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- 5
- {EN
- {*B
- In this section we will cover the library subsystem. The library subsystem
- provides you, the user, with access to a large data base of files for
- downloading from a CD-ROM such as PC-SIG. If available, access the the library
- subsystem is through the @ command. Bear in mind that RBBS-PC is highly
- configurable, and the SYSOP may elect to change this command.
-
- The following library commands are available:
-
- {C4A{C0)rchive -- archive selected library for downloading
- The "A" command will create a compressed file CF of the Library disk selected.
- It is desirable to compress the disk if you wish download more than a few
- files from a CD-ROM disk. Be aware that it may take some time to create the CF
- file, especially if the Library disk contains a large number of files. But, the
- time saved in downloading 1 compressed file is considerable compared to
- downloading 137 files individually from a disk. If disk 367 was chosen (using
- the CHANGE option) file the name of the CF file that is created upon issuing the
- A)rchive command will depend on the compression method used. For ZIP the name
- is "DK0367.ZIP"
-
- {END
- {09Press RETURN to continue
- {ON 09
- {==STOP
- {>> ABORT.DAT
- "{FN","{LN","{DT","{TM","TUTOR 6A"
- {END
- {M! STOP
- {END ON
- {*B
- {C3TIPS:{C0
- 1. Only one archive file will remain on the RAM/work disk. This area is purged
- clean each time the A)rchive option is used.
-
- 2. If the Library disk being archived has sub-directories on it the A)rchive
- command will also archive the sub-directories as separate files. All files
- archived will be listed to let you know the file names ready for download.
-
- {C4C{C0)hange library -- select library
- The "C" command will acquire a Library disk for downloading. Since the Library
- disks are really private sub-directories it is possible to have only one disk
- accessed at a time. When a disk is selected for downloading, you will be
- informed of the current selected disk before you change to a new one. If no
- change is desired, press the [ENTER] key to cancel the change.
-
- A Library disk must be selected using "C)hange" before they are available for
- use. Once selected, you may archive the entire disk and download all the files
- as a single archive file or you may download individual files on the selected
- disk.
-
- {END
- {09Press RETURN to continue
- {ON 09
- {==STOP
- {>> ABORT.DAT
- "{FN","{LN","{DT","{TM","TUTOR 6B"
- {END
- {M! STOP
- {END ON
- {*B
- {C4D{C0)ownload -- download archived library
- The "D" command is used to transfer data from a Library drive attached to
- RBBS-PC to your computer. The basic steps in downloading are
-
- 1. List the library disks and files available (enter the "L" at the
- command prompt). List category 200 to see a summary description of
- each disk. When listing other categories, the disk each file is on
- indicated by the four digit number in columns 76-79 of the listing.
-
- 2. Tell RBBS-PC that you want to change Library area (enter "C" at the
- command prompt).
-
- 3. Tell RBBS-PC which Library disk you want to be active (enter 1 to 4
- digit Library disk number).
-
- 4. If you want the entire disk from the Library drive then tell RBBS-PC
- to archive the Library disk (enter "A" at the command prompt). RBBS-
- PC will archive the "ACTIVE" Library disk and inform you that it is
- ready for transmission.
-
- 5. Tell RBBS-PC you want to download (enter "D" at the command prompt).
-
- {END
- {09Press RETURN to continue
- {ON 09
- {==STOP
- {>> ABORT.DAT
- "{FN","{LN","{DT","{TM","TUTOR 6C"
- {END
- {M! STOP
- {END ON
- {*B
- 6. Tell RBBS-PC exactly which file to download. At the prompt "file(s)
- to download" enter the file name -- no drive letter, no path, no
- wildcards, just the file name with any extension. To download entire
- Library disks (they must have been ARCx'd first) use DKxxxx.ARC (where
- xxxx is the disk number) as the file name.
-
- 7. Tell RBBS-PC which protocol to be used from the list of protocols
- RBBS-PC shows. Selecting none cancels the download.
-
- 8. When RBBS-PC says it is ready, tell the communications package that
- you are using to save the incoming file USING THE SAME PROTOCOL (in
- QMODEM and PC-TALK the command is invoked by pressing the "PgDn" key
- or alt-R. RBBS-PC will wait for your communications package to
- respond.
-
- {C3Tips:{C0
- 1. You should use the L)ist and S)earch commands to identify files that you
- would like to download. Be sure to identify the correct Library disk
- located in columns 76-79 of the category level directories.
-
- {END
- {09Press RETURN to continue
- {ON 09
- {==STOP
- {>> ABORT.DAT
- "{FN","{LN","{DT","{TM","TUTOR 6D"
- {END
- {M! STOP
- {END ON
- {*B
- 2. You can stack the "D" command with the file name. That is, you can enter
- "D;<filename> directly from the Library Menu. For example, you could
- type "d;keydo.exe" to start downloading the "keydo.exe" file. The
- protocol you would like to use can also be stacked after the file name
- such as "d;keydo.exe;x".
-
- 3. You can stack multiple file names. E.g. "D;SD.COM;FDATE.ARC;X"
- downloads files SD.COM and FDATE.ARC, each using Xmodem.
-
- 4. AUTODOWNLOAD can save you the trouble of having the tell your
- communications package to receive and what file name to use. PIBTERM
- 3.25 up and EXEC PC-TALK 2.1 up support autodownloading.
-
- {C4G{C0)oodbye -- This is the saddest of all commands. It is the one that you use
- to "hang up" your phone to logoff or conclude your RBBS-PC session.
-
- {C4L{C0)ist -- list the libraries available for downloading
- The "L" command will display the directories or categories of Library files
- which are available for downloading from RBBS-PC.
-
- {END
- {09Press RETURN to continue
- {ON 09
- {==STOP
- {>> ABORT.DAT
- "{FN","{LN","{DT","{TM","TUTOR 6E"
- {END
- {M! STOP
- {END ON
- {*B
- The "L" command can also be used along with a directory name (or number) to
- display the list of files in that directory (e.g., "L;100". A brief
- description, the size in bytes, and the date the file was posted on the
- system accompanies each file name.
-
- After issuing an "L" command you can press ENTER to see a list of what
- categories are available, or specify what categories that you want to see.
- You can also enter "L;<directory name>" to see a list of files in that
- category. For example, "L;CDRM3" might display the names and descriptions
- of files in the Library disk 3 directory.
-
- {C3TIPS:{C0
- 1. You can save time and keystrokes by stacking your requests. For
- instance, "L;CDRM12;CDRM34;CDRM45" will list all of the files in
- directories CDRM12, CDRM34 and CDRM45.
-
- {END
- {09Press RETURN to continue
- {ON 09
- {==STOP
- {>> ABORT.DAT
- "{FN","{LN","{DT","{TM","TUTOR 6F"
- {END
- {M! STOP
- {END ON
- {*B
- 2. You can temporarily suspend output to your screen after initiating the
- "L" command by pressing "Control-S". The "Control-X" or "Control-K"
- commands will terminate the output to the screen and return you to the
- Library Menu.
-
- You can list files from all of the directories including the upload
- directory. But, you can only download Library files from the Library
- subsystem.
-
- {C4S{C0)earch -- search libraries available for a string
- "S" scans file names and descriptions for a key term. This gives you the
- capability to search for a specific file, to locate a group of files dealing
- with a specific topic or to identify certain types of files (e.g., .BAS, .COM,
- .EXE).
-
- You will be prompted for the string to scan for after you issue the "S"
- command. Case (upper or lower) is ignored in the search. For instance, the
- S)earch command treats the string "PC" and "pc" as identical.
-
- {END
- {09Press RETURN to continue
- {ON 09
- {==STOP
- {>> ABORT.DAT
- "{FN","{LN","{DT","{TM","TUTOR 6G"
- {END
- {M! STOP
- {END ON
- {*B
- Next, you will be asked for a directory to scan. Type in their name(s) or
- number(s) separated by semicolons. You can search through all of the
- directories on the system by typing "ALL" at the prompt. Pressing [ENTER]
- will return you to the Library Menu.
-
- {C2WARNING{C0: This file is over 1.5 megabytes in size and could take up to 5
- minutes to scan. Use caution with the "ALL" option.
-
- If a string is found when searching the Library directories the disk number
- will be displayed in columns 77-79.
-
- {C3TIPS:{C0
- 1. You can obtain a list of directory names and numbers by giving the "L"
- command.
-
- 2. Using "ALL" may result in a time consuming search if the RBBS-PC system
- contains many files. You can save time by searching specific directories.
-
- {END
- {09Press RETURN to continue
- {ON 09
- {==STOP
- {>> ABORT.DAT
- "{FN","{LN","{DT","{TM","TUTOR 6H"
- {END
- {M! STOP
- {END ON
- {*B
- 3. You can stack the S)earch command with the desired string. That is, you
- can enter "S;<string>" directly from the Library Menu. For example, you
- could type "S;ZORK" to search for the string "ZORK". You will then be asked
- for directory you want to scan.
-
- 4. A string that occurs as part of a file name or description will still
- produce a match. Entering "BAS" will give you a listing of all files with
- 1) a ".BAS" extension, 2) "BAS" as part of the file name, or 3) "BAS" as
- part of a word or term in the file description.
-
- 5. S supports only exact matches and not "wildcards". For example
- "S;LIST*.ARC" will not find LIST543.ARC.
-
- 6. Keep in mind that strings consisting of only a few characters could
- produce too many matches. S;X will locate every line with an "X" in it.
-
- 7. Strings consisting of many characters could produce too few matches.
- For example, if you want all files connected with QMODEM, specifying
- "S;QMODEM" will miss QMDM210.ARC and QMODFON.ARC. You might want to
- broadened your search with "S;QM" to make sure you get all wanted files.
-
- {END
- {09Press RETURN to continue
- {ON 09
- {==STOP
- {>> ABORT.DAT
- "{FN","{LN","{DT","{TM","TUTOR 6I"
- {END
- {M! STOP
- {END ON
- {*B
- 8. You can use the "S" command to search for file types such as .DOC, or
- such as "spread" for information or programs related to spread sheets or
- "comm" for communications programs.
-
- 9. You can stack the directories to search, as in "S;BAS;BASIC;PROG" to
- search directories BASIC and PROG for the substring BAS.
-
- {C4V{C0)iew -- list contents of an arced file
- "V" scans the compressed files specified and will give you a list of the file
- names and their sizes that are contained within the compressed file.
-
- You will be prompted for the file names that you wish to view when you issue
- the "V" command. Case (upper or lower) is ignored in the search. For instance,
- the V)iew command treats the string "PC" and "pc" as identical.
-
- Type in their name(s) separated by semicolons. Pressing [ENTER] will return
- you to the Library Menu.
-
- {END
- {09Press RETURN to continue
- {ON 09
- {==STOP
- {>> ABORT.DAT
- "{FN","{LN","{DT","{TM","TUTOR 6J"
- {END
- {M! STOP
- {END ON
- {*B
- {C3TIPS:{C0
- 1. You can stack the V)iew command with the desired file name. That is, you
- can enter "V;<filename>" directly from the Library Menu. For example, you
- could type "V;LIST60J.ZIP" to view the contents of LIST60J.ZIP.
-
- 2. You must only try to View files that are compressed with a supported
- extension. RBBS-PC supports ZIP, PAK, ARC, and LZH, and the sysop has
- the option to install support for others. Entering a file with an
- unsupported extension, such as GIF, will return a message stating that
- the view is not implemented for that file.
-
- 3. V supports only exact matches and not "wildcards". For example
- "V;LIST*.ZIP" will not find LIST60J.ZIP.
-
- 4. You can stack the file names to view, as in "V;LIST60H.ZIP;CLK.PAK" to
- view LIST60H.ZIP and CLK.PAK.
-
- This concludes the library subsystem tutorial. Please feel free to address any
- questions concerning the library subsystem to the Sysop
-
- {END
- {>> TUTOR.DAT
- "{FN","{LN","{DT","{TM","TUTOR 6"
- {END
- {09Press RETURN to continue
- {*B
- Press {C2N{C0 for the next section, {C4Miscellaneous Functions{C0
- Press {C2M{C0 for the tutorial menu
- Press {C2A{C0 to return to the board
- Press {C2R{C0 to review this section, or
- Press {C2P{C0 to review the previous section, {C4Utilities subsystem{C0
-
- {END
- {09
- {ON 09
- {==N
- {M! TUTOR7.MCR
- {==M
- {M! TUTOR.MCR
- {==R
- {M! TUTOR6.MCR
- {==A
- {M! STOP.MCR
- {==P
- {M! TUTOR5.MCR
-