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- 3.4 Program files
-
- Novaterm comes with several external programs which provide features
- that could not be included in the main program. In addition to the
- regular selection of external programs, there is a separate program
- which brings up a menu of external programs identical to that in the
- main program. When an external program ends, it loads this menu
- selection program instead of the main program, taking considerably
- less time. This makes it quicker to switch between programs.
-
-
- 3.4.1 BBS mode.
-
- The BBS mode is a small answering service of sorts that imitates a
- bulletin board program. It allows other users to call in, view the
- directory, upload and download files, read and write textfiles, and
- leave messages to you. It has a chat mode, and it keeps a log of
- people who have called. Users may also upload hidden files, which may
- only be seen by the sysop.
-
- The BBS mode differs from a normal BBS in that there is no public
- message base, no electronic mail (except feedback to the sysop), and
- no maintained list of users. The BBS mode is meant only as a simple
- front end interface for users to call in and get files and such. The
- program has been released in BASIC code (rather than compiled) so that
- it may be modified for personal use. [However, if you are going to
- distribute Novaterm, the BBS mode MUST be distributed in its ORIGINAL,
- unmodified form.]
-
- BBS mode may be run either through Novaterm or loaded directly from
- BASIC. If loaded from BASIC, the program loads Novaterm's machine
- language files as well as your configuration file.
-
- BBS mode has its own configuration file (given the file name "\bbs
- config"), and this is loaded when the program is run, if there is one
- on the disk. The program also keeps a statistics file (called
- "\stats") which records the last caller, number of messages, number of
- uploads and downloads, and number of callers.
-
- BBS mode first asks for the current time. Enter the time in 24-hour
- form (BBS mode interprets AM or PM from this).
-
- You are then presented with the setup menu. Each option has the
- following function:
-
- Sysop name: This is the name you use to log in as the sysop. When you
- log in as the sysop, you have special access to read feedback, execute
- disk commands, look at the caller log, and see and download hidden
- files. If you enter this name when you log in, you are prompted for
- sysop password, described below.
-
- BBS name: This is the name displayed above the default user menu. It
- has no other real significance, except as a symbol of your particular
- BBS mode.
-
- System password: If you enter a system password here, users are
- required to supply the password when they log in. If this is left
- blank, no password is requested at login.
-
- Sysop password: It is highly recommended that you enter something
- here. If you try to log in under the sysop name, this sysop password
- is requested. Supplying the correct password gives a person sysop
- access, described above. As a double protection against invalid sysop
- access, the sysop name is never made known to users who call in, so
- someone would have to know both the sysop name and password to get
- sysop access.
-
- Opening message: This is the file name of a textfile that is
- displayed after someone logs in. If left blank, the file is not
- searched for.
-
- Main menu:G