RBBS vers. 3.8A Documentation July 30, 1985 by Dennis Recla INTRODUCTION: UPDATE to RBBS38A from RBBS38 Fixed TWIT problem, that allowed them to re-enter system. RBBӠ (Remot Bulleti Boar System ha grow fro th earl version whic wer simpl messag system t mor elaborat one suc a thi ne RBBS38 tha ca als b use a stan alon messag systems o a wa t contro user acces t CP/ o a RCP/ system RBB i writte i MBASI an compile t run-fil usin BASCOM Th origina RBB itsel ha bee copie an duplicate b numbe o ne version writte i Pascal C CBASIC a wel a .AS code Eac o thes ne version provide fo improvement upo th origina code an chanc t work with another language besides MBASIC. Thi versio i stil writte i th origina MBASIC fo thos programmer wh fee mor comfortabl i thi language Ther hav bee fe problem encountere wit RBBS37 an thi ne releas RBBS3 i n different hav fixe al o th know bug i RBBS37 an adde severa ne feature t tha cod t creat RBBS38 I additio thi releas i smalle tha th RBBS37 b slightl mor tha 1.5 bytes Thi wil hel wit on o th nex tw problem whic yo migh encounter I you syste ha TP o les tha 52 the strang thing migh happe a RBBS3 overwrite you CCP Thi proble migh no sho u whe yo ar runnin i i th 'local mod o th terminal bu whe yo loa th BY progra th TP i reduce b t 4 byte dependin upo you implimentation Yo sa 'bu a runnin 64 CP/ system' Wel tha ma b true an thing wil probabl wor jus fin fo you Jus remembe tha ther ar numbe o program tha yo migh b usin tha d reduc th amoun o TP spac o system Thes includ man o th CCР replacemen program suc a EZCPҠ an ZCPR3 ZCPR3 i probabl th wors sinc yo ca reduc TP b a muc a 6ˠ t 8 dependin upo ho elaborat yo hav gon o you implimenta tion S remembe reduce TPA ca caus runtim problem o smal systems Thes ar i th minorit s yo shouldn' hav proble wit this. Th nex problem perhap i tha th MBASIà cod fo thi progra ha gotte ver larg a BASI progra runnin unde CP/ go don' thin tha whe MICROSOF create th BASCO͠ basi compile packag tha the realize programmer wer goin t creat larg MBASI programs Thi versio come wit tw sourc file fo RBBS38 Th firs i RBBS38.AS whic i full commente sourc fil save fro MBASI usin th (A)SCIɠ switc i MBASIC Thi versio wil NO ru o nearl al system hav trie t us i on Th reaso bein tha i i TO bi t b store i memory T tak car o thi problem secon sourc fil calle RBBS38NC.ASà wa created Thi i a identica file excep tha 99 o al th comment hav bee remove fro th code I wil ru unde MBASI o mos o th common CP/M systems. I yo decid t 'hack u th origina souc t sui you ow needs th le m sugges tha yo als modif th commente sourc an includ you ow comment s tha nex tim yo mes wit th progra YO ca rememe wha yo did BASCO͠ wil compil th progra an creat larg .RE file No her i wher yo fin ou abou th secon problem BASCO i normall supplie wit th L8 Linker a thi linke doe mos o it' wor i memory i i reasonabl fast Tha i th rub yo ar no agai limite b th amoun o memor spac yo hav o you system I yo pla o makin an change t th RBBS3 sourc file yo mus b awar tha eve th uncommente versio wil no lin usin L80 T lin yo nee th LD8 linker whic unfortunatel i no supplie wit BASCOM I i supplie wit MICROSOF COBOL Unles yo hav linke suc a LD8 o PLIN yo wil probabl b unsuccessfu i linkin th .RE̠ file Thes specia linker us th dis instea o memor fo holdin some of the temporary files created during the link. I RBBS3 an RBBS3 hav trie t solv thi proble fo a man o yo a can Thi progra i supplie a runnin .CO fil tha ha bee alread compile an linked an wil ru a supplied Th othe associate file hav als bee compile an linke t mak i easie t ge you RBBS3 syste running Sinc everyon want t configur thei ow RBBӠ program a expande INSTAL progra ha bee include wit thi update I allow th SYSO (syste operator t mak choice o ho he/sh want thei syste t operate I als solve th proble fo man o yo wh d no hav th BASCO compiler an thos wh prefe t no ge envolve wit th programmin aspect o settin u RBB system I i on o th fe 'READY-TO-RUN programs available in the Public Domain. > DON'T FORGET: RBBS3 i no stan alon module fo i t operat a a RBB o RCP/ yo mus hav workin cop o BY installe o you compute system BY mus also whe i detect carrier ru th RBBS.CO (RBBS38.COM program If you need a RBBS program that does more, or you just prefer to writ you ow code the le m sugges RBBS whic i writte i 'C o MSGSYS2 writte i CBASIC o on o th ne Turb Pascal message system programs. The Lost Island RCP/M-RBBS Garland, Texas 214-681-4789 300/450/1200/Vadic Like a Lost Island, it is not always there when you look for it !! 8:00am to 10:30pm CST NEW FEATURES: On o th bes feature o RBBS3 ove earlie version i tha i i 1.5 byte smaller Thi mean les chanc o runnin ou of space in your system TPA. Ther hav bee numbe o change fro RBBS37 whic hav com abou i slo progressio fro th da RBBS3 wa release t th world S excus m i i m discriptio o update tha som o thes wer reall update fro RBBS3 t RBBS37 wil tr t star a entr t th syste an tal briefl abou th changes that were made. 1 Yo canno ente first/las nam o passwor tha ha an space i it Whe nam ha spac i in th 'searc fo messages cod di no wor correctl an th calle wa neve notifie o message t them 2 Ther i wa t directl ente CP/ withou stoppin i th RBBS3 program Thi i don usin th 'Direc t CP/M passwor a th Firs Nam prompt No yo ca selec NOPASӠ a password an thi featur wil b disabled 3 Yo ca als selec i ther i mor tha on SYSO o you system No instea o th ta SYSO o messages yo ca hav SYSO (name fo th othe SYSOPS 4 I someon trie t ente a SYSOP an misse th correc SYSOР password th syste wil dum them Al yo se i brie 'Yo ar no th SYSOP an th syste drop of line Thi doe mea yo hav b b careful yoursel whe enterin you SYSO password. 5 Ther i ne operationa mod calle SECURE Whe yo se th SECUR fla i th instal program onl thos caller wh are listed in the USERS file will be allowed on the system. 6 Yo no hav th capabilit t lo o no lo ne user i th CALLERӠ file Alon wit thi th SYSO i no no eve logge i th CALLER file o th numbe o call increase whe th SYSO log on Usin th SHOLO fla yo ca als decid i yo wan t sho th caller locatio i th USER an CALLER fil whe viewe b th caller. 7 Upo entr t th progra th calle i aske t verif th date Thi i onl aske o validate callers s tha twi canno scre thing up I ther i DATE.DA fil create t b use a th alternat souc o dat o tim informatio the th calle i no aske thi question I th DATE.DA fil i no foun i eithe case th calle wil b aske t inpu th curren date Havin thi information a th beginning th LASTCAL an CALLER file ar als tage wit th date. 8 RBBS3 gav yo th choic o showin th calle th las messag rea b them o not Showin th las messag rea work a lon a th SYSO didn' renumbe th messages whe the use th utilit program S b no showin las messag read i wa les confusin i th number changed Thi ne RBBS3 wil aler th calle tha th messag bas hav bee renumbered. 9 Al ne user t th syste ar show th RBBSMENՠ fil wheneve the firs call thi let th firs tim calle se wha al th feature are Ther i als separat men fil tha i calle u fo th SYSO i the forge th variou features. 10 Th Comman pomp lin ha als bee modifie t tw lin prompt Th firs lin contain th caller firs an las name an th secon lin contain th code fo th availabl commands Thi allow th SYSO wh i watchin th syste being used, see who the current user is. 11 Ther i ne 'D comman whic allow th viewin o named text file by only those callers who are validated. 12 NEW an HEL file ca no b assigne t drive othe tha the default drive. 13 Th堠 SYSOР (P)asswor functio no allow fo th unvalidation of a user. 14 Th SYSO ca no decid i the wan t se th WHEE byt fo SYSO contro wheneve the ente CP/M fla alert th SYSOP that the WHEEL has been set. 15 A entr t CP/ wit th comman i th ne featur o bein abl t execut program Thi give th SYSOР th capablit o lettin th calle wh goe t CP/ chai t anothe progra an ru it Thi ne progra coul b numbe o things infac i migh no eve le th calle exi t CP/ bu chain to another RBBS program for multi-node type of operation. 16 Th messag bas summar no show th privat message a bein Bulletin File Chat with SYSOP Enter Message * Download Directory * Feedback for SYSOP News and new information Read Message Scan message base Kill Message Users file (Valid Members) Toggle BELL List last callers * Information File

Password Change Jump to CP/M X'pert User Help files GO 'Leave the system' * Verified users only Repeated Ctrl-K's abort, Ctrl-S pauses Messages are Private unless addressed to ALL For Sequential retrieval (not scanning), use '+' after message #. For example, R;10+ reads message #10 and all that follow, a Ctrl K can be used to 'SKIP' to the next message in this mode. The above sample of MENURBBS lets the caller see all the functions that are supported by the RBBS38 Program. Depending upon how you set up the passwording files, you can prevent the new caller from leaving messages or seeing some of the various files. They can also be limited in their access to CP/M using the 'J' command. Mos o th variou command ar sel explanatory excep fo th 'D command Thi specia functio let th calle wh i vali use se tex fil o you choice I th cas o m syste hav chose t le th calle vie cop o SD.DIҠ o th are o m syste wher th ne upload ar located Thi wa vali calle an chec th upload withou havin t g t CP/M. SYSOP functions: The SYSOP has a few extra commands that are available to he/she only The ar no liste o th norma MEN o ar the show o th comman line Ther i anothe MEN fil calle SYOPMEN tha doe sho th specia SYSO functions I yo ar crampe fo space an don' fee th nee o specia men fo th SYSOР the late i thi documen loo a th specia sectio o modifyin RBBS3 usin DD fo wher t chang th nam o th MENՠ progra s th sam on i use fo norma caller an th SYSOP. First is the 'Z' command, this lets you view the COMMENTS file tha ha bee lef b th caller i eedbac o upo exitin th RBB program Yo ca als hav comment i thi fil tha ar create b th EXITRBB program. This command allows you to view the XMODEM.LOG file if you have created one from the XMODEM program. This command helps to let you know who has been uploading or downloading files from your system and as a way to provide audit capabilities without having to enter CP/M. You might use this if you run your system from home and have a Modem at work to call and 'see how things are'.

This PASSWORD command is available to all users in that they can modify their own password anytime they like. When the SYSOP calls up the 'P' command you will get an expanded version of password change. This is where you as the SYSOP set up the validation of the callers. You can set up any caller from the validation command to either a alidated user, a wit, or a uper user. If you don't want to make any changes to the validation then just hit the again until you get the command line prompt back. Thi comman allow th SYSO t se al callers wh ar i th USER file Th norma 'U comman doe no sho unvalidate o twits while the UALL shows all callers who are in the USERS file. EXITING THE PROGRAM o Command: The easiest is the 'G' command that first allows the caller to leave a message for the SYSOP then exits the RBBS program. It does this exit by running the BYE.COM program that you have on the disk. In RBBS35 the exit was done by 'POKEing' the UART control port to drop the DTR line. This is probably a better way, but one that cannot be made universal to all computer systems. ump Command: Depending upon the password setup you are using with CP/M entry you may or may not be asking the caller a question that requires a proper answer. Once the question or password has been entered correctly then like in the 'G' command the caller is give a chance to leave a message for the SYSOP. Following the comments request the file called ENTERCPM is show to the caller. This file is used to give information to the caller about how you have your RCP/M set up or about any special commands that are to be used by the caller. DISK DRIVES USED DSK$ - DSK2$ - DSK3$ - DSK4$ - DSK5$ - and DSK6$ Sinc som CP/ system hav ver smal dis drives (yes 1/ i small o ɠ gues wha shoul sa ar thos tha hav limite capacity Havin onl 90 byte o spac o dis sur ca pu cram i runnin a RCP/ o eve simpl messag system B bein abl t selec th dis driv use t stor th variou files optimizatio o th syste ca b mad b selection of drives. DSK - I th defaul drive an i i normal A: O thi driv ar store th RBBS38.CO program BOOTPWD DATE.DAT ENTERCPM INFO, BULLETIN, NEWCOM, MENURBBS, and SYOPMENU. DSK2 - contain th files COUNTERS SUMMARY MESSAGES COMMENTS an pwds Thes file ar th one tha gro th fastest on the system. DSK3$ - contains the files, LASTCALR, CALLERS, and USERS. DSK4$ - contains the HELP file menu and the other HELPxx files. DSK5$ - contains the NEWS file menu and the other NEWSxx files. DSK6 - i strin variabl use t stor th curren value fo DSK$ at various places in the program. Remember..thes ca al b th sam driv o jus onl tw o them suc a DSK o A an the al th other selecte fo drive B:. SPECIAL FILES A mentione befor ther i th 'D comman whic allow th progra t lis t th calle tex file Thi ca b an tex fil yo hav create i th sam manne a INFϠ o BULLETIN etc Th onl differenc i tha thi fil i name b th INSTAL program I mus b locate o th DSK drive DSK i als th driv wher th RUN-A-FILE-ON-EXI i located Thi i SYSO selecte progra i INSTAL tha ca b ru whe calle exit t CP/M I mus b .CO fil bu yo coul us progra lik TXT2 t conver tex fil t 'runnin tex file' that can be viewed whenever it is called. RBBS38 Installation using INSTAL38.COM INSTAL3 wa writte t provid ver simpl wa t creat th tw passwor file use i th RBBS38.CO program I additio t th INSTAL38.CO ther i anothe calle INSTALL.HLР whic contain HELР informatio incas yo wonde wha specifi instal paramete i use for (NOTE INSTALL.HLР fo RBBS3 will not work with this RBBS38 version) To install the RBBS38 program you must put the INSTAL38 program and the INSTALL .HLP file in the user area on A: drive that you will be running the RBBS38 program from. If you choose to use other disk drives for some of the other files created by RBBS38, you must have those disk installed in the system. If because of the size of the Install program you don't have enough room, then leave off the RBBS38.COM program for now and put it back in after the INSTAL38 program has been run, and the password files created. Once they have been created, the INSTALL files can then be deleted. You are now ready to type in INSTAL38 to start the install program. If you have the files BOOTPWD and pwds previously installed on the system then you will be shown a menu of what the password files have been set up for. If this is a first time installation then you will enter right into the installation program. After the first bit of information you are asked the first question about your system, and that is what drive to put the DSK2$ files on. You need only to enter the letter of the drive to be used. If you enter a '?' at this point, you will be shown the HELP file. Once you have gone past the first question whenever you enter a '-' you will be returned to the previous question prompt. This allows you to correct your entry if after you have entered an answer you change your mind or noticed that it was incorrect. If you hit a "+" at this time you will enter the menu portion of the install program. This gives you a quick way to see what you have done so far. If this is a first time installation then be sure to return to the point that you left off and continue entering the password file information. The menu of password data allows you to modify a single parameter and save and exit your new changes to the two password files in a system that had already been configured. I i become necessar t exi th progra withou makin an changes to the two password files, go to the MENU and do a Ctrl C an䠠 th INSTAL3 progra wil b interrupte befor堠 an modifications are made to the password files. Th followin i lis o th INSTALL.HLР progra an th various questions. Here are the questions you will be asked by the program: 1. Enter drive to be used for DSK2$ files: This is the drive that will contain the PWDS, COUNTERS, SUMMARY, MESSAGES and COMMENTS files. The MESSAGES and COMMENTS files can grow quickly on a busy RBBS. If you don't have a hard disk drive, consider using drive B: for the DSK2$ files. If you do not select the A: drive for DSK2$ files, you must have a disk mounted in the DSK2$ drive so that the PWDS file can be written when this program terminates. If you want to use a drive other than A: for DSK2$ and don't have a disk mounted in the desired DSK2$ drive, terminate this program now with CTRL-C and mount the disk that you want to use for the PWDS file in the DSK2$ drive before you run the INSTAL38 program again. NOTE: The BULLETIN, INFO, ENTERCPM and MENURBBS files must be on the A: drive. This is 'DSK2$' 2. Enter drive to be used for DSK3$ files: This is the drive that will contain the LASTCALR, CALLERS and USERS files. The USERS file should be protected because it will contain the passwords of all your system users. If you don't have a hard disk drive, consider using drive B: for the DSK2$ files. This is 'DSK3$' 3. Enter your FIRST Name: Your FIRST Name is needed so that RBBS will know the identity of the System Operator. Your users might leave a message addressed to either SYSOP or your real First and Last Name. When you enter RBBS as the SYSOP, you will be informed of any messages to either SYSOP or your real FIRST and Last Name. This is 'SYS1$' 4. Enter your LAST Name: Your LAST Name is needed so that RBBS will know the identity of the System Operator. Your users might leave a message addressed to either SYSOP or your real First and LAST Name. When you enter RBBS as the SYSOP, you will be informed of any messages to either SYSOP or your real First and LAST Name. This is 'SYS2$' 5. Enter the name of your RBBS system: This text entry is what your callers see that identifies your RBBS. It is printed on their screen every time they call. You can use any combination of upper and lower case letters or numbers, but this entry is limited to a single line. This line of text will be printed before the RBBS program identifier. This is 'VERS1$' 6. Enter your direct-to-CP/M FIRST Name password: This password is used for direct entry to CP/M. When entered at the RBBS FIRST Name prompt, the caller is sent directly to the CP/M command prompt in drive A/user 0. Because it bypasses all RBBS identification and access level edits, this password should be selected with care and changed periodically. A random combination of alpha and numeric characters will help by making this password more difficult to guess. If you don't want to allow direct entry to CP/M, enter NOPASS. This is 'P1$' 7. Enter your LAST Name password for SYSOP: The System Operator enters SYSOP at the FIRST Name prompt and this password at the LAST Name prompt to enter RBBS as the SYSOP. Because the SYSOP has unquestioned CP/M access, can read/kill any message, read the COMMENTS file (Z command), look at the entire USERS file (UALL command), read the XMODEM.LOG file (XL command) and use the user validation software (extended P command); this password should be selected with care and changed periodically. A random combination of alpha and numeric characters will help by making this password more difficult to guess. This is 'P2$' 8. Set the WHEEL for SYSOP on exit to CP/M (Y/N) This allows a simple way for the SYSOP to call in remotely and when he exits the RBBS program to CP/M it sets the WHEEL byte at 3E to 'FF' hex. This will normally re-activate all the bad commands that are protected by the ZCPR program, when a non-SYSOP caller enters CP/M. The disadvantage of doing this, is that if someone got your password, they would be able to do more damage to your system. A note appears before CP/M entry to let you know that the program is setting the WHEEL byte. This is WHEEL 9. Enter your USER Validation password: This is a special password that is required whenever the SYSOP changes the status of a user using the 'P' command. It is particularly useful when there are multiple SYSOPS and only the main SYSOP will be using the validation function. It can also be used for extra security in the event that a caller guessed the SYSOPs LAST Name password - they would need this password to manipulate the USERS file. If you don't want to enter a validation password to change users access levels enter NOPASS. This is 'VAP$' 10. Enter your CP/M entry question: This is the question that is asked of UNVALIDATED and VALIDATED users before allowing entry to CP/M using the 'J' command in RBBS. TWITs are not allowed CP/M access under any circumstances and SUPER users are allowed CP/M access without answering this question. This feature is often used to keep non-CP/M users from entering CP/M and questions relating to CP/M are asked. You assume that anyone knowing the answer would have some knowledge of CP/M. If you simply want passworded CP/M access enter something like PASSWORD? for this question and provide the answer to selected users. This option, along with your choice for GOCPM, determines the CP/M access characteristics of your system. If you don't want to ask this question enter NOPASS. This is 'PC$' 11. Enter the answer to your CP/M entry question: If you ask VALIDATED and UNVALIDATED users a CP/M entry question, this is the answer to that question. SUPER are allowed CP/M access without entering this answer. If you are not asking a CP/M entry question enter NOPASS. This is 'P3$' 12. More than one SYSOP? (Y/N) This option allows more than one person to sign on as SYSOP using SYSOP at the FIRST Name prompt and the SYSOP LAST Name password at the LAST Name prompt. The SYSOP is then asked for their real FIRST Name with the 'Enter your FIRST Name ->' prompt. This will allow the SYSOP to leave messages on RBBS that have a more personal identification (FROM) than just SYSOP. If you have more than one SYSOP, take another look at the USER Validation Password option to be sure the system is set up the way you want it. This is 'MSYS' 13. Bell delay value for CHAT (TRY 20000): This is the value for the timing loop used to ring the bell when the SYSOP is paged for CHAT. This can be set for anywhere from 1 to 32000. When using the compiled RBBS program set this value in excess of 10000. A value of 20000 is recommended because it seems about right on my system. When running RBBS with MBASIC set this value to less than 500 to see how it works. This is 'BEEP' 14. Number of lines allowed in messages (try 15): This value controls the maximum number of lines allowed in messages. A maximum of 15 lines is recommended because it will result in messages that are no longer than one screen in length. You may have problems with larger maximum line limits because of RAM usage. This is 'SIZE' 15. Number of NEWS files: This is the value for the number of NEWS files on your system. These are ASCII files that you create with a text editor to provide information about various topics. Enter 0 if you are only using 1 NEWS file. If the value is 1 or greater, the NEWS file should be a menu of the other NEWS files you are using. The additional files must be named NEWS1, NEWS2, etc. depending on the value chosen for this entry and corresponding to the choice number specified in the NEWS file (menu). This is 'NNUM' 16. Which drive contains your NEWS files? Enter the drive that will be used to store the NEWS file(s) on your system. This is 'DSK5$' 17. Number of HELP files: This is the value for the number of HELP files on your system. These are ASCII files that you create with a text editor to provide information about various topics. Enter 0 if you are only using 1 HELP file. If the value is 1 or greater, the HELP file should be a menu of the other HELP files you are using. The additional files must be named HELP1, HELP2, etc. depending on the value chosen for this entry and corresponding to the choice number specified in the HELP file (menu). This is 'HNUM' 18. Which drive contains your HELP files: Enter the drive that will be used to store the HELP file(s) on your system. This is 'DSK4$' 19. Skip 'Highest Message Read' info? (Y/N) This is 'SKIP' 20. Logout TWITs? (Y/N) TWITs are never allowed to enter messages or go to CP/M. If you answer no to this question, TWITs will be allowed RBBS access. If you answer yes, TWITs will be logged off without RBBS access. Another alternative to TWITing is to change the users password. In either case the user could simply call back using a different FIRST and LAST Name on non-secure systems. There is no real good answer to this problem on non-secure systems. This is 'TWIT' 21. Can veryone enter messages, both alid and Super users, or just uper users? Enter (E, V or S): This opton determines which users can enter a message on your system. TWITs are never allowed to enter messages and Super users are always allowed to enter messages. will allow Unvalidated, Validated and Super users to enter messages. will allow both Validated and Super users to enter messages. will allow only Super users to enter messages. This is 'LMSG' 22. veryone have passworded CP/M access, both alid and Super users, or just uper users? Enter (E, V or S): This option, along with your choice for PC$, determines the CP/M access characteristics on your system. TWITs are never allowed access to CP/M. Super users are always allowed to enter CP/M and are never required to enter a CP/M entry password. will allow Unvalidated, Validated and Super users to enter CP/M. If you decided to require a CP/M entry password, both Unvalidated and Validated users will be have to enter it. will allow both Validated and Super users to enter CP/M. If you decided to require a CP/M password, Validated users will have to enter it. will allow only Super users to enter CP/M. A CP/M entry password is never required for Super users. This is 'GOCPM' 23. Do you have an external clock? (Y/N) In order to provide date/time information for the RBBS program there is a section of code that will read a file DATET.DAT on the A: drive if you have an external clock. If you don't have an external clock to provide the date/time information, RBBS will ask callers if the date in the DATE.DAT file is correct. If the caller indicates that the date is not correct, they are asked for the correct date so that the DATE.DAT file can be updated. This is 'DATIM' 24. Enter the filename you want loaded at exit: This is the name of the file that is run when the caller enters the G command. The caller is first asked if they are sure they want to leave the system, asked for comments for the SYSOP and then the EXIT$ program is run. EXIT$ is normally BYE.COM. This is 'EXIT$' 25. Show location of callers and users? (Y/N) This seems to be one of the more emotional switches provided in the INSTALL program and I wish it wasn't necessary. It is suspected that the FIRST Name, Last Name and Location information in the CALLERS and USERS files of remote systems has been used to steal computer equipment. When SHOLOC is set to NO, the LOCATION stored in the USERS file is not displayed with the U command. Further, location is not stored in the CALLERS file so it is not displayed with the L command. The SYSOP will see location with the U or UALL command no matter how SHOLOC is set. This is 'SHOLOC' 26. Log unvalidated callers? (Y/N) TWITs are never logged in the CALLERS file. Callers can find out who has been on the system by listing the CALLERS file with the L command. You may have problems with callers using unsuitable words for their FIRST and LAST Name entries, LOGALL can help. When set to NO, only VALID and SUPER users are logged in the CALLERS file and thus displayed with the L command and since the SYSOP must take action to change a users status to either VALID or SUPER, the SYSOP can prevent @#*(&! %@*%#@ from offending anyone. When set to YES, UNVALIDATED users (new callers or those purposely left UNVALIDATED) are logged and thus displayed with the L command. This is 'LOGALL' 27. Display unvalidated users? (Y/N) TWITs in the USERS file are only shown to the SYSOP if the UALL command is used. You may have problems with callers using unsuitable words for their FIRST and LAST Name entries, SHOALL can help. When set to NO, only VALID and SUPER users are shown when the USERS file is displayed with the U command and since the SYSOP must take action to change a users status to either VALID or SUPER, the SYSOP can prevent @#*(&! %@*%#@ from offending anyone. When set to YES, UNVALIDATED users (new callers or those purposely left UNVALIDATED) are shown as well with the U command. This is 'SHOALL' 28. Set RBBS in secure mode? (Y/N) The secure mode allows you to shut down your system to new callers. When a caller is listed in the USERS file, they will enter the system normally in both secure and non-secure mode. When a new caller (someone who is not in the USERS file) logs on and the system is in the secure mode, they are not allowed entry. The RBBS program will tell the caller that it's a private system, hang up and run the EXIT$ file. If you are running a secure system, you must set this switch to not-secure in order to add additional users to the USERS file. This is 'SEC' 29. Name of .COM file/program to run on CP/M entry: Enter the name of a program or run text file, it must be a .COM file and it must exist in the same Drive/User as the RBBS program. This allows you to run a file when the caller exits to CP/M with the J command. Be sure that when the file you are running exits that it exits back to A0: and not the drive/user of RBBS. This feature can be used to link to another program you might have written and compiled from BASIC that might ask user statistics or request other information. If you have no file to be run on exit to CP/M then enter the word "NOFILE" and it will skip over any run request at exit to CP/M. This is EPRG$ 30. Name of file to Read with 'D' command: You now have the capability to have a special text file for the validated users to read. This file cannot be read by TWITS or a caller who is not validated. This file might contain information of interest to club members, or those who make up your list of users who are validated. If the file named is not found, the program will return to the command line prompt. This file must exist in the Drive/User that the RBBS program is running in. This is DFIL$ 31. Ready to create the password files? (Y/N) The INSTALL program will now write the BOOTPWD file on the A: drive and the PWDS file on the drive you selected for DSK2$. If you did not select the A: drive for DSK2$ files, you must have a disk mounted in the DSK2$ drive so that the PWDS file can be written when this program terminates. If you are using a drive other than A: for DSK2$ and don't have a disk mounted in the desired DSK2$ drive, terminate this program now with CTRL-C and mount the disk that you want to use for the PWDS file in the DSK2$ drive before you run the INSTALL program again. PASSWORD FILES...A discription Th firs passwor fil loade i BOOTPWD an i locate o DSK$ I contain th forma o string an variable i th following order and used by RBBS38.COM. DSK2$, DSK3$, DSK4$, DSK5$, SYS1$, SYS2$, VERS1$, TWIT, DATIM, SEC, SHOLOC, DFIL$, EPRG$, WHEEL Th secon passwor fil loade i 'pwds an i locate o DSK2 a describe i BOOTPWD Yo wil als not tha thi fil i i lowe cas o you system Thi prevent anyon fro typin thi file T vie i yo wil nee t us SWEE o NSWP I yo hav someho manage t mak i retur t UPPEҠ case an th RBBS3 progra can' fin it the us DU.CO (Dis Utility t modif th director entr bac t lowercase Th 'pwds fil contain th followin string an variable i th followin order and used by RBBS38.COM P1$, P2$, P3$, PC$, VAP$, EXIT$, LOGALL, SHOALL, BEEP, SIZE, MSYS NNUM, HNUM, SKIP, LMSG, GOCPM LASTCALR file changes The LASTCALR file created from RBBS38 has an additional field added to the original format found in the earlier versions of RBBS. It consists of FIRSTNAME,LASTNAME,DATE/TIME information. Thi allow othe program suc a XMODE whe use i th logging mode to get the date that the file was transfered. RBBS35 & RBBS37 Compatability N problem al th file yo hav create fro RBBS3 an RBBS3 ar compatabl wit th ne versio RBBS38 Yo ca replac RBBS3 o RBBS3 wit RBBS38 an n on wil b th wiser Jus replac th ol BOOTPW an pwd file an ru th INSTAL3 progra an yo ar read t go RBBS3 use th sam forma fo th MESSAGE an USER file a the earlier versions. JUST A FEW OF THE FILES USERS FILE: With RBBS38 you can create several levels of USERS on the system. By leaving the users unvalidated, you now have the first kind of user on your system. A non-validated user, has very limited capabilities and cannot leave messages on the board, unless you allow everyone the ability to leave messages. Next is a Validated user, this user can now leave messages, and look at other files and may or may not be allowed access to CP/M. Then there is a SUPER user, this is almost a SYSOP, but not quite, he/she can go to CP/M whenever they use the 'J' command without having to answer any question or provide a password for entry. I additio whe supe use enter h i automaticall i th Xper mod o th comman line Th las typ o use i TWIT thi use doe no hav an capabilitie excep t rea message o leav comment to the SYSOP. Here is an example of the USER file. 6 ;Number of Users # DENNIS;RECLA;GARLAND,TX;SINNED; 2 ;SUPER user/last msg =2 ! ROBERT;HUFF;DALLAS,TX;BOBHUFF; 0 ;Verified user MIKE;MOORE;IRVING,TX;DISKDRIVE;3 ;new user/last msg=3 ! STEVE;SANDER;IRVING,TX;SUPERGUY; 4 ;Verified user/last msg =4 * BIG;JOHN;GARLAND,TX;BADGUY; 0 ;Bad Guy use * to keep out NEW;USER;ANYWHERE,TX;HELLOTHERE; 0 ;new user not verified yet REMEMBER.. If you find it necessary to modify the USERS file, be sure to correct the 'count' at the beginning of the file, and to erase the entire line. The program looks for a line length of 65 characters and if this changes the USERS file will be corrupted and in some cases made useless. HELP/NEWS FILES These files are an added feature of the program, the original RBBS35 allowed for only a NEWS file. In this expanded version you can have as many NEWS and HELP files as you want. These are set up in the INSTAL38 program. In the installation you need to indicate the number of files there will be for HELP and NEWS. If you put a 0 then then RBBS38 will know that there is only one file called NEWS or HELP. In the case of a single file, the HELP or NEWS file will contain the information you want to give the caller. When it is finished typing to the screen, the caller is returned to the command line prompt. If a value larger than 0 is entered for NEWS or HELP file numbers, then the files called HELP and NEWS are the MENU for the additional files. A number request is made from that file asking the caller what file number they want to read. With only one expansion NEWS or HELP file it is a little awkward, but with two or more it works quite well. Each of the additional files are named NEWS1, NEWS2, NEWS3, etc. and it is the same for the various HELP files. A typical menu might appear as follows: --- HELP Files Available 1> Using RBBS 2> Leaving a Message 3> Using CHAT 4> Going to CP/M --- Each time the caller selects a number and that file is viewed, he will be returned to the file menu for the next selection. To exit the menu file enter a number 1 greater than the highest message number. A prompt line will indicate this whenever the value entered in NNUM and HNUM from the installation program is greate tha 0 I additio th driv wher thes program ar located is configured in the INSTAL38 program. DDT and RBBS38A.COM I i possibl wit DD t g i an modif fe place i th code Instea o DD woul reccomen yo us PATC o som simila fil edito tha allow ful scree editin an bot ASCII and HEX modifications to the Binary code. Whe yo loo a RBBS38A.CO (A distributed yo fin tha al th tex string i i ar containe i th are betwee 4D0 and 590 hex Th followin ar th location o som o th mor usefull ASCII strings and called files of the program. XMODEM.LOG @ 4D4C COMMENTS. @ 5098 MESSAGES. @ 5199 MENURBBS. @ 540A SYOPMENU. @ 5415 SUMMARY. @ 5506 USERS. @ 562A pwds. @ 5777 BOOTPWD. @ 577E Al o th abov value ar th HE locatio i th RBBS38.CO program. Knowin thes location yo ca modif the fro uppe t lowe cas i yo wan t protec the furthu fro typing o b changin th fil SYOPMEN t MENURBB th SYOPMEN fil wil no be called. A few Parting Comments from the Programmer ɠ kno sai tha RBBS3 woul b th las on woul write bu ɠ di fin fe problem tha hav bee take car o i thi ne version gues migh sa i onc again a thi point reall don' expec t d anothe majo revisio o th RBB lin o programs However! ɠ d expec tha ne UTILIT٠ progra wil b th nex modificatio t th RBBS3 fil o programs Th curren utilit deal wit th messag base an seem t fil mos requirement tha hav bee pu upo it Th are tha i lackin i goo utilit t manag th USER fil i th system Futur effort wil b pu o replacin th existin utilit wit a expande on tha als take car o th USER base I wil b issue a a updat fil t replac th curren utilit program an th remainder of the files will most likely remain the same. TO ANSWER A FEW QUESTIONS: An Editorial !!! Everyon ha differen feeling abou wha messag syste o BB progra shoul do hav fe o m own an a yo ca gues thes hav bee incorporate int RBBS38 curren tren i BBӠ system seem t b th Multi-nod o multipl messag bas program wher th calle ha numbe o message/interes area tha ca b looke at RBBS3 wit it' singl messag bas ma see bi 'ou o touch bu ɠ prefe th singl messag base M basi feelin toward BB syste i tha th calle shoul b abl t ge o an spen a littl tim a possibl t allo th nex calle t ge on A th numbe o messag base increases s doe th tim tha eac individua calle spend o you system singl messag bas normall carrie singl threa o informatio tha ma chang fro da t da o calle t caller Th multi-base program carr severa thread o though tha calle migh b intereste i readin o commentin on Thi take time an a lon a ther ar 30 bau modem around peopl wil cal you board Whe cal system don' lik t wai an wai a th syste i bein use t rea page an page o informatio i numbe o messag bases I th averag calle spend hou rambling reading remarking an sittin a th keyboar thinking the yo ca se tha tha allow onl 2 calle day Believ m fro abou 1:0 a til abou 6:0 yo wil b luck t ge on caller Ther goe o thos hour righ there s thin abou wha yo wan you syste t be an ho eac additio o chang will effect the callers time on line or downloading capability. Beside th wa RBBS3 wa writte i I MAJO modificatio t ad another message base. Som o th othe thing suc a rememberin i th calle i a exper o whe the las called etc Ca easil b added bu th cod ha gotte s larg a t b proble wit siz o th runnin file ɠ hav als trie t kee thi progra a compatabl wit olde version a possible Thi mean tha onc yo hav establishe user o messag base an wan t upgrad th syste yo don' nee t re-d al you files o star al over Compatabilit wit th earlie version ha bee kep wit this version. ɠ hav considere ne version an expec t cal i RBBM o som suc thin (Remot Bulleti Boar Messag System) I wil no b completel compatabl wit RBBS38 bu wil tak car o th siz proble an fe o th others I wil stil b writte i MBASIC an us BASCO t compile. A ɠ continu t rambl o abou things le m than Gar Spence an fe o hi friend wh helpe t mak thi ne version what it is today. If you need help !! can' hel everyone bu tr m best I yo d requir tha yo rewrit th progra an canno lin i the sen i t m 'Los Islan RCP/M-RBBS durin it' operationa hours ɠ wil lin렠 i an pu i o th syste fo yo t download Alternatel ca rea 8 disk formatte SSS o 1/ disk i th Z-10 DSD format I yo hav question abou th progra the giv m syste call an leav m som feedback wil tr t answe i withi da o two I yo nee cop o thi progra o 8 dis the sen m th blan disks an sufficien postag t retur th disks M schedul i alway mess s expec t wee tur around bu it has been worse. Good luck with RBBS38 !! From all of us here at the Lillypond !! O O O O o o :...: (:::) (---) _^/ \^_ _^/ \^_ __^\"/^__