ShareWare OnLine 2

home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search

/ ShareWare OnLine 2 / ShareWare OnLine Volume 2 (CMS Software)(1993).iso / bbs_soft / sfnl_92.zip / SF10-92.ZIP / SF10-92.TXT

Wrap

Text File | 1992-10-01 | 28KB | 581 lines

╔════════════════════════════════════════════╗ ║ ╟─┐ ║ K E E P I N G I N T O U C H ║ │ ║ ═══════════════════════════════ ║ │ ║ SPITFIRE Monthly Support Newsletter ║ │ ║ for registered SPITFIRE Sysops! ║ │ ║ October 1992 ║ │ ║ Compliments of BUFFALO CREEK SOFTWARE ║ │ ║ Buffalo Creek's BBS * 515-225-8496 ║ │ ║ 38400/19200/9600/24400/1200 Baud ║ │ ║ 2 Nodes ║ │ ║ ║ │ ╚═╤══════════════════════════════════════════╝ │ └────────────────────────────────────────────┘ Edited by Jacque Shipley The Mother Board BBS - (515) 986-3464 - 19200 Baud Sysop Of The Month by Walt Crede Roam This Fertile Land - (515) 288-8755 - 2400 Baud Newly Registered SPITFIRE BBS List by Ann Woltz Other Contributions As Noted ╔═════════════════════════════════════════╗ ║ Notes from the author of SPITFIRE! ╟─┐ ╚═╤═══════════════════════════════════════╝ │ └─────────────────────────────────────────┘ The monthly SPITFIRE Support Newsletter is done when it is done! ---------------------------------------------------------------- Over the past couple of months I have received a few somewhat sassy messages regarding the availability of the monthly SPITFIRE support newsletter. My good friend Jacque Shipley has for years been responsible for creating our monthly newsletter. She is not compensated for her work. It seems wise to me that we not look a gift horse in the mouth. Jacque is dependent on news articles from others (including myself) and I will assure you that she promptly makes the newsletter available once she has the articles. I am sure that Jacque will accept nearly anyone's help with the newsletter. Thank you! I am, however, pleased to know that this indicates to me that people look forward to receiving the newsletter. Who Gives A Special Effort In The SPITFIRE Project? --------------------------------------------------- As you are aware, we feature a SPITFIRE Sysop each month by selecting someone to serve as our 'SPITFIRE Sysop of the Month'. These people are selected for various reasons but normally they are selected because of their special effort to promote the SPITFIRE project. These individuals are often selected because they were recommended by others. So, do you know of someone who you believe deserves to become a 'SPITFIRE Sysop of the Month'? In the event you have someone in mind, please let me. Full consideration will be given to all suggestions. Thank you! We're Cleaning Things Up! ------------------------- Last month we asked for your help with cleaning up our registered SPITFIRE boards list. We asked that you download SFBBSLST.TXT from our board, review the list and then let us know if we have boards listed that are no longer in operation or are operating different BBS software. The response to this request for help has been GREAT and we appreciate it. For example, one SPITFIRE Sysop, Earl Driscoll, checked every SPITFIRE board in his area code and made a report. We really appreciate all the information which was furnished. We also asked if you knew of any boards that are operating SPITFIRE illegally (beyond the 30 day trial period). We were provided a lot of information regarding this matter and we have taken action to correct the problem. Many of the Sysops who were operating SPITFIRE beyond the 30 day trial period have (or are) taking action to register SPITFIRE. This action is really good for everyone involved in the SPITFIRE project. Thank you for your help and for your continuing help. We also asked for your help in providing information about utilities written for SPITFIRE which have become obsolete or possibly they weren't good for much to start with. We want to clean up our File Area #2 (SPITFIRE 3rd Party Utilities, Doors, Etc). The response on this matter was nearly non-existent. Therefore, I am again asking for your help in this matter. Thank you for your continued support and promotion of SPITFIRE. The SPITFIRE project continues to grow at a very nice pace. None of this would be possible without the help of many GREAT SPITFIRE Sysops. It hasn't changed - for the most part, SPITFIRE Sysops are top shelf folks. Thanks. Until next time, may God bless you... Mike, Ann & family ╒═════════════════════════╕ │ SPITFIRE UPGRADE NOTICE │ ╘═════════════════════════╛ Recently, Buffalo Creek Software mailed notices to SPITFIRE Sysops who have not upgraded from SPITFIRE V3.1 to SPITFIRE V3.2. In order to be eligible for a free upgrade of SPITFIRE V3.3 when it is released, Sysops must be running the latest version of SPITFIRE, which currently is version 3.2. Any Sysops not running SPITFIRE V 3.2 will not be eligible for the free upgrade. Overall, the mailings have been quite successful and there have been many Sysops who have upgraded or are in the process of upgrading to SPITFIRE 3.2. However, there are still those who have not responded. Sysop who are currently running SPITFIRE V3.1 should take this opportunity to upgrade to version 3.2 at no cost and thus ensure their eligibility for a free upgrade to version 3.3 when it is available. ╒═════════════════════════╕ │ FREE SPITFIRE UTILITIES │ ╘═════════════════════════╛ The following reviews in no way begin to cover all the free SPITFIRE utilities. Thanks to all the programmer's who have devoted their time and energy to provide SPITFIRE Sysops with SF utilities that require no registration fee. Your efforts are appreciated by SPITFIRE Sysops everywhere who must try to contain the cost of their BBS operation. SFMKFLS2.ZIP ------------ MKSFLIST is a SPITFIRE utility which creates FILST<x>.BBS/CLR and MGLST<x>.BBS/CLR or both. Of course, <X> corresponds to the security level of the caller so a file area and/or message conference list can be made for each security level you allow on your BBS. The FILST<x>.BBS/CLR which is generated will display the name and number of the file area, the number of files in the area, the total number of file bytes. It also will show the total number of files and bytes available for download on the BBS. Only file areas which are accessible to that security level and file areas marked as a Preview File Area will be included in the listing. A sample of a file listing might look like this: ╓─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╖ ║ The Mother Board BBS's File Area List ║ ║ Last Updated : Saturday, 10/10/1992 ║ ╟───────╥────────────────────────────────────────────╥───────╥────────────────╢ ║ Area ║ File Area Description - Security Level 50 ║ Files ║ Total Bytes ║ ╙───────╨────────────────────────────────────────────╨───────╨────────────────╜ 1 Recent Uploads 23 3,080,054 2 Business & Finance 68 5,439,219 3 Communication Files 214 8,260,454 ... ╓─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╖ ║ Total Downloadable Files Total Downloadable Bytes ║ ╙─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╜ 3,862 257,677,532 Similarly, the MGLST<x>.BB/CLR will list the number of the message conference, the name of the message conference, whether the message conference is a local or netmail conference and the number of messages in each conference. It will also show the total number of messages available on the BBS. Only message conferences that are accessible to that security level will be included in the listing. A sample of the message listing might look like this: ╓─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╖ ║ The Mother Board BBS's Message Conferences ║ ║ Last Updated : Saturday, 10/10/1992 ║ ╟───────╥────────────────────────────────────────────╥───────╥────────────────╢ ║ Area ║ Message Area Description - Security 50 ║ Type ║ Total Messages ║ ╙───────╨────────────────────────────────────────────╨───────╨────────────────╜ 1 Personal Messages - Local Local 186 2 General Public Messages - Local Local 7 3 Adlib Net Mail 88 4 Ansi Art Net Mail 52 ... ╓─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╖ ║ Total Viewable Messages ║ ╙─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╜ 4,528 The MKSFLIST.CFG allow you to provide a banner message for each listing, configure colors for the listing and define what security levels your BBS supports so a listing can be made for each one. The command line parameters allow you to specify whether to create file listings only, a message listings only or both and define whether the file listings will be determined from the SFFILES.BBS or the DOS directory listing for each file area. Anyone using a CD-Rom drives or tape doors will most likely prefer the SFFILES.BBS method. MKSFLIST is a freeware utility written by Dave Stahl of Quantum Leap! BBS. SFNEW16.ZIP ----------- SFNEW creates a file which is a condensed list of files available on your BBS for download. Unlike the standard utility which lists all files on the BBS available for download, SFNEW lists only files which have been uploaded over the last <X> days. The Sysop specifies the number of days from the command line. Other command line parameters allow the Sysop to name the file which will be created, the number of the SPITFIRE File Area where the completed file will be placed, whether the file should be compressed in ZIP format. If the ZIP option is selected, the Sysop can specify whether an index file which lists the BBS file areas will be included. In addition, the command line is used to determine whether CD-Rom file areas are to be included. An optional command line parameter allows the Sysop to list an file areas that they do not wish to be included in the listing. With SFNEW's concise documentation, you can have the program running in no time at all. It outlines the purpose of each command line parameter and how they must be used with the program so set up is a breeze. SFNEW could easily be adapted to run as a scheduled event from SPITFIRE. SFNEW will automatically update the SFFILES.BBS in the file area you designate by adding the file name, size, date of creation and brief description. For example: BBSNEW.ZIP 3,733 10-06-92 New Files Added In The Last 30 Days!! As mentioned previously, the index file which may optionally be created lists all the file areas (minus any that have been excluded) on the BBS. A sample index file would look like this: File Areas Available On This BBS 1 - Recent Uploads 2 - Business & Finance 3 - Communication Files 4 - Database & Disk Catalogers 5 - Educational Programs 6 - File Compression Programs A Freeware Spitfire Utility from The Bounty BBS! +44 (0)202 716320 HST/V32 Only a portion of the index file is shown above but hopefully it depicts the purpose of the index file that you may create if you opt to ZIP the created file. Similarly, a sampling of the actual file that is created would look like this: New Files Added from 09-06-92 to 10-06-92 ------------------------------------------------- ARMOR.ZIP 79,918 10-01-92 Reservists - Track Retirement Points Uploaded By: Paul Wieck TROMANIA.ZIP 165,144 10-02-92 Cool Vga 1 Or 2 Player Game From Germany... Uploaded By: Ryan Rohlfsen STP.ZIP 179,760 10-02-92 Save The Planet (An Ecological Program) Uploaded By: Jeff Kroft 60 New Files Were Added In The Last 30 Days. Totalling 4,721,461 Bytes! A Freeware Spitfire Utility from The Bounty BBS! +44 (0)202 716320 HST/V32 Notice that at the bottom of the file, the total number of files that have been uploaded in the <X> days (as you can tell, 30 days was used in this particular example) you specify at the command line parameter. Also, the total bytes uploaded is calculated as well. SFNEW is written by Steve Christian of The Bounty BBS! Steve provides this program as freeware to SPITFIRE Sysops. SFTIM10.ZIP ----------- SFTIMES creates a screen which is displayed to callers when they have logged onto the BBS a specific number of times such as 100, 200, 300, 1000, etc. Notice that the default intervals are configured in multiples of 100 but the Sysop has the option of specifying what intervals will be used by assigning their own multiples in the SFTIMES.CFG file. SFTIMES makes use of what is termed small time and big time. This is simply a small interval number and a large interval number. For instance, 100 might be the small time and 1000 the big time. The screen which displays to the caller has red, white and blue banners at the top and bottom of the display. When the caller's call is in a multiple of the big number, these banners flash on the screen. The SFTIMES.CFG is also used by the Sysop to provide their own personalized message to the callers when the screen displays. One line of text is allowed for the small time message and four lines of text are allowed for the large time message. SFTIMES will automatically display: "You have logged on <BBS Name> <x> times" and this is then followed by the personalized message you have configured and depending on whether the caller's call interval is a multiple of the small number or the big number. Sysops can easily test this by entering 1 as the small number (or large number) and logging on their BBS either locally or remotely. One word of advice, if you typically keep your log on times as a negative number, you will need to change this to positive number for testing purposes. SFTIMES is a SPITFIRE utility by John P. Reid. SPITFIRE Sysops are invited to use this program at no cost as long as it remains unmodified. SFEOM100.ZIP ------------ This SPITFIRE utility is quite unique in that not only does it accomplish the task it was designed to perform, the Sysop may also configure it to do any number of other tasks they would like to run on a monthly basis. First and foremost, SFEOM will ZIP your SPITFIRE log files at the end of each month. The files it includes in the archive are the BBS's CALLERS.LOG, SFNEWU.ANS and HEYSYSOP.LOG. The files are first renamed to have an extension of the abbreviated month. In other words, the CALLERS.LOG for the month of January would be renamed CALLERS.JAN, etc. The ZIP file then is named using the month and year. From the example above, the archive file would be named JAN1992.ZIP. Thus all your monthly log files from the BBS are packaged together for easy storage and reference if the need should arise. SFEOM is designed to be run as a nightly event. However, SFEOM will only archive the log files and reinitialize them if it is the first of the month. If it is any other day other than the first of the month, SFEOM performs no activity and is simply done running. However, if it is the first of the month SFEOM begins by processing the log files as described above. It will then look for an optional file called SFEOM.BAT. SFEOM.BAT must be in a DOS path and is intended to be used by the Sysop to perform other tasks they wish to have run on a monthly basis. For instance, suppose you wanted to pack the SFUSERS.DAT file at monthly intervals. Using Buffalo Creek Software's SFPCKUSR you could create a SFEOM.BAT with the following commands: @ECHO OFF REM Pack SPITFIRE User File SFPCKUSR /OLD=120 The options available to the Sysop for processing activity at monthly intervals are virtually unlimited. SFEOM is written by David Pierron of Wombat's Wagon BBS. David does require that this program be registered but both registration and future upgrades are free. Sysops may register by mail or by logging on his BBS at (215)-331-2590 and providing David with your name and the name of your BBS. David will then compile you a personalized copy of SFEOM which will be made available for download from his BBS. ╒════════════════════╕ │ SYSOP-OF-THE-MONTH │ ╘════════════════════╛ John Miksich Midwest Horizons Des Moines, Iowa John's modest. "I'm supposed to write something up," he informs, "so I guess this would count. Back about a year and a half ago our family purchased an IBM PS\1. This was the first IBM I had ever worked with after being exposed only to Apple computers, and I loved it. "I started off calling one of the large pay services using my modem, but I soon wanted to save myself some money and try finding something free and local. After grabbing some close-by phone numbers, I entered the world of Bulletin Boards. Oddly enough, the first board I called was Buffalo Creek's BBS. "I started off just like everyone else, asking those unbelievably goofy questions. After a couple months I became CoSysop on a few different boards and had a great time helping everyone out. I liked it so much, in fact, I started my own board. The Miksich Corner, in September of 1991. "The Miksich Corner was your basic new board, not too much to offer and not a whole lot of fun. After recovering from an event that almost caused me to get out of the BBS business for good, we came back. This time as Midwest Horizons. We were going strong. Launched advertising campaigns, designed ANSI screens, anything to get our name out. "Then came FireNet. When I was able to help in the testing of FireNet, that was the icing on the cake. In June at the 1992 SPITFIRE Conference, I introduced The Midwestern Mail Network. I have been hard at work getting the word out about TMMN and attracting fellow SPITFIRE Sysops. TMMN became the first FireNet mail network. We are now the `First International FireNet Mail Network.' "We're now in the process of upgrading from our PS\1 to a 386DX-40 and hope things go well. "It's an honor to be SPITFIRE Sysop-of-the-Month and it's great to be associated with such a great group of people, Spitfire people. "I thought I'd do something different and offer some advice: `If you've got a chance for possible success, jump at it. If you fail, then something went wrong along the way. You MUST find out what it was and learn from it.'" ╒════════════════════════════════════╕ │ NEWLY REGISTERED SPITFIRE SYSTEMS │ ╘════════════════════════════════════╛ A hearty welcome is extended to the following, who have recently become public registered SPITFIRE Bulletin Board Systems: EAS Technologies.............................502-473-1045....9600 Baud EAS Technologies, Sysop...........................Louisville, Kentucky Seoul Computer Club........................82-2-7913-6821....2400 Baud Seoul Computer Club, Sysop.................................APO Address The Lighthouse...............................716-964-8475....2400 Baud Robert Dean, Sysop....................................Hamlin, New York Quail Run....................................515-342-4310...57600 Baud Paul Wieck, Sysop........................................Osceola, Iowa The High Standard............................504-738-3889....2400 Baud Ronnie Martin, Sysop.................................Kenner, Louisiana ShareWare Inc................................514-444-5757....2400 Baud Claude Roberge, Sysop.......................La Prairie, Quebec, Canada Microguys....................................904-835-2919....2400 Baud Howard Brown, Sysop..................................Freeport, Florida Abstract Realities...........................713-998-7042...57600 Baud Rick Oldfield, Sysop...................................Pasadena, Texas The Other Place..............................319-324-7037....9600 Baud Kenneth Van Severen, Sysop.............................Davenport, Iowa OXYA.........................................331-3024-2231...2400 Baud OXYA, Sysop...........................................Viroflay, France The Hamtech BBS..............................515-981-9116....2400 Baud James Biehn, Sysop.......................................Norwalk, Iowa The Arts BBS.................................613-236-2526....2400 Baud Dominic Dewolfe, Sysop.........................Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Moronihah BBS................................205-237-1750....2400 Baud Bradley W. Hodges, Sysop.............................Anniston, Alabama Bull's Eye BBS!..............................613-394-3268...14400 Baud George Staikos, Sysop.........................Trenton, Ontario, Canada Nightlife BBS................................318-345-3199....2400 Baud Rusty Whitten, Sysop.................................Monroe, Louisiana The Small BBS................................702-453-1784....2400 Baud Daniel DeMar, Sysop..................................Las Vegas, Nevada The Computer Room............................503-635-3712...14400 Baud Carl Montante, Sysop...............................Lake Oswego, Oregon Country Boy BBS..............................601-494-3159....2400 Baud Danny Bell, Sysop.............................Cedar Bluff, Mississippi Dragon's Nest................................916-972-9228...38400 Baud Shane Wooten, Sysop.............................Carmichael, California Nightline BBS................................708-854-9492....2400 Baud Ron Pena, Sysop............................Lake In The Hills, Illinois Rolling Thunder..............................302-475-3660....2400 Baud Gary Hoermann, Sysop..............................Wilmington, Delaware Your Mama....................................209-225-4916....2400 Baud Dick Johnson, Sysop.................................Fresno, California EDM INC.....................................Phone Unknown....2400 Baud Mike Stackpoole, Sysop.............................Fremont, California Blue Water BBS...............................305-442-6000...19200 Baud Dan Bernasconi, Sysop...................................Miami, Florida Bad Example BBS..............................402-291-9038...57600 Baud Aaron Segura, Sysop....................................Omaha, Nebraska Mike's Place.................................707-447-3604....2400 Baud Mike Stambaugh, Sysop............................Vacaville, California The Games Of Triskelion......................907-333-5329....2400 Baud Mike Roush, Sysop....................................Anchorage, Alaska The Night Owl BBS............................503-267-4338....2400 Baud Steve Wick, Sysop.....................................Coos Bay, Oregon The Shadow BBS...............................908-269-4589...14400 Baud Patrick Cody, Sysop...............................Bayville, New Jersey Operation: Blue Streak.......................203-482-7134....2400 Baud Jonathan Day, Sysop............................Torrington, Connecticut Wing & A Prayer BBS..........................701-594-2870....2400 Baud Greg McKinney, Sysop.....................Grand Forks AFB, North Dakota The Scaramouche BBS..........................606-356-5350....2400 Baud Brian E. Smith, Sysop...........................Independence, Kentucky Chuck E. Cheeses.............................904-772-1821....2400 Baud Howard Huckleberry, Sysop........................Jacksonville, Florida Well of Knowledge BBS........................519-631-9510....9600 Baud William Adams, Sysop.......................St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada Brian's Den BBS..............................317-356-0186....2400 Baud Brian Koll, Sysop................................Indianapolis, Indiana Midnight Express BBS.........................805-946-4107....2400 Baud Theron Day, Sysop................................Lancaster, California The Sexually Oriented BBS....................513-232-2927....2400 Baud Chris Leach, Sysop....................................Cincinnati, Ohio W.A.A. BBS...................................315-797-3054....2400 Baud Richard Seeley, Sysop..................................Utica, New York Random Access................................214-216-7333...14400 Baud Alan Bradshaw, Sysop...................................Mesquite, Texas The Switchboard BBS..........................717-564-0601...14400 Baud Cavanaugh's Computers & Services, Sysop.......Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Up All Night BBS.............................619-421-6823....2400 Baud Rod Davis, Sysop....................................Bonita, California The Phoenix Islands BBS......................408-270-7456....2400 Baud Phan Tran, Sysop..................................San Jose, California Kingston Games...............................613-634-3372....2400 Baud Tony Everett, Sysop..........................Kingston, Ontario, Canada Backdraft BBS................................305-451-7119....2400 Baud Joe Florio Jr., Sysop...............................Key Largo, Florida Late Night With Jimmy Bitchin'...............319-752-1881....2400 Baud Jimmy Essex, Sysop....................................Burlington, Iowa Unity Bulletin Board.........................604-474-6567....2400 Baud Bill Patterson, Sysop......................Patterson, Victoria, Canada In addition, there were 9 new private SPITFIRE BBS Systems registered. These private SPITFIRE BBS's included registrations from: Omaha, Nebraska; Sarasota, Florida; Hanford, California; Sacramento, California; London, Ontario, Canada; San Jose, California; Island Lake, Illinois; Cap De La Madeleine, Quebec, Canada; and Houston, Texas. There were 28 registrations for whom registration information was incomplete. These included BBS's in: Catano, Puerto Rico; 2 in Huntsville, Texas; Gonic, New Hampshire; Scarborough, Ontario, Canada; DeFuniak, Florida; Honolulu, Hawaii; Riverview, Florida; Yreka, California; Langley AFB, Virginia; 2 in Fort Hood, Texas; Genoa, Illinois; St. Ann, Missouri; New Orleans, Louisiana; Waterboro, Maine; Spring, Texas; Barreiro 2830, Portugal; Palm Coast, Florida; Federal Way, Washington; 2 in Phoenix, Arizona; South Toms River, New Jersey; Bremerton, Washington; Seattle, Washington; McCloud, California; New Orleans, Louisiana; and Molsheim, France. The increase in registrations where information is incomplete is largely due to Buffalo Creek's Software's new policy of accepting on-line Mastercard and Visa credit card registrations. JUST A REMINDER...the newsletter is always looking for contributions! Please forward any articles in ASCII text to either Buffalo Creek's BBS or The Mother Board BBS.