I have had many discusions with other computer users about which communications software was the best. They touted Red Ryder as the best one around. Not that Red Ryder isn't a good program, it is, I just don't likje it because it's functions are hidden from veiw in a menu, and it is basically a very sloppy program.
So I said that Smartcom II was my favorite. They all agreed that it was more elegant and easier to use, but they claimed it lacked power. I pointed out the Autopilots, but to no avail.
So to show them what kind of things can be done with software that is as flexible as Smartcom II, I has made a BBS with it!
What's it got?
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My BBS supports 6 major functions...
1] Lists files users can download, along with a nice description of what they do.
2] Let's users easily download files to their computers.
3] Allows users to upload files to the BBS.
4] Gives users the chance to send letters to the sysop, even when he is not available.
5] Yells for the sysop to join in conversation.
6] Let's them log off.
Best of all, it's FREE! If you have Smartcom II, then you have all you need to create your own BBS.
Structure
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Here is the basic flow of the BBS, The name in parens is the name of the autopilot it is preforming:
1] (Wait For Call) When the someone calls, it displays 'Connected at 1200 baud' and then sends the file greetings. This is a striaght text file which would usually contain a logo for your BBS or anything else you want. You can use MacWrite to make your own greeting, but make sure you use the font Monoco 9 so that it will be aligned correctly. Also, press <RETURN> after each line, if you don't, the other user might not see it correctly.
Next it waits for the user to press return to continue (so that they have time to read it!) and when he/she does, it sends another text file called Notices. This file usually contains any notices to users you might like to post, and it edited in the same way as the Greetings file. IT then again waits for the user to read it and press <RETURN>. Then it runs MMenu.
2] (MMenu) Next it sends yet another text file containing the menu choices. It was done this was so that it would be easy to edit them if you wanted to. Now it runs MChoice.
3] (MChoice) In this routine, it see's if the user types a 1. If he/she does, it runs Choice1. It does this for all 6 choices, so if the user typed a 6, choice6 would be run. If none of these are pressed, it simply loops back to MChoice and does it all again.
4] (Choice1) This means that the user wants to see what files are available at this time. All this does is print 'File Name' and 'Description' and then send another text file called Specialslist, which contains a list of the files and descriptions. Then it waits for the user to press <RETURN> and runs MMenu.
5] (Choice2) Here the user wants to download a file. We print 'Select a file to download or C to cancel' and then send another text file which is a menu of the available files. Just change this file to whatever files you want to make available. Now it runs DLChoice.
5a] (DLChoice) This is similar to the MChoice in that it checks to see which number the user presses, and branches accordingly. If a C is pressed, it skips to MMenu. If a number is pressed, it runs the corresponding DLx on the SmartMac DL document. For instance, if the user presses a 5, it runs DL5. These portions must be in different documents, because we needed to have 'Normal' as the file transfer protocol to send those text files, but now we need Xmodem MacBinary to send files, and you can't change the Doucment settings from an Autopilot. When it is done here, it goes back to MMenu.
5a1] (DL1...) All these segments do is display 'File is ready, start your receive file.' and send the corresponding file. They are all the same, except for the files which they send, and you must change this to whatever files you are making available, and where they are. Make sure that the menu choice and these segements correspond; for instance, don't have menu choice 2 saying the file is 'ResEdit' while DL2 sends the file 'Switcher'!!
6] (Choice3) Now the user want to upload a file. This segement just runs 'Upload' on the SmartMac DL document. (remember we need the Xmodem Macbinary protocol to send files!)
6a] (Upload) This just displays 'I'm ready, send your file' and receives a file. Note that since there is not way to ask for a file name, only one file may be uploaded until you rename the last one. It is given a temporary name. I am working around this! Then once done, it skips back to the MMenu segement.
7] (Choice4) Now the user wants to send me (you) a letter. We print some information (like how to send it) and then start capuring what they type to disk. What they capure is ADDED to the file Letters File, so you have a nice list of all your letters at the end of the day. Anyway, after is start the capture, it skips to GLetter.
7a] (GLetter) This part simply check to see if they have pressed the '/' character, which means they want to send it. (all done). If they have not, it loops back to GLetter. If they have pressed it, it skips to RLetter.
7a1] (RLetter) This segement turns off the disk capture (they're all done) and displays 'File Sent!'. It then goes back to MMenu.
8] (Choice5) Now he/she wants to get you attention. This part just says 'Alerting the SysOp' and makes a bunch of beeps which will sound on your computer to alert you. (don't have your volume off!) then it says that the sysop will join you if he is around' and runs MMEnu.
9] (Choice6) The user wants to leave! This part says goodbye, hangs up un them, waits 10 seconds, and the runs Wait For Call, so you are ready to start all over again!
Thats it!
Any of the messages may be changed to anything you want (edit them by opening the Autopilot that contains your message and mess with it!) See your manual for more info on how to edit Autopilots.
Also, make sure to change the name of the disk your BBS is on to Bulleton Board Disk so that it will know where to find those text files to send. Or you can can the part of the Autopilot which send the files to the disk you keep them on.
To start right up, open the 'SmartMac BBS' document, choose preform now from the Autopilot menu, and then click on Wait For Call and then click in the Preform button...You're all set!
Enjoy!
Andrew Welch
29 Grey Rocks Road
Wilton, CT 06897
(203) 762-1249 (My SmartMac BBS number, give us a call!)
