1stBBS Remote is the remote version of 1stDESK's communications product, 1stBBS, a bulletin board featuring remote database access and electronic mail. We are pleased to provide you with the Remote product so you can sign on to the toll free Host here at 1stDESK and report bugs, make general comments, and pickup the latest information on 1stDESK products and plans. The Host is currently setup to support line speeds up to and including 9600 bps with V.42 bis. The Host is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
You can run 1stBBS remote in the background under Multifinder which allows you to work on other tasks while transferring files to or from the Host.
Getting Started
In order to set up the 1stBBS you will need the following:
Macintosh Plus or above
Modem and cable
1stBBS Remote Software
Start up your Macintosh with a System version 6.02 and Finder that is version6.1 or above. Make sure your modem is connected properly and that the power is turned on. 1st BBS will run on all versions of the Macintosh system including System 7.0.
When you launch 1stBBS Remote, you will see the main window.
In addition to indicating whether you are online or offline, 1stBBS indicates the modem speed for which your modem is currently set. The three icons in the upper left corner of the main window allow you to "Quit", "Connect" to a host and "Edit Mail" online or offline. 1stBBS works very much like HyperCard in that double clicking is not required. A single click of the mouse on an icon will activate most features.
Settings
Under the Edit menu there are two settings menu items, "Connection Settings" and "User Settings".
Selecting "Connection Settings" from the Edit menu will present you with a setup window that allows you to configure 1stBBS for your modem.
Ñ Communicatins toolbox. If you are running system 7 and you want to use the appletalk feature, put an X in this box.
Ñ Connection method. Normally you will be using a modem for your session. Select "Modem" for wide area communications. If you are running system 7 and you want to connect via appletalk then select "Appletalk".
Ñ Dialing service. Select the type of phone service that you have, either tone dial or pulse (rotary) dial.
Ñ Number. Enter the phone number of the host to which you want to connect.
Ñ Port. Select the port to which your modem is connected.
Ñ Modem. Select 1200 or 2400 Baud in order to match the baud rate of the your modem. If you have a Hayes Ultra or a US Robotics Courrier Dual Standard modem then select the appropriate radio button for one of these two modems. The Custom option allows you to customize the line speed and modem strings required by other high speed modems. If your modem has V.42bis capability then select "Stay at interface speed" and put an X in the box for "Cable supports CTS/RTS". Check this box only if your special modem cable supports flow control. The 1stDESK Host is currently setup to support V.42bis at 9600 bps.
User Settings
Ñ System password. The host may be password protected at the connect level and may require the correct password for the user to connect. The Host at 1stDESK is not password protected so you may leave this field blank.
Ñ User name. Enter your name in this box so that the Host operator can tell who is using the Host and respond. If you have any difficulty, or you are in need of assistance, please do not hesitate to call us at (800) 522-2286.
Ñ User password.
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->I know this sounds like a security problem but Robert Clark Sales Manager of 1stDesk ->asked for this so that he could track acesses from this submission to info-mac.
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The first time you connect to a host, the host will automatically assign a private mailbox to you in your name and requiring your private password. Choose a password and enter it into the "User Password" field so other may not enter and read your mail.
When you are done you may want to save your settings for the next time you connect to a Host. Select Save As from the File menu to save your settings for future sessions. This will save your settings as a document that looks like a phone pad. The next time you want to connect to a Host, all you have to do is double click on this icon to automatically launch 1stBBS Remote and load the settings.
Connecting
Clicking on the Connect icon in the main window will automatically dial the phone number of the Host number you have entered. You will be presented with a dialog box that informs you that 1stBBS Remote is trying to connect with a Host. There is a cancel button to terminate the attempt. Once connected, the 1stBBS Host will present you with additional icons at the top of the main window. These additional icons allow you to Create and Send Mail, Send a File, Get a File and access a Database on the Host.
Send Mail
Clicking on the Send Mail icon will present you with a message pad.
You can write memos on this pad using standard Macintosh editing techniques. Memos can be created either while online or offline. If you create a memo offline you will be asked if you want to save the mail file. Name the file and click the save button to save the mail file for later transmission. Click on the Send button at the bottom of the Edit Mail screen to send mail. This mail is to the mailbox of the person to which it is addressed. This is different from the Send File option in that your mail is sent to an individuals mailbox rather than being sent to the host sysop. You can cancel this operation by typing Command and Period (CMD ".") at the same time.
Send File
Clicking on the send file icon will present you with a file selection window from which you can choose a file to be sent to the host.
Select a file and click the Open button. 1stBBS will then show you a window that describes the amount of time it will take to transfer the file. Clicking on the Send button will start the file transfer. During the transfer you will see a window that shows the status of the transfer, the number of blocks that have been sent and the total number of blocks to be sent. You can cancel this operation by typing Command and Period (CMD ".") at the same time.
Get File
Clicking on the Get File icon will present you with a standard Macintosh file selection window from which you can select a file for downloading from the host.
Select the file you would like to download from the file selection box and click on the Copy to Disk button in that window. During the transfer you will see a window that shows the status of the transfer, the number of blocks that have been sent and the total number of blocks to be sent. You can cancel this operation by typing Command and Period (CMD ".") at the same time.
Database
Clicking on the Database icon will present you with a standard Macintosh file selection window that includes only 1stDESK datafiles that are accessible. Select a database document that you would like to work in and click on the Open button. In a few seconds you will see a familiar 1stDESK datafile in which you can edit records, add new records, delete records and find records. The database works just like 1stTEAM, our relational database program. Use the features under the Form menu just as you would normally use 1stTEAM.
Some of the keystroke shortcuts you may want to use are as follows:
Command and Colon (CMD ":") posts the Time into the current field.
Command and Dash (CMD "-") posts the Date into the current field.
Option and Tab will duplicate information from the previous record.
Add Record
Selecting Add Record from the Form menu will provide you with a new record into which you can enter data.
Next Record
Selecting Next Record from the Form menu will show you the next record in the datafile. Feel free to browse the datafile. It works just like 1stTEAM.
Previous Record
Selecting Previous Record from the Form menu will show you the previous record in the datafile.
Delete Record
Selecting Delete Record from the Form menu will Flag the record for deletion. It will not actually delete the record but will only flag the record as a record to be deleted. Only the operator of the Host can delete the record permanently.
Find
Selecting Find Record from the Form menu will present you with a dialog box that allows you to enter the text string you are looking for. To Find a record, put the cursor into the field you want to interrogate and select Find from the Form menu. Enter the text string you want to find and click OK.
Find Same
Selecting Find Same from the Form menu will find the next occurrence of the text string previously entered into the Find dialog box.
To close the database window, just click in the close box in the upper right hand corner of the window or select Close from the File menu.
Disconnecting
To Disconnect, simply click on the Disconnect icon. 1stBBS Remote will inform you that it is disconnecting and terminate the communications session in an orderly fashion.
Quitting
Once disconnected, clicking on the Quit icon will quit from 1stBBS.
