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File List | 1987-12-21 | 23.9 KB | 428 lines

THE OPUS(tm) FILE EXCHANGE SYSTEM In addition to the sophisticated EM system you have already read about, OPUS(tm) provides an equally sophisticated File Exchange system. This part of OPUS(tm) functions like many Bulletin Board Services you may have already seen. But, in the OPUS(tm) tradition, we have added a number of new features. The Files Section ----------------- FILES From the Main Menu, depress the "F" key (and RETURN) to move to the Files Section of OPUS(tm). You will be greeted with the Files Section Menu which looks like this: More [Y/n] Ryn| UnSc:\opus\misc\guide OPUS(tm) Screen Display: The Files Section Main Menu +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ | The FILES Section. | | File Area # 1 ... Upload File Area (will change from BBS to BBS) | | A)rea Change L)ocate F)ile titles T)ype (show) | | G)oodbye U)pload D)ownload S)tatistics | | M)ain Menu R)aw dir C)ontents ?)help | | Select: | | | +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ As mentioned in our discussion of the Message Section, please remember two important points: 1. The SysOp may alter his specific menu of options, although generally each OPUS(tm) will maintain similar services. 2. Not all commands are available to all users. Should you find a command listed here which is not available to you please contact the SysOp for more information. More [Y/n] Ryn| UnSc:\opus\misc\guide As with the Message Section, we will now take a brief tour of the various File Section commands. FILE The "A" (Area Change) command will list the various File "A" Areas which are available to you. Here is an example of what you might see, bearing in mind that each OPUS(tm) system will have very different File Areas available: OPUS(tm) Screen Display: Using the "A" (Area Change) Command +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Select: A (and press RETURN) | | | | 1 ... Upload File Area | | 2 ... Utilities and Programming Support | | 3 ... General Applications for the IBM | | . | | . | | File area: | | | +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ More [Y/n] Ryn| UnSc:\opus\misc\guide FILE Notice that OPUS(tm) is requesting that a File Area be AREAS selected. At this prompt you may either enter the number of the File Area you wish to view or simply press RETURN. If you press RETURN you will stay in the File Area you were last logged into. FILE The "L" (Locate) command enables you to find a file (or a "L" file description) anywhere on the OPUS(tm) system. This command will look at both the filename and the file description for any partial or full string of characters. When using the "L" command it is NOT necessary to use any type of wildcard characters. Simply enter the string of characters you wish to locate and OPUS(tm) will go to work. Whenever a match is found, the File Area, filename and file description will be displayed. Here is an example: More [Y/n] Ryn| UnSc:\opus\misc\guide OPUS(tm) Screen Display: Using the "L" (Locate) Command +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Select: L (and press RETURN) | | LOCATE | | Locate what file (or description)? PC- | | Looking for "PC-" | | 2 ... Utilities and Programming Support | | PC-sweep.arc 10 Sep 86 Excellent general-purpose utility | | | | 3 ... General Applications for the IBM | | PC-spel2.arc 09 Oct 85 Spelling checker | | PC-calc.arc 07 Feb 86 PD Spreadsheet - excellent | | | | Found 3 matches. | +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ In this example we tried to match any filename or description with the characters "PC-" in it. There were no file descriptions which contained the search string. However, there were three files which qualified. Notice that the matched portion of the filename/description will be highlighted on your screen. OPUS(tm) will tell you where to find each entry which qualifies and the total number of entries found. More [Y/n] Ryn| UnSc:\opus\misc\guide One final point. You may specify "arguments" to the "L" command. In other words, you may command stack with this option. In our example above it would have been acceptable (and faster) to enter the following command: L PC- (and press RETURN) This one-line command would have produced the same response as answering the two OPUS(tm) prompts in the Figure above. FILE The "F" (File Titles) command works only within a single File "F" Area. This is unlike the previous command ("L") which works across ALL File Areas. The "F" command will produce a complete listing of all files, file sizes, dates and descriptions provided by the SysOp and/or other users. In addition, any commentary or explanatory notes provided by the SysOp in the File Area will be displayed. Here is an example: More [Y/n] Ryn| UnSc:\opus\misc\guide OPUS(tm) Screen Display: Using the "F" (File Titles) Command +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Select: F (and press RETURN) | | Upload File Area | | USERBYTE.ARC 32344 10 Sep 86 Nice utility to welcome users | | HAVERNCC.ARC 64004 10 Sep 86 Excellent "surround" game | | BELOW.ARC 3433 12 Sep 86 Find the bits/bytes you need | | SYMPHONY.ARC missing 13 Sep 86 Nice music/graphics demo | | PLACER.ARC 123444*15 Sep 86 Search for gold in the hills | | (An excellent game: SysOp) | | . | | . | | . | | . | +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ There are a few things to notice here which you may see from time to time on an OPUS(tm) system. First of all, note the filename "SYMPHONY.ARC" and the "missing" flag where the file size should be. This means that the file is not available for download from this File Area. The asterisk (*) preceeding the date on the "PLACER.ARC" entry indicates that this file is "new to you". In other words, it has been added since the last time you logged on. Since this is a SysOp option, you may or may not see this feature on all OPUS(tm) systems. More [Y/n] Ryn| UnSc:\opus\misc\guide Note also that an additional comment has been made for the file "PLACER.ARC" by the SysOp. In a typical OPUS(tm) system you will likely encounter a great many comments when using the "F" command. These comments are used to better describe the files available, to give an overview of the File Area you are working in, or to convey specific information applicable to all files in the File Area. FILE The "T" (Type/show) command allows you to view an ASCII (text "T" only) file. It operates in the same manner as the DOS "type" command except for one powerful addition. With the OPUS(tm) "T" command you may also view any squeezed file which also contains ASCII characters. A squeezed file will always have a filename extension with a "Q" as the second character. For example, "TQT" would represent a squeezed "TXT" file. Please remember that this command only applies to text files. Binary (non-text) files cannot be "typed" for viewing. Like the "L" (Locate) command you may use command stacking if you like. More [Y/n] Ryn| UnSc:\opus\misc\guide FILE The "G" (Goodbye) command is the same as previously discussed. "G" You will be asked to confirm that you wish to end the session. You will also be given the opportunity to leave a private message to the SysOp before logging off. FILE The "U" (Upload) command allows you to SEND a file to the "U" BBS. This is the opposite of the "D" (Download) command (discussed below) which enables you to GET a file from OPUS(tm). As with most of the other OPUS(tm) commands, you may use command stacking if you like. In our example, however, we will enter each command individually so you can become familiar with how OPUS(tm) operates. Uploading a file requires four actions on your part: 1) Activate the Upload Command ("U"). 2) Decide upon a transfer protocol. 3) Give OPUS(tm) the name of the file. 4) After uploading the file, supply OPUS(tm) with a meaningful file description. More [Y/n] Ryn| UnSc:\opus\misc\guide This is a simple and straightforward process. You may, however, have a question about which protocol to use. A protocol is nothing more than an agreement between your hardware/software system and OPUS(tm) as to how the file should be exchanged. There are many file exchange protocols available and OPUS(tm) incorporates the most popular. Some protocols are able to transfer multiple files (using wildcards) within one command, while other protocols handle only one file at a time. As OPUS(tm) continues to grow you may expect to see the number of protocols increase. Since this manual cannot outline the various nuances of the many protocols available, we will simplify things a bit by using only one in our example. We will use the XMODEM protocol since it is the most common and long-standing binary file protocol in use among PC enthusiasts. This protocol will only allow for the transfer of one file at a time. Here is an example of uploading a file to OPUS(tm): More [Y/n] Ryn| UnSc:\opus\misc\guide OPUS(tm) Screen Display: Using the "U" (Upload) Command +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Select: U (and press RETURN) | | | | Select a file protocol. | | X = xmodem | | Y = ymodem | | T = Telink | | S = SeaLink (c) SEA | | . | | . (you will find additional protocols here) | | . | | Q = Quit (cancel the transfer) | . . . . . Type X Y T S ... or Q: X (we select XMODEM) . . What file will you be sending? TEST.ARC (we send TEST.ARC) . . . . Ready to receive "TEST.ARC" using XMODEM (OPUS(tm) confirms) . . Begin sending now or press CONTROL-X twice to cancel. . . . | | +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ More [Y/n] Ryn| UnSc:\opus\misc\guide Once you see the "Ready to receive..." prompt you may go ahead and begin transmitting the file to OPUS(tm). If you are using one of the popular communications packages mentioned at the beginning of this manual you will be provided with a running record of how the transmission is proceeding. At this point you need do nothing until the transmission is complete. Your system and OPUS(tm) will take care of the transfer automatically. If for some reason you have received the "Ready to receive..." prompt and change your mind, simply depress CONTROL-X twice to abort the process. When the file transfer process is complete OPUS(tm) will ask you to describe the file you have just sent. You MUST answer this prompt (a Carriage Return by itself will be ignored). Please be sure to give a brief but meaningful description of the file. This is the only way the SysOp and other users will know at first glance what is contained in the file. It is not necessary to add a date to your file description. OPUS(tm) will do that automatically. More [Y/n] Ryn| UnSc:\opus\misc\guide From time to time you may have difficulty in transmitting a file. Typically these problems may SEEM mysterious but are generally very simple. A poor connection with lots of line noise may make a file transfer difficult or impossible. If you should notice a large number of errors during the transmission it is likely due to a poor telephone connection. If the situation becomes intolerable, disconnect and call back again. You may get a cleaner line on the second try. If the transfer won't start properly it may be that you are using the wrong file transfer protocol. Your system and OPUS(tm) must be speaking the same language for a file transfer to take place. Be sure that you are BOTH using the same protocol. For advanced users, please note that OPUS(tm) will automatically adjust for checksum or CRC file transfer verification. If you feel unsure about transferring files to and from OPUS(tm) please check the User's Manual which came with your communications software. This is usually an excellent resource. More [Y/n] Ryn| UnSc:\opus\misc\guide FILE The "D" (Download) command tells OPUS(tm) you wish to "D" RECEIVE a file. The operation is essentially the same as with the "U" (Upload) command so we will just give you a "snapshot" of how it operates: OPUS(tm) Screen Display: Using the "D" (Download) Command +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Select: D (and press RETURN) | | | | Select a file protocol. | | X = xmodem | | Y = ymodem | | T = Telink | | S = SeaLink (c) SEA | | . | | . (you will find additional protocols here) | | . | | Q = Quit (cancel the transfer) | . . . Note: OPUS(tm) figures out CRC/Checksum by itself. . . . . Type X Y T S ... or Q: X (we select XMODEM) . . What do you want to receive ? TEST.ARC (we get TEST.ARC) . . . . File: TEST.ARC . . Size: 3200 bytes, 26 blocks . . Time: 13 seconds . . Mode: Xmodem . . . . Begin receiving now or press CONTROL-X twice to cancel. . . . | | +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ More [Y/n] Ryn| UnSc:\opus\misc\guide As you can see, downloading is almost identical to uploading. OPUS(tm) will provide information about the file, file size and download time before the actual transmission begins. When you see the prompt "Begin receiving now ..." you should start the ball rolling at your end. FILE The "S" (Statistics) command is the same as "S" previously discussed. This will provide you with valuable information on your current session as well as cumulative statistics. FILE "M" The "M" (Main Menu) command will return you to the Main Menu. FILE The "R" (Raw dir) command, if available, will provide you "R" with a quick listing of all files within the File Area you are working. This listing will only contain the filename and size of the file in bytes. The "R" command will take arguments which include DOS wildcard characters. In addition, the "R" command can be stacked with any of its arguments. Here are a few command line examples: R *.ARC - display all files with an ARC extension R PC-*.* - display all files which begin with the three characters "PC-" More [Y/n] Ryn| UnSc:\opus\misc\guide This command may not be available on some OPUS(tm) systems since its functions are carried by the "L" (Locate) and "F" (File Titles) commands. FILE The "C" (Contents) command is a powerful utility which will "C" let you "look into" the contents of any file which bears an extension of "ARC" (ARChived) or "LBR" (LiBRary). Files with these extensions are actually a number of separate files which have been placed together in a single package for ease and speed of transfer. With this command you will know at a glance what constitutes any "ARC" or "LBR" file you find on OPUS(tm). Here is an example using command stacking: OPUS(tm) Screen Display: Using the "C" (Contents) Command +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Select C TEST.ARC (and press RETURN) | | | | File name SIZE: now full | | HELP.TXT 2331 6577 | | MAIN.EXE 16777 43904 | | SECND.EXE 10220 14233 | | . . . | | . . . | | . . . | | . . . | | . . . | | 6 files 45667 88798 | +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ More [Y/n] Ryn| UnSc:\opus\misc\guide Notice that this command not only provides the filename but also the compressed file size as well as the full filesize when uncompressed. This is a powerful feature of OPUS(tm) which we think you will find very valuable. FILE The "?" (help) command, as usual, will provide a short screen "?" summary of the commands available to you in this section. This completes the various commands available in the Files Section of OPUS(tm). The file segregation scheme, various utilities and multiple file transfer protocols should provide you with every tool you need to exchange Public Domain files quickly and easily. As we mentioned previously, OPUS(tm) is continuously evolving. You will likely see additional file transfer protocols emerging from time to time as an example. Sc:\opus\misc\guide