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 Omni 128 Overview  - Updated February 1994

 Omni 128 Color Bulletin Board System (c) is a complete online data
storage and retrieval program written for the Commodore 128 Personal
Computer. It is designed to host all calling computer types, whether
ANSI, ASCII, or Commodore (c) Color Graphics, using 40 or 80 columns
screen width. The built in operating system allows easy programming of
simple or highly advanced special applications that a sysop (system
operator) might want or require, using the powerful MicroSoft BASIC 7
programming language, and the built in machine language subroutines.

 The complete system is currently comprised of over 100 program
modules that are available for use ON or offline by the sysop or
callers. A 'Networking' module allows automatic communication between
your BBS and others who wish to exchange electronic mail or bulletins
with you. Networking can be established between your Omni system and
network-compatable Color 64 (c) BBS's, or other Omni 128 Systems (with
extended features). A unique 'batch file' command is available which
allows an Omni sysop to automatically transfer files to any other Omni
system. 'Omni-Link' is included free with the BBS.

 The sysop options on Omni rival or surpass those of any other BBS,
regardless of computer type. Each caller can instantly be given one of
ten customized 'general' access levels, which defines said callers
ability to access up to 120 separate BBS areas (such as message base
area #4, e-mail, transfer area #14, etc). Currently, 91 of these are
in use. The remaining offer room for expansion, as they are needed.
Individual accounts can also be tailored to any combination of these
120 areas, in effect giving you 14,400 possible access levels. In
actual practice, you would most likely only desire or require one of
the ten customized general access levels when validating new callers.

 Other unique features of interest to the System Operator or Caller...

- Virtual Memory Editor -
A system text editor which can hold over 43,000 bytes of text is
available online for the sysop.

- Zmodem Batch Receive -
Omni 128 is the first Commodore 128 program to implement a Zmodem batch
receive option. Although not all the features of Zmodem are currently
supported (no resume function yet) it is perfectly functional, and
provides a way for Amiga, PC or other Zmodem capable computers to send
multiple files to your BBS. This capability perfectly compliments
Omni's other first -

- Ymodem-g -
 Omni is the first 128 BBS to support Ymodem-g for downloading, a
protocol which is acknowledged to be the fastest type of streaming
protocol. This works with most terminals tested, including JRComm,
BaudBandit, and Terminus for Amiga, and ProComm, Telix, and Q-Modem
for IBM.

- High Speed Modem Support -
The newest version of Omni supports up to 38,400 bps text transfer
rates via the SwiftLink-232 serial cartridge, or up to 9600 bps
through software. SwiftLink-232  is highly recommended for high speed
operation.

- Huge Message Base Capacity -
Omni supports up to 20 root area message bases, with thousands of
branches called "lattices". A total of 990,001 separate sub-boards
could theoretically be created, holding up to 99,000,100 separate
posts, each with unlimited responses.

- External Program Capability -
In addition to running modules designed specifically for the system,
Omni can automatically call offline programs written in BASIC 7, either
compiled with BASIC 128 or plain BASIC, and even CS-DOS auto-exec
scripts. These programs run offline, and the BBS can be called
automatically after they are finished. This opens up a lot of
possibilities for beginning and advanced programmers alike, who want
special things done at midnight, for instance. Offline programs can be
run at any time or date, determined in advance by the operator. No
human intervention is required one this is set-up.

- Video Mode Control -
Allows local screen printing to be disabled for maximum modem
input/output speed.

- 40 Column RGB -
Lets you select a very vivid 40 column display on the 80 column
screen. Especially useful for creating and examining 40 column color
graphics.

- Screen Capture -
In the system terminal, and some other programs, an intelligent  80
Column FULL SCREEN capture option is available, allowing the most
efficient method of saving a screen of text OR Commodore Color
Graphics being viewed, to disk. The file produced is very compact,
without losing any of the color changes or special 80 column control
codes (flashing, underline, etc). Especially useful for 'freezing' BBS
logon screens or other text or graphics.

- Print Spooler -
Allows continuous simultaneous printing of whatever you are seeing
on-screen, in either Commodore graphics mode or Filtered Ascii mode.
Useful for making hardcopy of almost anything!

-  PrintFile
Allows output that would have gone to the printer to be directed to a
disk file on any un-used device. VERY useful!

- Fast Access -
To online features, i.e. quick local login, sysop options, e-mail,
sysop program modules, terminal, etc. without having to log on.

- Fast Serial Support -
Since Omni runs in the C-128's native mode, disk drives that support
fast serial communication will operate at their top efficiency. These
include the HD-Series drives, with or without JiffyDOS, the 1581,
1571, and 'clones' that emulate these drives. The addition of JiffyDOS
additionally increases the write and read speed of any serial drives.

- Enhanced HD Support -
Allows full use the HD-XX series powerful partitioning capabilities,
as well as RAMLink and RamDrive's own parallel and RL-DOS modes.
RL-DOS and HD-DOS both support any combination of 1541, 1571, 1581,
and true Native MS-DOS (c) type sub-directories.

- Stability -
The system has proved to be very stable, as demonstrated recently by a
two-week un-attended run. A Built in 'safety net' routine catches
errors that can't normally be trapped by BASIC 7.

- Separate Last Call Date/Times -
The system maintains three separate 'last call date-time' (LCDT) for
each caller. One records the last visit to the system proper, another,
the message base visit, and the last, the transfer area. The caller
can edit both the message base and transfer LCDT while online, to make
different numbers of messages or files appear as NEW. This is very
useful when a caller has not been on in a long period, and doesn't
wish to read large numbers of messages accumulated during the
interval.

- Call Back -
A feature that is useful for those callers who experience 'noisy'
phone lines, but only in one direction is the CALL BACK module. This
program calls the person back, usually bypassing the same phone-line
that was causing the noise. After this has been used once, it will
present itself directly after login, unless the caller toggles the
option off in their personal parameters.

 - Auto-Call Back Validation -
At the sysop's option, the system will call a new user back to verify
their phone-number. It defaults to non-long distance phone numbers,
but can be adjusted to provide long distance call back if desired.

- Multiple Login Modules -
The sysop can arrange customize programs to execute before the caller
reaches the main menu. These can be chained if desired.

- Midnight Update -
In addition to many standard tasks the system performs at midnight,
customized applications can also be run and chained. For instance, a
sysop might want to have a certain group of files copied from one
location or device, to another, every night, or only on certain days,
etc.

- Waiting Call -
From the Waiting Call screen, the sysop can perform many operations
without having to log on. These include entering the terminal, forcing
waiting network messages out, selecting video on or off mode, checking
on free memory, accessing the main SYSOP MENU, logging on quick,
entering the sysop program modules area, validating the main system
drive/disk, entering the e-mail section, entering the network section,
and putting the modem off or on hook. Also available at waiting call
is a full screen editor for writing or launching stacked command
strings. These strings can contain up to 159 characters each, which
will carry out any operations you wish automatically. Furthermore,
these stacks can be stored permanently on-screen for your immediate
use. Adding to the power of this arrangement is the ability to run an
unlimited number of 254 character scripts, chained together in any way
you see fit, providing a nice way to simplify any repetitive task you
would like to automate.

- Sysop Menu -
An exceptionally complete set of options are available here: Access to
the message bases, the online CONFIG EDIT program, DOS commands, the
USER EDITOR, the new caller FEEDBACK reader, the GROUP ACCESS editor,
the ONE-LINER editor, the SYSOP PROGRAM MODULES, the selective system
LOG reader, the TRANSFERS area, a 1000 line sequential file EDITOR, a
very powerful FILE-COPIER with many options including a built in
directory alphabetizers, ascii-pet translator, filelist or transfer
area list option for source filenames, the ability to skip through the
files instead of stepping one at a time, full support of all standard
and device specific patterns, such as the time and date stamp used in
CMD's devices and more. Continuing to other sysop menu features: an
enhanced 296 file tailored DIRECTORY with multiple pattern capability,
file-counter, blocks used by matched files, blocks remaining and
screen formatting, a separate fast DIR which displays unlimited files
and provides full support of CMD's time and date stamp system, a smart
DEVICE SELECTOR that detects the presence of the selected device AND
partition or sub-directory. Also accessed from this menu is a USER
SEARCH utility that allows searching the caller accounts for patterns.
A KILL option is available for selective weeding out of callers that
have not called since a certain date. MOVE is used if you want to move
a caller account to a new location. Any e-mail, signature, and network
account information is also moved. Simple english DRIVE COMMANDS are
available for quickly selecting the following device/path
combinations; ^^ or MAIN, MENU, BASE, SIGS, PFILE, NET, and GAMES. P$
can be used to print out a directory, including a patterned one. SS
allows editing of the Sysop Statement, a small string that appears
after login. PRINT allows printing of any sequential text OR system
data file. RM will load the file transfer area REMOTE MAINTENANCE. NM
loads the complete online NETWORK MAINTENANCE module.

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Message Base

 Omni's messaging system is the product of over three years of
refinement, and provides the user with quick and easy access to any
desired message, while providing the largest potential storage
capacity of and standard SEQ file system that I am aware of. Each
message has an internal TIME and DATE stamp which the program uses to
determine whether it will appear as NEW to you (when using the
powerful RA (read all new messages) command). The caller can shift
their own 'Last Call Date' and/or 'Last Call Time' forward or
backwards to precisely control viewing of 'new' messages from that
date/time! This is something that can come in handy if you only want
the newest responses, even though you haven't called in a longer
period. It isn't used if you call every day or two (unless you are in
a hurry!).

 A caller can re-read a message 'chain' over from any response! This
allows random access to any response, even skipping forwards, if
desired. A caller can edit any message, providing that they originally
entered it. A maintenance helper or other person with 'write/edit'
file access  can also edit any message, regardless of who wrote it.

 An 'auto-weeding' program has been developed for sysops who wish to
maintain smaller message chains. It can recognize and skip sub-areas
that the sysop does not want to be affected. Adding to the flexibility
of this option is the choice to weed an area by a percentage of
responses, or simply cut to a specific number of new responses.

 The message base has a maximum capacity of 20 'root' sub-boards, 19
with a possible 99,999 'lattice' subs if desired, giving a maximum of
990,001 separate, independent sub-boards (for most sysops 15 to 30
should be enough!). Each of these sub-boards can hold up to 50
'posts', each with unlimited responses. During a read all new messages
cycle, all roots and decimal lattices are automatically scanned (1,
1.1, 1.2 - 1.9, 2, 2.1 etc up to 20).

 Callers can tailor their own reading method between the several
available modes, (pausing ON between messages, Screen clearing ON or
off, and 'SP'eed control). The system defaults to a reading system
where there is a prompt between each message allowing several options
(reply, private mail, edit, etc.) which most new callers are
comfortable with. Many people like the Omni Native mode, where the
messages scroll with no between message prompt (faster) but the
between message option prompt can be invoked by hitting a '/' while
the messages are displaying. After using one of the prompt options,
the system will revert to your native mode reading method. These modes
are saved in the callers personal stats, as is virtually every
personal parameter that is adjustable on the system.

 (SP)eed control is another unique Omni 128 feature, and allows the
text of a message to be slowed down to the preferences of the caller.
60 different speeds are available from '0' (no delay) to '60' (very
slow output). Another feature usually found only on BBS's written for
other higher power PC's is the ability to de-select sub areas that you
have no particular interest in. These areas will be skipped when using
the 'read all new messages' mode.
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Network Base

 At the end of a read all new cycle, the special PUBLIC NET BASE is
automatically loaded and scanned for all new networked bulletins. This
area is unique in that a separate area is maintained for each BBS that
you are networked with, making it easy to see where a group of posts
came from. If new posts are present, they are rapidly located and
read. A reply to a message is sent back through the network to the
original sender's location. You can even choose to reply publicly or
privately. A private reply to another Omni also allows you to enter a
subject, similar to the e-mail section covered below. The sysop can
selectively delete out-dated net messages in one easy operation.
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E-Mail

 The E-Mail section allows sending mail by name or id number. A
'smart' routine prevents sending or replying to an account that
doesn't exist or has a different user then it did when the mail was
sent. Omni's email section is fully network compatable, and allows
replying directly to the sender on the node which they sent from. You
can selectively delete individual pieces of email and retain the rest.
Reading mail in order is as simple as hitting return, although you can
read out of order too. Before leaving the area, you can recover or
'UN'delete the deleted email if you have made a mistake. When leaving
this section, you can delete ALL of your mail at once. Recently added
to the email section is the option to download your mail packet
directly, using the universal standard xmodem crc or checksum.
Uploading of prepared text for use in the system editor is also
provided (ascii or petascii). Other new features include off-line
sorting of your mail selected for deletion. I try to keep online time
to a minimum by performing these type of operations offline, saving
the caller time and/or money .
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Transfers

Omni's file transfer section provides the fastest downloads of any C=
BBS system available at this time, using the Ymodem-g protocol.
Download protocols include: 1) Single file types, PUNTER, Xmodem CRC,
Xmodem Checksum, Xmodem 1k CRC, Xmodem-g (IBM or others). 2) Batch
file types (multiple files), PUNTER, Ymodem standard (128), Ymodem 1k
CRC, and Ymodem-g. Using Ymodem-g from an IBM or Amiga type computer
has acheived download speeds up to 1600 or more characters per second
at 9600 or 14400 bps, which is equal or faster than Zmodem. Although
no 1k upload protocols (except Zmodem!) are available at this time,
I am currently working on an Xmodem 1k upload module. TRANSFERS
supports searching of some or all areas for patterns of filenames,
uploaders names, dates, etc. through the use of the module TRAN SCAN
(ts). Descriptions for files  can be written before or at any time
afterwards by the uploader.  Omni also comes with an "exchange" type
transfer area which allows direct reading of directories on any type
of disk directory, and unrestricted upload or download to these areas.
In the interest of keeping this document short, I will finish with
hardware information, and ask that any detailed questions be directed
to me by email on my BBS. I answer all email within 48 hours (volume
is sometimes heavy and I am working alone on the main project).
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Minimum recommended hardware requirements


1 Commodore 128 or 128D Computer

1 CMD RAMLink with 4 or more megabytes, and/or a CMD HD-XX Series Hard
Drive of any size, and/or 1 or more of CMD's high-density FD floppy
disk drives, and/or 5 or more Commodore DOS compatable floppy disk
drives (5 or more 1581's preferred). CMD's JiffyDOS is an ideal
addition to any of the above components. The 1581 drive should only
be used if absolutely necessary, because the RAMLink and HD units are
much more durable and reliable. The LTKernal hard drive system is not
directly supported, but can be connected to a CMD hard drive via a low
cost cable called the LTKonnector, (available from Creative Micro
Designs at 800-638-3263).

1 Hayes Compatable Modem (14,400 U.S. Robotics Sportster ideal, 9600
bps SupraFAXModem tested, other high speeds not recommended yet)

Throughput of up to 38,400 bps available through the use of the
SwiftLink-232 high speed serial cartridge (available from CMD) or up
to 9600 bps through software. Use of SwiftLink-232 is highly
recommended.

1 80 Column RGB monitor (color recommended)
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Omni 128 is constantly evolving. For the latest information, drop by
Omni World 128 and see what's cookin'!

 A complete printed text of the final article and registration
information will be available by mail to those who leave e-mail or
network-mail to id#1 on Omni World 128 BBS (206-536-9353 - 1200-14,400
bps, V32/V32bis,V42/V42bis,MNP2-5).
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