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ShareWare OnLine 2
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ShareWare OnLine Volume 2 (CMS Software)(1993).iso
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SF10-92.ZIP
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1992-10-01
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╔════════════════════════════════════════════╗
║ ╟─┐
║ 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.