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VBBS 6.11 Documentation -- 3-1
╔════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
║ CHAPTER THREE VBBS FROM THE COMMAND LINE -- WHAT HAPPENS? ║
╚════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
When running VBBS, a RAM-resident VBBS.EXE controls the
program. It should be used as the ONLY means of starting VBBS,
as it transfers needed information into the program.
The basic syntax for bringing VBBS online is
BBS <channel number>
where <channel number> is a number from 0 to 4 (for the share-
ware version). For larger multi-line installations (after the
software is registered), it could be a number from 0 to as high
as 64.
Note that ALL single-node installations use the command line
BBS 1
and that the command line
BBS 0
specifies LOCAL MODE operation only, using the console keyboard
and bypassing WFC initialization.
Command line options include:
/AC Use this option when running VBBS as a door, or
from a matrix logon. It has VBBS maintain sepa-
rate user data (etc.) and maintains the doored
VBBS as an independent system.
/H Used with the /AC option, forces VBBS to hang up
when the user logs off.
/Bxxxxx Used with the /AC option, passes the baud rate
of the modem connection to VBBS.
/CHAIN Command for logging user to VBBS being run as a
door from inside another VBBS system, or any
BBS software using the CHAIN.TXT format (such
as WWIV). This option will use VBBS' user re-
cord and will NOT prompt the already-online user
to log on to the doored VBBS separately. BBS
softwares that do not produce CHAIN.TXT can
still use this option by using a door converter
to obtain the CHAIN.TXT format.
VBBS 6.11 Documentation -- 3-2
╔════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
║ FIRST-TIME STARTUP ║
╚════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
Before You Log In the First Time
════════════════════════════════
Before you do your first login to VBBS, there are a few
final checks you need to make:
1) Make sure the following files are available to VBBS via a
PATH= statement in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file:
DSZ.COM (or DSZ.EXE)
LIST.COM (not needed immediately if you're using the
DOS command TYPE as described on p. 33, but
you ought to consider getting it)
PKZIP.EXE
PKUNZIP.EXE
For example, you might have these files in a directory on
your hard drive called BBSUTIL; the PATH= statement might
read
PATH=C:\;C:\DOS;C:\BBSUTIL
For more information on the PATH= statement, please refer to
your DOS documentation.
▒▒ OS/2 Version : Please refer to the VBBS OS/2
instructions in Appendix D.
2) Make sure the device driver ANSI.SYS is loaded with the ap-
propriate statement in your CONFIG.SYS file:
DEVICE=ANSI.SYS
This enables your computer to handle the ANSI displays VBBS
uses and generates. For more information on the DEVICE=
statement, please refer to your DOS documentation.
There are many alternative drivers available - particularly
ZANSI.SYS and NNANSI.SYS -- that handle ANSI graphics
MUCH faster than DOS' default ANSI.SYS. These programs
are available on BBSes all over the country.
VBBS 6.11 Documentation -- 3-3
Logging In the First Time
═════════════════════════
By executing the statement
BBS 1
on a single-node installation, you will bring up VBBS in the WFC
[Waiting For Call] mode. This is the online control panel for
VBBS, and when you see this screen, the BBS is said to be in a
"waiting for call" state. Congratulations; you're now the proud
"parent" of a bouncing baby BBS! :-)
--> IMPORTANT NOTE: From the WFC screen, you will see that the
[F] key does something called "Fast Local
Login"; DO NOT use this until you have
created the sysop account (see below)!
The reason you don't do a fast login is that your VBBS is new,
and your user information file (USERFILE.DAT) is empty; there
is no account there that a [F]ast local login can find as belon-
ging to the sysop.
Creating the Sysop Account
══════════════════════════
From the WFC screen, type [L] to do a local login. You
will see the LOGIN.MNU screen from the Virtual Technologies BBS
(the author's BBS); you will, of course, need to change this be-
fore bringing your own BBS online.
Immediately following the LOGIN.MNU screen will be the
login prompt. Type NEW (capitalization for clarity only; it's
not case-sensitive) to create the first entry in your user data
file. You will then see the file NEWUSER.TXT, followed by
prompts to fill in your user information.
Once you have finished entering this information, press
the F2 key; this will bring up the user editor. Once there,
type the following:
G
255 [Enter]
M
1440 [Enter]
This gives you a SL of 255 (sysop access) and a maximum time
per day of 1440 minutes (24 hours); while you likely won't ever
need to stay on the BBS the entire 24 hours, it's nice to have
the luxury.
VBBS 6.11 Documentation -- 3-4
While you're in the user editor, you may also edit any
information there by pressing the letter of the appropriate
field and entering the correct information. Some sysops use
this opportunity to set all their access flags and such (so they
cannot be accidentally "locked out" of any section of the BBS);
see "The User Editor" for more information.
--> IMPORTANT NOTE: If you encounter any program errors at this
point, it is likely that you have mistyped
a path in the Paths Configuration, moved a
file to the wrong directory, for forgotten
to compile any scripts you may be using.
Use the DIAGNOSTICS option in VCONFIG to
try to isolate any problems.