ 8. You are now at the login notes. You are a 2AM-BBS user! 3.2 The Second Login Now that you have a usernumber and password, you do not need to answer the new user questions when logging in. At the user name/number prompt, enter either your username or your account number and hit RETURN. You will be prompted for your password. Enter it carefully; asterisk characters (***) will echo when you type in your password. If all was done correctly, you will be taken to the main prompt. 3-3 2AM BBS User's Manual 2AM-BBS Sections ____________________________________________________________ Chapter 4 2AM-BBS Sections The rest of this manual goes into the details for using all of the utilities that the board offers. With only a few exceptions, these utilities can be entered with a command from the main menu. Once you enter a section, you will have new set of commands that are specific to that section. There are lots of options, but FEAR NOT!, many are similar from section to section. 4.1 The Editor The BBS has one editor, and it is called whenever you post a message on a message base, in feedback, or in Email. If you have ever tried to describe an editor to someone, you will probably have noticed that some features are really hard to describe. The best way to see what a command does is just to try it out. Use the descriptions below as guidelines for exploration 4.1.1 Some of the features... Most editor commands are not necessary and are rarely used. Just keep in mind that, to end a message and save it, type '/S' on a BLANK line. To abort a message, type '/A' on a blank line. The editor features full word wrap, so just type along and let it do most of the work for you. Since the BBS is designed so that MANY different computers can communicate with it, the editor is very simple. 4.1.2 Editor Commands Here is a reprint of the editor menu. This menu is gotten by hitting '/?' on any blank line in the editor. For that matter, every command is entered in this fashion Editor Commands --------------- 4-1 2AM BBS User's Manual Editor Commands ____________________________________________________________ /A - (or /Q) Abort and return to sub-base menu. /B - Go to beginning of the message. /D - Delete current line # (RANGES available) /E - Go to end of message. /G## - Go to line ## (EX: G5 to go to line 5) /I## - Insert a blank line BEFORE line ##. (RANGES available.) /L - List all text (RANGES available.) /L* - List lines with numbers. (Ranges available) /N - Toggle line number display on/off. /P - Paste contents of BUFFER to end of file. /R - Restart editing session. /S - Save message and return to main menu. /T - Change title of message. /X - Ascii upload mode. CTRL-R = Reprint current line. CTRL-W = Walk through line. CTRL-X = Delete line (abortable by spacebar, and retrievable by CTRL-W or -U) CTRL-U = UN-delete line (abortable by spacebar) /? - This Help. 1. /A or /Q aborts a message. You will be asked if you are sure you want to abort. An answer of yes will take you back to the prompt you were at before you entered the editor, and your message will not be saved. 2. /B takes you to the beginning of the message. This is always line 1, but since the 'B' was there, we threw it in 3. /D [range] will delete the range of lines you specify. 4. /E will take you to the last line of the message you are editing. 5. /G [#] will take you to the line number you specify. It will print out the line and put your cursor at the end of it. NOTE: Many terminal programs allow you to move from line to line by hitting the up and down arrow keys. Try this with your computer to see if it works. 6. /I [range] will insert blank lines BEFORE the line number you specify. You can then put text into these lines. 7. /L [*] [range] will list the lines in the range you specify. If you put an '*' before the range, line numbers will be listed as well. 8. /N will toggle line numbers on and off. Selecting /N once will turn line numbers off. Selecting /N a second time will turn line numbers back on. If you are uploading text into the editor, it is a good idea to turn line numbers off. This action avoids dropping characters as each line is transmitted. 4-2 2AM BBS User's Manual Editor Commands ____________________________________________________________ 9. /P will paste whatever you have put in the buffer (with the /CPY command) on the end of the file. 10. /R will clear the editor and restart the editing session. Any text you have typed in will be deleted. 11. /S saves your message and exits you from the editor. 12. /T will let you change the title of your message. 13. /X If you wish to use your terminal program to dump a message into the editor (ASCII uploading), use this command. It turns off word wrap and line numbers for the best uploading conditions. Hit Control-Z to get out of this mode. 14. Hitting control-R will re-print whatever line you are on. 15. Hitting control-W will print one character of the line you are on at a time. Hitting control-W over and over again will reprint the current line one character at a time. 16. Hitting control-X will delete all the text on the line you are on. If you hit the spacebar right after you hit control-X, the text will come back. 17. Hitting control-U will un-delete the line you are on if you just deleted it. 18. If your terminal program can generate ANSI escape sequences for the up and down arrow keys, you can move to the next/previous line in the editor with the up and down arrow keys. You can't just cursor around like in a word processor; you are still in a line editor, but it does help when moving around from line to line. 4.2 Archiver Utility The archiver utility allows the users to read or download TEXT (i.e. ASCII) files. Programs and really large text libraries are offered in the FILES utility. A point of philosophy here: the archiver is really used for documentation and notes that most people would read while on line. The FILES utility best catches programs and larger documents that would be downloaded and read off line. Archiver is recommended for short articles, summaries, and short descriptions. In the archiver, files are organized into several libraries. There are commands to show the list of libraries available and to move from library to library. 4-3 2AM BBS User's Manual User Contributions to the Archiver ____________________________________________________________ 4.2.1 User Contributions to the Archiver There is no upload option here, so if you have a file to contribute, use one of two strategies: If you have xmodem, you can send the file over using xmodem in the FILES section. If you have a TEXT file to donate and do not have X-modem, leave the Sysop feedback. The Sysop can then make arrangements for you to leave the file in Email or mail it thru US mail. 4.2.2 Archiver Commands The archiver is entered from the main menu with the [A] command. If you know in advance which library you want to goto, you can specify a library number after the "A" (i.e. 'A2'). Once you are in the archiver, the following commands are available: 1. [G] allows you to go to a new library. If you specify a number right after the G (e.g. G2) you will go directly to that library. If you do not, you will get a list of libraries available, and then will be asked to select. Note, when you first go into the archiver, the menu of libraries will be displayed, and you will have to choose in the same fashion. Also, if you want to go to the next or previous library, use the < and > keys. 2. [L] gets you a directory of the files in that library. When you hit RETURN, you will be asked to select a [B]rief or [V]erbose listing. A brief listing gives you the file name and number. A verbose listing gives what a short listing does, but also provides you with a 3 line explanation of the file. 3. [R] allows you to read a file. The file can be output as text or can be sent using X-modem. The system pauses before outputting the file in case a user wants to open a text buffer. All else is self explanatory. 4. [S] will show you what libraries are online. 4.3 BBS Lister Utility This utility will keep statistics on other bbs's and allows you to compile lists of BBS's based on several criteria. The lister has two sections, one for local BBS's (same area code as the BBS you are logged into) and one for non-local BBS's. 4-4 2AM BBS User's Manual BBS Lister Commands ____________________________________________________________ 4.3.1 BBS Lister Commands The BBS Lister is accessed from the main menu with the [BBS] command. Once inside the BBS Lister, the following commands are available: 1. [A]dd allows a suitably privileged user to add a bbs to the list. If the area code is the same as the BBS's area code, the bbs will be added to the local list, otherwise it will be added to the non-local list. You will need special privileges to add BBS's. If you have a BBS to add, leave feedback to the sysop asking for this privilege. When it is granted, you will be able to add one BBS to the list. If you have several BBS's that you want to add, be sure to let the sysop know that. This way, the sysop can set you up so that you can add more than one BBS. The following information is asked for during the adding phase: a. BBS name b. BBS phone number c. Maximum baud rate d. BBS location (city, state) e. Computer the BBS is running on f. Software the BBS is running g. 4 line description of the BBS The check for a duplication in the data base is made by comparing phone numbers. If a BBS with a phone number already added is added, a message will appear to that effect and the BBS will not be added. If you know of information in the data base that is incorrect, please contact the sysop through feedback. 2. [LL] and [LN] list all the BBS's in the database for the local and non-local calling areas respectively. You are asked if you want a [B]rief or [V]erbose listing. A brief listing will only output the BBS name, phone number and baud rate. A verbose listing will output all information recorded on the BBS. 3. [S]can is a data base pattern matcher. You can scan either the local or non-local BBS data bases for certain bases. Scans can be done by: a. Prefix b. BBS Name c. BBS Location d. Computer Type e. Telephone number f. Software After you pick a field to scan by, you are asked for some text to look for. Any BBS entry that matches will be output. NOTE: you don't have to hit the 4-5 2AM BBS User's Manual BBS Lister Commands ____________________________________________________________ field right on the head, any good pattern will do. For example, if you wanted to search by computer type and get any bbs's run on apples, just put 'apple' for the computer type. Any BBS listed that runs on a computer type with the string 'apple' in the computer type (apple II, apple IIe, apple IIc, apple III, even such stuff as apple //e) will be output. When you add bbs's, try to fill in the fields with information that will be easy to match against (i.e. Don't put IBM, put IBM PC-AT. That way, people can match against 'IBM', 'PC' or 'AT'). 4.4 Configure Utility The Configure Utility allows a user to set up BBS options that are specific to his or her needs or tastes. These options break down into two categories, user-specific (personal tastes and such) and terminal specific (capabilities of your terminal and/or terminal software). The utility is accessed from the main menu with the [C] option. Once inside the utility, the following commands are available: 4.4.1 User Options 1. [C]hange password allows a user to change his/her password. User is prompted for the old password first to minimize the possibility of someone sneaking up to a user's terminal and changing an account password without a user's knowledge! 2. [U]ser options. The following questions will be asked if you select this option: a. In Email, notify you if a message you sent was read: Answer "Y" if you wish to be notified when your messages have been read. b. In Email, notify you if a message you sent was not read: Answer "Y" if you wish to be notified if any of your messages have not been read yet. c. Pause after each base in a range read. Pauses and aborts are another option that varies with a user's tastes. When you read a range of bases (RA, QA or R or Q [range] from the main menu), you can choose whether the prompt: [P]ost, [Q]uit, [N]ext :> 4-6 2AM BBS User's Manual User Options ____________________________________________________________ should appear after you read each base. By default, this prompt appears. However, if you find it troublesome, turn it off by selecting this option in the Configure menu. You will be asked whether you want it on or not; respond [N]o. d. Buffered IO mode [Y/N]. Choose Yes if you wish the BBS to accept characters from you and hold onto them until a prompt appears. This is the normal input/output mode. Choose No if you wish to use the input/output non-bufferd mode. This mode has a simpler set of pause and abort keys and is preferred by some users. They are listed in the manual section on Pauses and Aborts. 3. [X]pert mode is a toggle. If you select it once, you are in expert mode. All menus will not appear automatically unless you hit '?' at a prompt. If you select it again, you are taken out of expert mode. All menus appear automatically after completion of a command. NOTE: this option works identically to the e[X]pert mode option on the main menu. 4.4.2 Terminal Configure Selecting the [T] option gets you into the terminal configure section. In this section you are asked: 1. Terminal Width (40 or 80 columns). 2. Can you handle Uppercase (yes/no)? 3. Do you need linefeeds (yes/no)? 4. Can you display ANSI graphics (yes/no)? 5. How many nulls do you need (0-30)? If you are having problems with your terminal, changing some of these options may help. Some background on these options is given at the beginning of this manual, so we will not go into them here. 4.5 Email Utility You can get into Email by using the [E] option on the main menu. Email allows you to send/receive private messages to/from other users. 4-7 2AM BBS User's Manual Email Commands ____________________________________________________________ 4.5.1 Email Commands The commands for Email are as follows: 1. [S]end or [P]ost allows you to send mail to another user. You will be prompted for a username, or you can execute the command as: S username and you will not be prompted. You will be prompted for a title (giving no title here aborts the message), and then will be placed into the editor. Exiting from the editor saves the message (assuming you did not abort). Also, you can mail to more than one user by separating usernames with commas (S user1, user2, user3). 2. [RI] allows you to read your incoming mail. Incoming mail is mail sent from others TO you. If you have incoming messages, Email will tell you so in two places: When you first log in (appears with welcome message and caller number information), and when you first enter Email. When reading incoming mail, you will have the chance to do the following after each message: a. [A]nswer: You can respond to the person who sent you the mail with this option b. [F]orward: Forward the message to another user. You will be prompted for comments (which will be tacked onto the top of the message when it is forwarded). c. [R]e-read: Will output the mail message again. If you wish to capture the text in a buffer, use this option. NOTE: you can re-read a mail message as many times as you want! If you foul up with your buffer, just try again until you get it right. d. [N]ext: Just go to the next message. The message you just read will be deleted. When you finish with a mail message, it is deleted. NO way around it! Obtuse social experimentation has shown us that, if people are given the chance, they will fight to the death to avoid deleting mail. We have enforced our wisdom upon the users. Otherwise, the BBS disk will turn into an attic. 3. [RO] allows you to read your outgoing messages. An outgoing message is one sent BY you to another person. When reading outgoing messages, you have the chance to do the following after each message: 4-8 2AM BBS User's Manual Email Commands ____________________________________________________________ a. [D]elete: You decide not to send it after all. This will delete the mail message and lower the receiver's Email counter by one. (Email counter is number of new mail messages that is reported to you upon login). So, all record that the message was sent is gone. NOTE: If a user is deleted from the system and you delete mail to that user, the message: User not found, deleting mail anyway! Will be output. This is just for your information, no error! b. [R]eread: Reread the message. For a dissertation on the usefulness of this option, see the Reread section in [RI] above. c. [S]top: Do not output any more messages. d. [N]ext: Go on to the next message. 4. [U] allows you to search the userlog for a particular user. Many users have strange handles and some decorate them with ASCII garlands. The handle looks really neat on messages, but it is impossible to remember. Here you just pop into the userlog with the [U] command. You will be asked if you wish to get a [F]ull list or [S]earch for a user. If you [S]earch, you will be asked for a pattern of characters to match usernames against. Any user that has the sequence of characters that you specify in his/her username will be output. So, to find a user who's name has the letters 'RED' in it, you would type 'RED' at the pattern prompt. The results might look like this: THE RED FOX :: RED ROSE :: DRED SCOTT You can then choose from this list. NOTE: this utility is identical to the [U]serlog utility available from the main menu. 4.5.2 Mail notification If you wish to be notified which messages have or have not been read when you enter Email, go into Configure (see the configure section) and select the [U] option. You will be asked (among other things): 1. Do you wish to be notified if a message has been read. 2. Do you wish to be notified if a message is still unread. 4-9 2AM BBS User's Manual FILES Utility ____________________________________________________________ 4.6 FILES Utility This utility is used for uploading and downloading of software. Downloading is the process of transferring a file from a host computer (the BBS) to your computer. Uploading is the reverse process (transferring a file from your computer to a host computer). All up/downloading is done using the Xmodem protocol. 2AM-BBS allows uploading and downloading using 2 protocols: Xmodem, and Xmodem CRC (a modified form of Xmodem). Software available for downloading is stored in one of several libraries. Uploaded files are kept in a separate directory for review by the sysop before they are put up for the public. 4.6.1 FILES Commands This utility is accessed from the main menu with the [FILES] command. Once inside the utility, the following commands are available: 1. [S]how libraries allows a user to see what libraries are online. A library is essentially a directory of available files. The sysop normally catalogs whatever software he or she wants to offer into several categories, each of which becomes a library. When you first enter the FILES utility, you are placed into library 1. 2. [G]o allows a user to go to a different library. A list of libraries is available by using the [S] command. If you wish to go to the next/previous library, you can use the < and > keys. 3. [L]ist files just lists files available in the library that the user is currently in. The list includes: a. File number b. Filename c. Date file was put into the library d. Size (in bytes) e. A short (40 column) description of the file f. Some lines that may contain comments. When a user downloads a file, s/he will be asked for the file's file number or name. 4. [N]ew file list. This utility is just like the list files utility, but it only lists those files in the library that have been added since the user's last call date or since any date that you specifiy. By typing a range after the N (EX: N1-5), you can view the new files in that range of libraries. 4-10 2AM BBS User's Manual FILES Commands ____________________________________________________________ 5. [F]ind a file. This utility is like the list files utility also, but after hitting [F] and return, you are prompted for a string of characters to match against. The file directory you are in is then searched (file name field and file description field) for that pattern.. If you wish to search through more than one library, give a range after the F (i.e. F1-5 or F* for all libraries). 6. [D]ownload a file. The user will be prompted for a file number (given in the directory, the [L] or [N] commands) or file name, and the downloading process will begin. The user will have 60 seconds to instruct his/her terminal program to receive a file using the Xmodem or Xmodem CRC protocol before the BBS aborts the download attempt. 7. [U]pload a file. The user, after selecting this option has 60 seconds to instruct his/her terminal program to begin transmitting a file using the Xmodem or Xmodem CRC protocol before the BBS aborts the attempt. If a sucessful transmission is received, the utility will then ask for a filename and 1 line description of the uploaded file. After uploading, the user will get credit towards his or her upload/download ratio. 4.6.2 Requirements for downloading a file 1. The user must upload a program for after downloading so many files. The ratio of uploads to downloads is known as an upload/download ratio and is determined by the sysop. A typical upload/download ratio is 1 upload for every 5 downloads. This practice is only fair. One cannot take forever if one is not willing to give. Besides, contributing programs enriches the BBS's libraries and attracts more uploads, so it is always in your advantage. After an upload, you will be told how many programs you can download before this ratio will become imbalanced. If you try to download after exhausting this quota, the BBS will not let you. New users are permitted to download 3 files before uploading. 2. The user must be validated. First time users should not be discouraged if they cannot download. The SYSOP will review all user applications before giving out privileges to upload or download 3. The time that it takes to download a file cannot go seriously over the user's time limit. 2AM-BBS gives some leeway if you are just a minute or two short, but if a file takes much more time than your time limit, 4-11 2AM BBS User's Manual Jump Utility ____________________________________________________________ you not be able to download the file during that session. 4.7 Jump Utility 2AM-BBS offers the ability for the sysop to set up other programs that can be run from within the BBS itself. These programs (known as JumpDoors because you jump out of the BBS and run another program) can be any sort of utility, game, or other program of interest. The [J] command at the main menu will take you into the jumpdoors utility. Commands are basic: 1. [S] shows you what programs are available. The list is totally up to the sysop. 2. [G] will ask you the number of the door you want to jump through (i.e. what program you want to run) and then run that program. Using the list given in the [S]how option above, pick your poison. When the program is done, you will be returned to the jumpdoors menu. 3. [M] will take you back to the main menu. For any and all programmers out there: A jumpdoor can be any program that addresses the serial port. 2AM-BBS will not interfere with serial communications while a jumpdoor is running; it will just TSR (terminate and stay resident). The 2AM Associates will be glad to distribute any jumpdoor with future versions of 2AM-BBS. Contact the sysop of your board for more information. 4.8 Message Base Utility A message base is a section of the BBS where users can go to read and post messages. This utility is the most important part of a BBS because it is the area where the majority of the communication between the users takes place. Users typically have many discussions going on at once, so many bases are set up. Each base has a title which identifies the nature of the discussion that is going on on it. Within that base are messages related to that discussion. 4.8.1 Message Base Commands The Message Base utility is run from the MAIN menu by entering [G] (Goto message base) and then a base name or 4-12 2AM BBS User's Manual Message Base Commands ____________________________________________________________ number to go to. To find out the names and numbers of the bases, just use the [S]how message bases command at the main menu. Note that once you know the name of the base, you don't have to use the base number. If you want to go to base 23 (which for instance might be titled "The Debate Base"), you can use the commands 'G23' OR 'Gdebate' OR 'Gdeb'. Simply put, use a name after the [G] that is unambiguous and you will get to that base. If you just used the command 'Gthe', you would goto the first base in the list that has the characters 'the' in its title (which might not be where you wanted to go). Once inside the message base utility, the following commands are available: 1. [G] option lets you go to another base once you are in the message base shell. It works exactly the same as the [G] option on the main menu. 2. [P] option lets you post in a base. You are prompted for a message title and then are put into the editor. Exiting from the editor (without aborting) saves the message as the last message in the base. The real work here is done by the editor. 3. [S] option shows you what bases you have access to. You may have only read access to a base. If you have only read access to a base, you will not be able to post in it. Read only bases are denoted with an asterisk (*) next to them in this listing. If you have maintenance privileges for a base, an (-) will appear next to that base name. The sysop will tell you about the additional maintenance commands if you are given maintanence privileges for a base. NOTE: [S] is also available from the main menu and has the same function there. 4. [D] allows you to delete a message. To use it, you just type D# where # is a message number in the base you are currently in. The message is then marked deleted. You may delete a message if you posted it. 5. [E] allows you to edit a message. You can do this if you posted the message originally. You will be asked if you want the old title to stay the same, or if you want to rename the message. You will then be placed into the editor. The message will be there with you. Just move around and change things. When you exit, the changes will be made. 6. [R] allows you to read messages on the base you are currently on. Full ranges are all allowed including the asterisk (read new messages on this base, r*). One other extension of R is RA. RA allows you to read all new messages on ALL bases you have access to. When you are done with an RA, you will be brought back 4-13 2AM BBS User's Manual Message Base Commands ____________________________________________________________ to the base you were at when you started. NOTE: RA is also available from the main menu. 7. [Q] allows you to quickscan messages on the base you are currently on. Only the title, username who posted the message and date/time output here. Like read, full ranges (including asterisk) are available. The QA extension works just like the RA extension except quickscans instead of reads are done. NOTE: QA is also available from the main menu. 4.8.2 Pauses and Aborts, a reminder This was mentioned in another section, but it bears repeating. Here, the messages will fly hot and fast, especially when you are reading a range of messages. Just remember, hit Control-S to pause output, hit Control-X to abort a message, Control-C to abort all output, and hit Control-N to skip a base when reading messages on a range of bases. in normal input and output mode or use the "P" key to pause output, the spacebar to abort a message, the "A" key to abort all output, and the "S" key to skip a base in non- buffered mode. 4.9 Trivia Utility This utility allows you to answer sets of trivia questions. These questions are put up and corrected by the sysop or other users. Periodically, these people will put up new question sets and put the old scores, answers, and questions into the last score/answer set. 4.9.1 Trivia Commands The Trivia utility is entered from the main menu with the [T] command. Once inside the utility, the following commands are available: 1. [A]nswer questions will display 10 questions for the subject that you are currently set at and allow you to input one line answers to these questions. If you do not want your trivia score compiled, just type 'quit' at any question prompt. 2. [C] will show all the current scores that have been tallied for the set of questions. 3. [LA] shows the questions and answers for the last set of questions, if there is one. 4-14 2AM BBS User's Manual Trivia Commands ____________________________________________________________ 4. [LS] shows the scores for the last set of questions, if there is one. 5. [S] shows you what sets of questions are available. If you have answered any of the question sets, an '*' will appear next to that section name. If you are running a trivia section and have maintenance privileges to that section, a '-' will appear next to that section name. If you do maintenance on a trivia section, the sysop will inform you of the additional maintenance commands that are available. 6. [G] allows you to go to another set of questions. Supply the number of a different trivia section after the 'G'. 7. [Y] will show just your score in a particular trivia section. 4.10 Voting Booth Utility In the 2AM-BBS voter, you can vote on a variety of topics 4.10.1 Voter Commands The voter is accessed with the [V] command at the main menu. Once inside, the following commands are available: 1. [L]ist vote topics. The topic titles are listed. If you have voted on the topic, an asterisk will appear next to the title. 2. [V]ote on a topic. You are asked for a topic number. You are then presented with the title, description and choices and are asked to vote. If you hit return at the ballot prompt, the vote is aborted. You can still vote on the topic later on. 3. [D]isplay tally. This feature shows the percentage of the vote recorded for each choice. You give a topic number here along with the 'D'. Ranges are also legal here (i.e. 'D1-3' will display tallies for topics 1 through 3). 4.11 Other Main Menu Options... Most of these options are so straightforward that they only bear a few comments. 4-15 2AM BBS User's Manual Chat ____________________________________________________________ 4.11.1 Chat Chat is available from the main menu by typing in [CHAT] at the prompt. The utility is available so that, if you have to speak directly with the sysop, you can page him or her. After selecting this option, you will be asked for a reason for the chat (sysops can be real busy and like to know what the problem is in advance). If the sysop is available, he or she will then pull you into the chat module. In this module, both you and the sysop just type away and everything typed will appear on both the sysop's and your screen. You can just type away to your heart's content. Hit return twice when you are finished to let the sysop know you are done, but when you are typing out your message, you don't have to hit return; if you go over the end of a line, the words will wrap around to the next line (like in any good word processor). You should also note that the sysop can pull you into chat from any place in the BBS program if he or she has to speak to you. If the prompts go away and someone starts typing at you, know that you are in chat. 4.11.2 Feedback This utility is available during logoff or if you hit [F] at the main menu. It allows you to leave a private message for the Sysop. You are placed into the editor. Type your message and save it, and the sysop will get it. Feedback is useful for questions pertaining to the BBS or any other business you might have (or even a friendly hello!). 4.11.3 Help!!! The help files for 2AM-BBS can be accessed by typing 'H' at the main menu prompt. This utility offers explanations on all of the 2AM-BBS features and is very easy to use (since you are here for help, you don't need any confusion). Follow the instructions on the menu that comes up and you can ask for help on any of numerous topics in the help library. Also, from ANY other menu, typing help will give some help on the section that you are in. 4.11.4 System Info This command is invoked by typing [I] at the main menu. This option normally displays: 1. Computer Type 2. Memory and Storage 4-16 2AM BBS User's Manual System Info ____________________________________________________________ 3. Peripherals on system (printer/modem/etc.) 4. Serial number of 2AM-BBS the BBS is running 5. Any other system specific information. However the information contained in it is totally up to the sysop. 4.11.5 Message Base List This is the [S] option at the main menu and is also the [S] option in the message base menu. It's function is to show you a list of message bases you have access to. An '*' before a message base title means you have read access but no write access to that base. A '-' before a message base title means you have maintenance privileges for that base. This option is described in more detail in the message base utility chapter. 4.11.6 Off This procedure can be called from almost anywhere on the BBS by typing 'OFF'. When logging off, you will first be asked if you want to leave feedback (default answer is NO). A 'Y' answer here will put you into feedback and then continue with the logoff sequence when you leave the editor. Hitting RETURN or N will skip feedback. You will then be asked if you want to set all new messages to old (default answer is YES). If you hit 'Y' or RETURN, any message that was marked as new on this visit will be marked as old on the next visit and will not appear in new message reads (r* or ra or q* or qa). If you say 'N' here, any messages that were new during this login will remain new for the next login. Wait for the (brief) logoff notes to type out, and then hang up. Take care not just to hang up when you are done answering these questions; it could be considered a carrier drop, and your time limit could be dropped. 4.11.7 Daily Log This section is accessible by typing [D] at the main menu. You will be then asked for a date to show the caller's for. If you hit return, you are shown today's log. Otherwise, you can select any date (in the form mm-dd-yy), and the log for that date will be output if it is available. If you are set up for an 80 column screen (an option in both the user application and in Configure), it will also display the time and baud rate of each caller. At the end of the list, the percentages of calls for each baudrate will be output. 4-17 2AM BBS User's Manual TIME ____________________________________________________________ 4.11.8 TIME This utility is accessible by typing [TIME] at the main prompt and displays: 1. Login time 2. Current time 3. Current date 4.11.9 Userlog This utility can be invoked from the main menu by typing [U]. You can also invoke it from Email. It will give you either a full userlist or search the userlist for users matching a pattern you supply. Although backwards references are the bane of existence, please check the Email utility section for a further description of this utility with examples. 4.11.10 Expert Mode This section is available at the main prompt by typing [X] and toggles you in and out of expert mode. It works exactly as the same option in the Configure utility. 4.11.11 Your Status This section is available at the main prompt by typing [Y]. It outputs your user record. Using this utility, you can view your own record, but, of course, no one else's. 4.11.12 Bulletins If you hit [+] at the main menu, the login notes will again be displayed. These notes normally contain public announcements and a welcome. They are written by the sysop. 4-18 2AM BBS User's Manual ERROR! ____________________________________________________________ 4.11.13 ERROR! This is the least fun section to run into. If 2AM-BBS encounters an error that it does not know how to deal with, it will give the following message: Error encountered... system shutdown initiated. The system will be back up in 1 minute. Disconnecting.... If you get this message, we very much hope that you will write down EXACTLY what you were doing, log back in, and inform the sysop of what happened. This is the best and brightest method we have for improving the software. 4-19 2AM BBS User's Manual 2AM-BBS Command Set ____________________________________________________________ Appendix A 2AM-BBS Command Set This appendix provides an outline of all commands that 2AM- BBS uses. It is for reference and for syntax freaks like the software authors. We pray it is orthogonal. Semantic layout: Main is a hub for a set of utilities. You get to a utility by typing the abbreviation for the utility name at the main prompt. Once you type the utility name, you are at the base level for that utility. Main also acts as the base level for the most important part of the board, the message bases, thus the command set [R,Q,G,S] works from main as if it was the base level for the message bases. A - Archives G - Goto a new library (also '>' and '<') L - List files B - Brief V - Verbose R - Read a file S - Show libraries available [Off,Main,Help,?] B - Goto base (V1 Compatibility - See G) BBS - BBSlister L - List BBS's L - Local N - Nonlocal A - Add S - Scan [Off,Main,Help,?] C - Configure T - Terminal Configure U - User option configure C - Change Password CHAT - Page system operator for chat D - Daily Log A-1 2AM BBS User's Manual 2AM-BBS Command Set ____________________________________________________________ E - Email R - Read I - Incoming O - Outgoing P,S - Post/Send [User {,User, ...}] U - Userlog F - Full S - Search [Off,Main,Help,?] F - Feedback Files - Files D - Download file name/number G - Goto another library (also '<' and '>') S - Show libraries L - List files B - Brief V - Verbose N - New [Range] F - Find [Range] U - Upload [Off,Main,Help,?] G - Goto a message base B - Goto another base name/number (see G below) E - Edit a message G - Goto another base name/number (also '>' and '<') P - Post message R - Read message [Range] A - All Q - Quickscan message [Range] A - All D - Delete message S - Show message bases available [Off,Main,Help,?] H - HELP I - System information J - Jump Doors L - List mbases you have access to (V1 Compatibility - See S) Q - Quickscan Base [range] A - All R - Read Base [range] A - All S - Show message bases available STAT - System stats TIME - Current time A-2 2AM BBS User's Manual 2AM-BBS Command Set ____________________________________________________________ T - Trivia G - Goto another question set (also '<' and '>') S - Show question sets available A - Answer questions C - Current scores Y - Your score L - Last A - Answer set S - Score set [Off,Main,Help,?] U - Userlog F - Full S - Search V - Voter L - List topics D - Display Tally V - Vote on a topic [Off,Main,Help,?] X - Xpert mode Y - Your status + - System Bulletins [Off,?] Unused: [K,M,N,P,Z] Rules: 1. If there is more than one "set" of something, you Goto it. 2. You can Goto the next/previous set with < and > 3. If you can Goto another element of a set, you can show the set with S 4. M leaves a utility 5. H is for help and can be used ANYWHERE 6. Off exits the board from anywhere. It must be typed out in full A-3 2AM BBS User's Manual Index ____________________________________________________________ Index parity 1-3 A parsing 2-1 aborts 2-3 password 4-6 account number 3-1 pattern matching ANSI 3-2, 4-3, 4-7 4-5, 4-9, ASCII 4-3 4-11, 4-13 pauses 2-3 B pauses and aborts baud 1-2 4-6 BBS id 3-1, 4-17 protocols 1-3, bits per word 1-2 4-10 C R commands 2-1 ranges 2-2, 4-14 communications asterisk in 2-3 parameters 1-1 S communications stop bits 1-2 protocols 1-3 T D terminal width download 3-2, 4-7, definition of 4-17 4-10 time 4-18 downloads 4-3 time limit duplex 1-2 loss 4-17 E U Email upload message counter definition of 4-8, 4-9 4-10 error 4-19 to editor 4-2 expert mode 4-7, userlog 4-9, 4-18 4-18 V F version number 3-1 feedback 4-16 X L Xmodem 1-4, 4-10 linefeeds 1-3, 4-7 Xmodem CRC 1-4, 4-10 P parameters 1-1 INDEX-1 Table of Contents Chapter 1 Making the CALL! 1-1 1.1 The Raw Materials . . . . . . . . . . 1-1 1.2 Communications Parameters . . . . . . 1-1 1.3 Protocols . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3 1.4 The person on the other end! . . . . 1-4 1.5 HELP! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4 Chapter 2 Basic Concepts used in the Software 2-1 2.1 Basic Command Parsing . . . . . . . . 2-1 2.2 Multiple Command Parsing . . . . . . 2-2 2.3 Ranges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2 2.4 Pauses and Aborts . . . . . . . . . . 2-3 2.4.1 Standard (Buffered) Pauses and Aborts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-3 2.4.2 Non-Buffered Pauses and Aborts . 2-4 2.5 Conventions used in this manual . . . 2-4 Chapter 3 New User Logins 3-1 3.1 A New User Login . . . . . . . . . . 3-1 3.2 The Second Login . . . . . . . . . . 3-3 Chapter 4 2AM-BBS Sections 4-1 4.1 The Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1 4.1.1 Some of the features... . . . . 4-1 4.1.2 Editor Commands . . . . . . . . 4-1 4.2 Archiver Utility . . . . . . . . . . 4-3 4.2.1 User Contributions to the Archiver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-4 4.2.2 Archiver Commands . . . . . . . 4-4 4.3 BBS Lister Utility . . . . . . . . . 4-4 4.3.1 BBS Lister Commands . . . . . . 4-5 4.4 Configure Utility . . . . . . . . . . 4-6 4.4.1 User Options . . . . . . . . . . 4-6 4.4.2 Terminal Configure . . . . . . . 4-7 4.5 Email Utility . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-7 4.5.1 Email Commands . . . . . . . . . 4-8 4.5.2 Mail notification . . . . . . . 4-9 4.6 FILES Utility . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-10 4.6.1 FILES Commands . . . . . . . . . 4-10 4.6.2 Requirements for downloading a file . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-11 4.7 Jump Utility . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-12 4.8 Message Base Utility . . . . . . . . 4-12 4.8.1 Message Base Commands . . . . . 4-12 4.8.2 Pauses and Aborts, a reminder . 4-14 i 4.9 Trivia Utility . . . . . . . . . . . 4-14 4.9.1 Trivia Commands . . . . . . . . 4-14 4.10 Voting Booth Utility . . . . . . . . 4-15 4.10.1 Voter Commands . . . . . . . . 4-15 4.11 Other Main Menu Options... . . . . . 4-15 4.11.1 Chat . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-16 4.11.2 Feedback . . . . . . . . . . . 4-16 4.11.3 Help!!! . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-16 4.11.4 System Info . . . . . . . . . . 4-16 4.11.5 Message Base List . . . . . . . 4-17 4.11.6 Off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-17 4.11.7 Daily Log . . . . . . . . . . . 4-17 4.11.8 TIME . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-18 4.11.9 Userlog . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-18 4.11.10 Expert Mode . . . . . . . . . 4-18 4.11.11 Your Status . . . . . . . . . 4-18 4.11.12 Bulletins . . . . . . . . . . 4-18 4.11.13 ERROR! . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-19 Appendix A 2AM-BBS Command Set A-1 ii