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Host+ ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Program Reference Manual Copyright (C) 1986-96 deltaComm Development ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. deltaComm Development P.O. Box 1185, Cary, NC 27512 USA (919)-460-4556 / (919)-460-4531 fax / (919)-481-9399 BBS Telix v3.5x - Host+ COPYRIGHT ii Copyright Notice Telix is Copyright (c) 1986-1996 by deltaComm Development. Host+ is Copyright (c) 1989-1996 by deltaComm Development. This document is Copyright (c) 1988-1996 by deltaComm Development. No parts of Telix or this document may be copied in part or in whole, except as provided in the License in the following pages. Disclaimer deltaComm Development makes no warranty of any kind, either express or implied, including but not limited to implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose, with respect to this software and accompanying documentation. IN NO EVENT SHALL DELTACOMM DEVELOPMENT BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES (INCLUDING DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS, BUSINESS INTERRUPTION, LOSS OF BUSINESS INFORMATION, OR OTHER PECUNIARY LOSS) ARISING OUT OF THE USE OF OR INABILITY TO USE THIS PROGRAM, EVEN IF DELTACOMM DEVELOPMENT HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. Trademarks Telix is a trademark of deltaComm Development. Many product names found throughout this manual are trademarks of var- ious companies. Telix v3.5x - Host+ COPYRIGHT iii C O N T E N T S 1. INTRODUCTION....................................................1 1.1 Host+ Description...........................................1 1.2 Machine Requirements........................................2 1.3 Host+ Files.................................................2 2. Getting Started.................................................7 2.1 Installing Host+............................................7 2.2 First Time Configuration....................................8 2.3 First Time Logon............................................9 3. Program Features - Sysop Online................................11 3.1 Fast Logon.................................................11 3.2 Status Box Toggle..........................................11 3.3 Help Screen Toggle.........................................11 3.4 Chat Mode Toggle...........................................11 3.5 User Control...............................................12 3.6 Local shell to DOS.........................................12 3.7 Screen Image...............................................12 3.8 Capture Log................................................13 3.9 Hangup.....................................................13 4. Program Features - Sysop Offline...............................15 4.1 Local Mode.................................................15 4.2 Configure Host+............................................15 4.3 User Editor................................................15 4.4 File Compressor............................................15 4.5 Text Editor................................................15 4.6 Exit.......................................................15 5. User Commands..................................................17 5.1 Access Levels..............................................17 5.2 Message System.............................................17 5.3 File System................................................19 5.4 Page the Sysop.............................................21 5.5 Bulletin Listings..........................................21 5.6 Your Settings..............................................22 5.7 Comment to Sysop...........................................22 5.8 Expert Mode................................................22 5.9 Run a Door.................................................22 5.10 Goodbye....................................................22 5.11 System Log.................................................22 5.12 Shell to DOS...............................................23 5.13 Shut down Host+............................................23 Telix v3.5x - Host+ Contents iv 6. Customizing Host+..............................................25 6.1 Configuring the Modem......................................25 6.2 Configuring the Colors.....................................26 6.3 Configuring Bulletins......................................26 6.4 Configuring Doors..........................................27 6.5 Configuring Archives.......................................30 6.6 Configuring Macros.........................................31 6.7 Configuring Events.........................................32 6.8 Configuring User Options...................................33 6.9 Configuring the File Bases.................................34 6.10 Configuring the Message Areas..............................35 6.11 Configuring the Upload Items...............................36 6.12 Configuring General Info...................................36 6.13 Configuring BBS Data.......................................38 6.14 Restoring and Saving Configs...............................38 6.15 Creating Colorful Screens..................................39 7. Adding Files...................................................43 7.1 Adding Files with ADDFILES.EXE.............................43 7.2 Manually Changing Files....................................46 7.3 Manually Moving/Removing Files.............................47 8. The User Editor................................................49 8.1 User Fields................................................49 8.2 User Fields you Cannot Edit................................51 9. The Files Compressor...........................................53 9.1 Compressing the User File..................................53 9.2 Compressing the File Base..................................53 9.3 Compressing the Message Bases..............................54 9.4 Running from a Batch File..................................54 9.5 Repairing Damaged Files....................................55 10. Using Doorway.EXE..............................................57 11. Security.......................................................59 12. Registered Utilities...........................................61 12.1 The Files Editor...........................................61 12.2 The Menu Editor............................................62 12.2.1 Making New Menu Screens................................64 12.2.2 Customizing Menu Commands..............................65 12.3 The External User Editor...................................68 13. Appendix A - Installing Doors..................................71 14. Appendix B - Example Events....................................73 15. Appendix C - Product Support...................................77 16. Appendix D - File Formats......................................79 D.1 HOSTDOOR.SYS...............................................79 D.2 Custom Converters..........................................83 17. Appendix E - External Archive Testing..........................87 18. Index..........................................................89 Telix v3.5x - Host+ Introductions 1 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 Host+ Description ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Host+ is a remote system that may be used as a complete BBS. It is fast, friendly, extremely flexible, and powerful enough to be customized for each person's tastes. Even novice computer users may have it up and running in minutes. Host+ has been written for the Telix communications program using SALT (Script Application Language for Telix) -- a powerful and extensive communications script language. Here are some of the advanced features you will find in Host+: ■ Fully working message bases, file bases, ability to drop to DOS, and support for user added doors. ■ May be configured to run multiple conferences for files and messages. ■ A FSME (Full Screen Message Editor) that allows quoting of messages. Messages may be up to 99 lines long. A Line Message Editor is included for those whose machines do not support ANSI. ■ Add any file from any drive to the files base with the ADDFILES.EXE program. Accepts 1000 files per directory and 100 tagged files with full mouse support. ■ A file management program, or file compressor (HPCOMP.EXE) controls all message, file, and user databases. ■ 10 user levels. You decide each level's access to features and on line time. The trash can list allows you to have a text file of names you don't want on your system. ■ Host+ keeps track of the user's time on per day. A user that has 60 minutes a day and uses 45 on the first call will only have 15 minutes left. ■ Program up to 5 different events at any time of the day. The special event time of "every" will run an event after each call. Special Event programs allow the event to abort both the Host+ and Telix programs. ■ New status log file (HOSTPLUS.LOG) supplies complete information on what happens while users are online with Host+. It logs bulletins read, doors opened, events run, total minutes used on the system by each caller, if carrier was lost, time running out, and no input in five minutes. Telix v3.5x - Host+ Introductions 2 ■ Support for user added doors. Host+ supports PCBoard 14.x, QBBS, RBBS, and GAP/DOORWAY doors. ■ Support for Marshall Dudley's DOORWAY program for greater control over the shell to DOS from remote. ■ Support for external protocols that have been added to Telix by you (except for Bimodem and HS/Link). ■ Support for up to 10 different archive programs. Default programs supported are ZIP, PAK, ARC, ARJ, and LZH. You may add support for more. ■ Full keyboard macro support. You may reassign all keys on the keyboard, including those used by Host+. 1.2 Machine Requirements ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Host+ requires a minimum of 350k memory and requires Telix 3.12 or later and DOS version 3.5x or later. A hard drive is highly recommended. 1.3 Host+ Files ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Host+ comes with a number of files and creates more in its operation. Following is a list of files included with Host+ and comments about their being required for operation: HINSTALL.EXE This is the installation program. Once used it may be deleted. HOSTPLUS.DAT This contains the Host+ program files in a compressed format. HINSTALL extracts the files and puts them in the correct directories. You may delete this file following installation. HOSTPLUS.SLC This is the main program script. It is the script which you call in order to run Host+. HOSTPLUS.OVL This contains the screen overlays for Host+. HPUTILS.SLC Utilities script, it contains the Configure Program and the User Editor Program. It is called by the HOSTPLUS.SLC program. It may also run in Telix by typing HPUTILS after pressing Alt-G. It will be placed in your script directory by HINSTALL. Telix v3.5x - Host+ Introductions 3 HPMSGED.OVL Message Editor script overlay, contains all of the message editor routines. It will be placed in your script directory by HINSTALL. HPMSGED.OVL may be deleted if you do not wish to use the message editor or have no message base. HPMENUS.DAT This is the file which contains all of the menus for each of the levels as well as the sections. It will be placed in your Host+ data directory by HINSTALL. HPCOMP.EXE This is the file which does all the data file compression. It will be placed in your Telix directory. *.HP Door Converter overlays, contain all the information to convert to the different BBS systems. They will be placed in your Host+ data directory. Current converters: GAP.HP, PCB14.HP, QBBS.HP. If you do not want to have support for a specific BBS type, then you may delete the converter for that BBS. HOSTPLUS.LNG This file holds all of the BBS commands in English. Future versions will be able to run in other languages. HOSTPLUS.LIB This library file holds all of the command overlays used in the configuration program. Files created and maintained by Host+ throughout its operation (and held in the Host+ data files directory) include: HPUSER.DAT This is the file that holds all of the user information. HOSTPLUS.LOG This is the log of what each user does when on the system. HPFBASE.DAT This holds the number and name of each files base. HPFILES.* This is the file that holds all of the file database information. The file extension is the number of the database. HPMBASE.DAT This holds the number and name of each message base. Telix v3.5x - Host+ Introductions 4 HPINDEX.* This file holds the message pointers for each user for each message base. The file extension is the number of the database. HPHEADER.* This is the header information for each message in the message base. The file extension is the number of the message base. HPMSG.* This holds the actual messages for the message base. The file extension is the number of the message base. HPDOORS.DAT This file contains all of the information you enter when you configure to run a door program. HPBLTS.DAT This file contains all of the information you enter when you configure bulletins. HOSTPLUS.CFG This file holds all of the other configuration information you enter when you customize Host+. HOSTPLUS.KEY This file holds all of the Macros you create. Files created as an option, and which may be deleted if not needed are: ADDFILES.EXE The ADDFILES program for addling files to the files base. It should be placed in the Telix directory. HSHELL.BAT This batch file is supplied in the Telix documentation. If in the Telix directory it will be run if a online user does a shell to DOS. It will override all other shell options. The order in which the shell options take precedence is: HSHELL.BAT DOORWAY.EXE CTTY COMx TRASHCAN.DAT If this ASCII text file is found in the Host+ data directory it will determine if any name given by a new user is acceptable. (See Security and Legal) *.ANS These files are the BBS ANSI graphics files you create. You may make a LOGON, NEWUSER, BBSINFO, NEWS, and LOGOFF file. (See Customizing Host+) Telix v3.5x - Host+ Introductions 5 *.ASC These are the ASCII versions of the ANSI graphics files you created. Have these made for those users who don't have ANSI available to them. HPLOGON.SLC If this compiled Salt file exists in your Telix Script Directory, Host+ will run the script during the logon process just before the prompt for message check. This script may call a quote of the day program, message to next caller door, or whatever your script writing abilities permits. Telix v3.5x - Host+ Getting Started 7 2. Getting Started 2.1 Installing Host+ ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── The proper way to run Host+ is to either have your Telix directory listed in your DOS path statement or listed as an environment variable (SET TELIX=C:\TELIX\) in your AUTOEXEC.BAT. Make these changes and reboot your computer. If you have made the changes above, place the files HINSTALL.EXE and HOSTPLUS.DAT in any directory on your hard drive and run HINSTALL. If not, place the files in the directory that holds TELIX.EXE and run HINSTALL. HINSTALL will ask you if you wish \TELIX\HOST to be the directory where Host+ will keep its data files. If you want to change this do it now. HINSTALL will then expand and place the different files into their correct directories. If HINSTALL finds any data files from previous versions of HOST+ (Formerly Host Software Products' Host3, versions 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, or 5.0) it will convert them. It will then place the newly converted data files into the data directory. It will ask if you want to delete the old files that are no longer needed by Host+ before deleting. HINSTALL will not bother any key DOS files like CONFIG.SYS or AUTOEXEC.BAT. If you are upgrading from a previous version of Host+ from Host Software Products, you will need to repack all the message, file, and user data bases when you first start Host+. To do this, press Alt-F at the opening menu of Host+. Then press F6 to pack all bases. Should there be a problem in the conversion, you can run HPREPAIR.EXE to fix the database. Following the installation process, you may erase HINSTALL.EXE and HOSTPLUS.DAT. Configuration and customization of Host+ require that Host+ be loaded and running. To load and run Host+, type Alt-G from within Telix's terminal mode and type "HostPlus" as the name of the script to execute. Host+ is now operating and waiting for a call. Before you may actually accept calls, you will want to modify some of the defaults options of the Host+ configuration. Telix v3.5x - Host+ Getting Started 8 2.2 First Time Configuration ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── From the Host+ main menu, press Alt-O for the Configuration menu. You will be presented with a long column of options. To select an option, you may either move the cursor bar to the item or press the letter of the alphabet that is listed out to the side. Here are some of the things you may want to attend to when first starting the program. You will notice that the modem picks up the line when you go into the configure menu. This is to keep Host+ from answering a call while you are working. Host+ comes configured to test archives that use the ARC, PAK, ZIP, ARJ, and LZH archive methods. Your archive programs must be found on the DOS path for this to work. If these files are not present on your system, you may obtain them from the Telix Support BBS. Under General Items you will want to put your own password in place of the word "Password". The system password allows callers who have co- sysop access to shell to DOS. It also allows the sysop to shut the system down from a remote system. You may wish to put your name in place of Sysop at selection F. If you plan to make local logons under your own name, then your name needs to go here so you will get any mail addressed to the Sysop. Under User Items, Item A asks if you want to log off new users. This is a good security practice to follow once you have your board in normal operation. It needs to be turned off now or the first test of your system with a live caller will be very, very short. User Item B sets the file ratio for your users. Putting a zero (0) means that no file ratio will be enforced. Putting any other number here means that the user will have to maintain a file ratio of uploads to downloads. For example, if you want to require that one file be sent up for each 5 files taken, then put a 5 here. User Item D sets the access level that you want new callers to have. Items E-N set how much time each access level gets on line each day. Under Upload Items, set item A to the name of the drive and directory where you want uploads to go. If you do not want to users to see the uploads that are available, set item C to the level you want. Host+ should now be ready to run under its minimal configuration. Host+ is very powerful and may be completely customized. Complete details regarding customization of all options are in this reference. First, however, you may wish to see Host+ in operation. Telix v3.5x - Host+ Getting Started 9 2.3 First Time Logon ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Now you are ready to take a peek inside of Host+. From the main menu of Host+ press Alt-L for a Local logon. You will see the prompt "Can you support ANSI color graphics?" answer with a Y and a carriage return. You will then be asked the familiar series of questions that are asked of any person logging on to a BBS for the first time. Your answers are being stored in the user database. When you are finished, you will be asked if you wish to check for messages in the message base. Press "Y" to see the display. Now you are at the main user menu. At the top of the screen will be a status line showing your name, address, access level, and password. Press Alt-Z to toggle that display. It will now show you the sysop commands that are available. (See Sysop Commands for complete description). If you left the defaults in place, you will have four minutes remaining online. Press F4 a few times and watch your access level raise on the status bar at the top of the screen. Press enter and the screen will recycle. The user display should now show that have increased time on line. Keep pressing F4 until your access level is a 9. Host+ will ask if you really want to raise to a Sysop level, say yes. Press enter to recycle the page and you will see that you have more time. You will also see the higher access menu that is available to callers with access above level 7. Now you may experiment inside the program using the list of sysop and menu commands listed on the next few pages. To shell to DOS, just press Alt-J. You may try out the message menu by leaving a test message. You may wish to add a file (see the section on adding files to Host+). When you exit the local logon, press F2 for the user editor and edit your listing to upgrade yourself to sysop level. (see The User Editor for more information). You are now ready to have someone call and log on as a remote user to test out your modem. You are also ready to add files, screens, bulletins and doors. For complete information on these functions, see Customizing Host+. Telix v3.5x - Host+ Program Features 11 3. Program Features - Sysop Online As sysop, you are in control of what happens in Host+ at all times. At the top of the screen is a status box showing what is happening in Host+. You may toggle this box on and off by pressing Alt-8. The status box will show you the name of the person on line, their city and state, password, access level, date last on the system, the baud rate, chat mode status and if the person has requested a chat in your absence. You may toggle the Status Box into a help screen by pressing Alt-Z. This will list some of the more commonly used sysop commands. 3.1 Fast Logon ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── You may skip the opening screen by entering the following information at the "Can you support ANSI?" prompt: Y{First and Last names{Password "Y" is if you can support ANSI graphics; if not, use an "N" instead. The brackets must be present with no spaces. To speed up local logons, you may create a macro that will hold all this information. See the section on Macros to find out how. 3.2 Status Box Toggle ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Alt-8: Turns the status box of Host+ on or off. Having it off will increase the size of the viewable area onscreen. 3.3 Help Screen Toggle ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Alt-Z: Allows the sysop to change between the status and help boxes. 3.4 Chat Mode Toggle ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── F1: This toggles the caller's ability to request chats. If chat is on, an alarm will sound when the user requests a chat. When chat is off, no alarm will sound and the user will be given the option of leaving a message. You may force chat on or off at any time by pressing F1. When chat is forced on, the status box at the top will show "chat on" in a different color. (See Customizing Host+ more detail on Chat Hours). Telix v3.5x - Host+ Program Features 12 3.5 User Control ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── F3: Lower Access F4: Raise Access F5: Lower Time F6: Raise Time F10: Chat with User You may temporarily lower a user's access level by pressing F3 for each level you wish to remove. The new level will only be in effect for that call only. Host+ will restore the old level at log off. You may temporarily raise a user's access level by pressing F4 for each level you wish to add. The new level will be in effect for that call only. Host+ will restore the old level at log off. You may temporarily lower the user's time on line by pressing F5 for each five minutes you wish to remove. The time you take away will be in effect the entire day. At midnight, Host+ will reset the time to normal. You may temporarily raise the user's time on line by pressing F6 for each five minutes you wish to add. The extra time you give will be available to the user for that entire day. At midnight, Host+ will reset the time to normal. Press F10 to initiate a chat with the user. You may carry on a key board conversation as long as you like without effecting the user's time on line. Press escape to exit chat. 3.6 Local shell to DOS ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Alt-J: You may shell to DOS at any time unless there is a file transfer or door running. The user will be prompted to wait while the sysop is in DOS and Host+ will not accept any user commands until you return. The user will not lose any online time while you are in DOS. 3.7 Screen Image ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Alt-I: You may capture an image of the screen to a file by pressing Alt-I (just like you do in Telix). The name of the text file is HOSTPLUS.IMG. Telix v3.5x - Host+ Program Features 13 3.8 Capture Log Access ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Alt-C: When you turn on the capture log, it will capture everything the user does to a capture file (HOSTPLUS.CAP). This capture file will become extremely large very quickly as it contains all information printed to the screen. 3.9 Hangup ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Alt-H: If you wish to terminate a call in the middle of a session, press Alt-H and the modem will hang up. Telix v3.5x - Host+ Program Features 15 4. Program Features - Sysop Offline 4.1 Local Mode ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Alt-L: This allows you to run Host+ in local mode. All the menu commands will work for you (with some exceptions, see Menu Commands below). 4.2 Configure Host+ ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Alt-O: This runs the HPCONFIG program that sets up Host+ for initial running and allows you to customize the program. See Customizing Host+ for more on this program. 4.3 User Editor ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── F2: This brings up the user editor. Note that there must be at least one user, otherwise the user editor will not work. If you have already made your local logon (see First Logon) you will have become the first user in the user database. (See The User Editor for more information). 4.4 File Compressor ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Alt-F: This will run the database files compressor (HPCOMP.EXE) for use on User, Message, and Files databases. See The Files Compressor for more information on running this program. 4.5 Text Editor ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Alt-A: This will run the Text Editor you have selected to use in Telix. If you have not selected a text editor in Telix, this command will not work. 4.6 Exit Host+ ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Alt-X: This allows you to Exit Host+ back to Telix. Telix v3.5x - Host+ User Commands 17 5. User Commands 5.1 Access Levels ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── There are two sets of menus in Host+: Lower and Higher access menus. Users with access levels of 0-6 will see lower access screens for Main Menu, and Files Menu. Access levels of 7-9 will be shown the higher access menus for Main Menu and Files Menu. The Message Menu is the same for all levels. Registered Users of Host+ will receive the HPMENUS program. It allows you to draw your own menus and set the access level to any menu function. You may also change the letter that starts any function, and add three external functions. See the section on Registered Programs. 5.2 Message System ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── The (M)essage System option opens the Message Base menu for users with access levels 0 and higher. Here is the listing of all user commands under the Message System menu. (A)rea This will show the list of message areas you have defined for Host+ and allow the user to choose one. For more information on setting up multiple message areas, see Customizing Host+ (R)ead This shows the user a list of commands to use when reading the message base. (A)gain : Read current message again. (N)ext : Read next message. (P)revious : Read previous message. (R)eply : Reply to current message. (K)ill : Kill current message (allowed only to the sender, receiver, or level 9 user). (Q)uit : Quit reading messages. The user may jump ahead or go back in the message base by entering the number of the message they wish to access. For instance, if there are 112 messages in the base and you are at #1, you can enter 112 and go to the last message. Then you can press "P" for previous and read the messages in reverse order. (W)rite Message Telix v3.5x - Host+ User Commands 18 This allows the user to write a message to another user (either Public or Private). How to Write Messages or Reply to Messages Writing new messages or replying to existing messages calls the editor in Host+. Here is the step by step listing of functions: Name Host+ will first ask for the name of the person you are writing. To abort the message at this point, just press a carriage return. Sysops may leave global messages that will appear with the user's name instead of "all" by entering @user. Title Host+ will next ask for the title (or subject) of your message. To abort at this point, press a carriage return and the message will abort. (P)ublic or (R)eceiver If you want the message to be private, press "R" for receiver only. Level 9 users (sysop) may read all messages. You may wish to post this information to your users. Full Screen Editor You are given three options for entering messages: Full Screen Editor, Line Editor, and Upload message. Uploaded Messages If you wish to upload a prepared message, press "U" for upload. Local logons will be asked for the path and name of the file on the hard drive. On-line users will be asked to upload the message using an ASCII upload. Line Editor If you do not want the full screen editor, press "N" for the line editor. You can then enter your message line by line. You may only edit a line when you are on it. Once you have entered the line, it cannot be edited. Pressing enter twice will give you a menu with the following options: (A)bort : Kill the message (S)ave : Save the message (R)edraw : Redraws the screen (C)ontinue : Continues the message at the point you left off (O)riginal : Allows you to quote the message to which you are replying. Telix v3.5x - Host+ User Commands 19 Pressing "O" will cause the original message to be displayed with line numbers to the left. You will be asked what line number to start for the quote. When you enter that number, you will be asked for the line number to end the quote. If you want the whole message, press enter. Full Screen Editor Press "Y" for the Full Screen Editor. This allows you to move about the message editing and writing as you wish. Press Ctrl-Z at any time to get a help screen displayed with the following information: ^D Move one char left ^F Move one character right ^R Move one line up ^C Move one line down ^E Line beginning ^X Line ending ^Y Delete Line ^V Overtype/Insert Mode ^T Redraw Screen ^O Original (quoting) You may also use the cursor keys, the backspace, home, end, delete, page up and down if you are using a 101 key enhanced keyboard. Ctrl-O will call up the original message on the screen. You may select to quote the whole message and then edit the quote on screen using your cursor controls. Otherwise, you can just quote the portion you want by telling Host+ what lines to include. Pressing <ESC> will call up a menu along the bottom of the screen with the following options (just like the line editor): (A)bort : Kill the message (S)ave : Save the message (R)edraw : Redraws the screen (C)ontinue : Continues a message at the point you left off (O)riginal : Allows you to quote the message to which you are replying. (Q)uit to Main Menu This allows the user to go back to the main menu. 5.3 File System ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── The (F)ile System option opens the File Base menu for users with access levels 1 or higher. The following file commands are available to users of the file menu. Differences in access levels are explained. (A)rea Telix v3.5x - Host+ User Commands 20 This will show the list of file areas you have defined for Host+ and allow the user to choose one. For more information on setting up multiple file bases, see Customizing Host+. This command is available to all users. (F)iles List This shows the user a listing of the files that are available for users at their level. The list includes file name, file size, file date, and a two line description of the file. (X)tended File list This allows the user to see an expanded listing of the files available that includes the all the information listed above plus the approximate time for the transfer and the name of the person who uploaded the file. (U)pload Allows user to upload a file (if not already in the file database) to the system. The user may use any protocol (except for Bimodem) that has been defined in Telix. The user will be asked for the name of the file. They do have to include the file extension (ZIP, ARC, PAK, LZH, and etc). If they have not defined a protocol as their default (see main menu (Y)our defaults), they will be shown a list of protocols available and asked to choose one. Local uploads inside Host+ are available to the sysop. See Adding Files to Host+. (D)ownload Lets the user Download files from Host+. If you have specified it in HPCONFIG, Level 1 users may only download a specified limit. (see Customizing Host+) ) The user will be asked for the name of the file. The default file extension is .ZIP. If they have not defined a protocol as their default (see main menu (Y)our defaults), they will be shown a list of protocols available and asked to choose one. They will then be asked if they wish to hang up after the transfer. Higher access users (above level 6) may download any file on any drive. This makes it easy to send a file that is not in the file database to a user. Just temporarily upgrade them to a level 7 or 8 and type in the full drive and path to the file. (V)iew Archive Lets the user look inside the archive file to see the list of all compressed files and technical data. Higher Level Access users may Telix v3.5x - Host+ User Commands 21 view any file on the system. Lower Level Access users may only view those files in the file listings. (E)xtract Archive Lets the user extract files from an archive. The user is first asked for the name of the archive. Then they are asked if Host+ needs to show the list of files in the archive. The file is then extracted from the archive and zipped (using PKZIP), into a temporary file called TEMPARC.ZIP. The user is given the filename for downloading. The file is deleted when the user hangs up. Higher Level Access users may extract any file on the system. Lower Level Access users may only extract those files in the file listings. (S)how a Directory Listing (Higher Access Only) Allows user to do a listing of the files in any directory on any drive. For instance, "\telix\*.cap" would show all the capture files in the telix directory. Pressing enter at the directory prompt will give you the file list for the upload directory. (C)hange File (Higher Access Only) This option allows the sysop to manually change the file information in the database. (see Adding Files to Host+) (R)emove File (Higher Access Only) This option allows the sysop to remove a file from the database. It also allows the sysop to erase the file from the drive. (see Adding Files to Host+) (Q)uit to Main Menu This allows the user to go back to the main menu. 5.4 Page the Sysop ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── The (P)age Sysop option will, if chat is on, ring a bell to alert you that the user wants to chat. If chat is off, it will show a message saying that you are not available and give them the option of leaving a private message. To answer a page, press the space bar and the chat screen will come up. 5.5 Bulletin Listings ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── The (B)ulletin listings option sends the user to a list of bulletins they can select to view. Telix v3.5x - Host+ User Commands 22 5.6 Your Settings ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── (Y)our Settings lets the user change their address, city, zip, state, choose a default protocol, turn the pause function on or off, enable disable ANSI, change password and change colors. 5.7 Comment to Sysop ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── (C)omments To Sysop will allow the user to write a private message to the "Sysop" (If you have defined your name in place of the Sysop it will be sent to you. See either Start Up Configuration or Customizing Host+ (Section: General Options, Comments Sent To). 5.8 Expert Mode ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── The (X)pert function allows the user to change their expertise level, to one of three levels: Novice Gives a menu of commands. Intermediate Gives command letters on the input line. Expert No help whatsoever! 5.9 Run a Door ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Run (D)oors sends the caller to a list of the doors that are available to users in their access level. They select the door to run from that list. 5.10 Goodbye (Logoff) ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── (G)oodbye logs off the user from the system. 5.11 System Log ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── System (L)og shows the user the daily usage log. Ctrl-P will pause the display, and Ctrl-X will abort. The user may also select to continue or abort at the "(Y/n):" prompt. This command is only available from the higher access menus. Telix v3.5x - Host+ User Commands 23 5.12 Shell to DOS ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── (S)hell to DOS lets the user shell to DOS. They will be prompted for the system password. If they fail to enter it, they will not be allowed to shell. Host+ will either use CTTY or DOORWAY.EXE to control the shell to DOS. IMPORTANT! There is no way for Host+ to check on the status of the carrier. If the carrier is lost while a user is in DOS (via remote) then the system will hang!. The only solution if this happens is to reboot the computer. You may avoid this problem by using the shareware program DOORWAY.EXE (see Using Marshall Dudley's Doorway). 5.13 Shut down Host+ ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── The (Z) command is not listed on the menu, and is available only to level 9 users from the main menu. It allows the system to be shut down by remote. The user will be prompted for the system password. If they fail to give it, the program will continue running. Telix v3.5x - Host+ Customizing Host+ 25 6. Customizing Host+ Host+ allows you to customize its operations in many ways by running HPCONFIG by pressing Alt-O from the main menu. You can add bulletins, different archive programs, doors, multiple conferences, and more. The following is a listing of the configuration menu and how to customize each item. When you have changed an item in the configuration, remember to press "X" at the main config menu to save your changes. 6.1 Configuring the Modem ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── A Modem Answer String This is the string which is sent to the modem when a RING is detected. The default is "ATA^M" and should work for most modems. If it does not work for your modem try turning on Modem Auto Answer Mode. B Answer On Ring Number This allows you to determine how many rings Host+ will wait before answering an incoming call. You may choose from 1 to 9 rings. The default is set for 1 ring. C Modem Pickup String This is the string which is sent to the modem when going offhook (in conjunction with Pickup Modem in Local and Utils). This string "ATM0H1^M" will make the modem pickup the line. D Pickup Modem In Local This option decides if Host+ will pickup the phone (go offhook) when doing a local log on. Having this turned on would cause any callers to get a busy signal when you are in the local mode. E Pickup Modem In Utils This option decides if Host+ should pickup the phone (go offhook) when running any of the utility programs. Some modems may go offhook and leave the speaker on. The M0 command turns off the speaker on most modems. If your speaker is left on, check your manual for the proper command. F Modem Auto Answer Mode Telix v3.5x - Host+ Customizing Host+ 26 This option uses your modem's Auto Answer Mode instead of letting Host+ answer the incoming call. The default is set to Off and should only be changed to On if Host+ is unable to answer incoming calls. 6.2 Configuring the Colors ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── This option allows you to configure the color of each screen element used on the Sysop side in Host+. You control the colors for boxes, help and titles, options, highlights, items, Sysop Chat, and User Chat. Select the item you wish to change and you will be shown a color palette box. Use the Cursor keys to move to the color selection you desire. As you move the cursor, the screen element you are changing will change colors on screen. When you find the color you like, press enter. You may go back to the Default Colors that came with Host+ by pressing "H" for "Use default colors". You may also set Host+ to work in monochrome by pressing "I" for "Use Black & White color". 6.3 Configuring Bulletins ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── You may create Bulletin screens to be viewed by users. Use this section for news, board policies, game door standings, and any number of things. Bulletins may be in either ASCII or ANSI formats. A Add a Bulletin When you press "A", HPCONFIG will prompt you to input the full path and filename of the bulletin file. If you had the file BULL1.ANS in the C:\TELIX\BLTS directory you would input C:\TELIX\BLTS\BULL1.ANS as the filename. Once you have input the filename press Enter. You may abort the process by pressing Escape at any time. Now HPCONFIG will ask for the description you want shown to the user when they view the bulletin list. Put a brief description of the bulletin here. Next HPCONFIG will ask for the access level of the bulletin. If you wish to limit the users who may view that specific bulletin, then you would put that access code here. If you want it available to all, put in a 0. The bulletin is now in the system and available to be seen by users. B Delete a Bulletin Telix v3.5x - Host+ Customizing Host+ 27 When you press "B" you will be asked for the number of the bulletin you wish to delete. It will then ask you to confirm the deletion with a Y/N prompt. When you answer "Y", the bulletin will be removed from Host+. The program will not remove the bulletin file from your drive. You will have to do that yourself in DOS. C Edit a Bulletin If you want to come back and make changes in an entry, you may do that here. The program will take you through each of the options (filename, description, and access) and ask what you want to change. To abort the process just press Escape. D Jump to a Bulletin This option will allow you to jump to specific bulletin by entering its number. X Exit To Main Menu This option will exit you back to the Main configuration menu. Remember to press "X" at the Main configuration menu to save your changes to disk. 6.4 Configuring Doors ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── A door is when a user is allowed to exit Host+ and run another program on your computer. It is as if a door is opened from Host+ allowing the user access to other parts of your computer. There are many doors available in the BBS world that do a multitude of things: Playing games, voting on questions, viewing ANSI screens, storing time, and so forth. In addition, there are door programs like Marshall Dudley's DOORWAY.EXE that allow users to run IBM character based business programs like spreadsheets, word processors, or databases. Host+ will accept four types of program files: EXE, COM, BAT, and Telix's SALT SLC. It directly supports door programs written for PCBoard 14.x, GAP, QBBS, RBBS, and Remote Access BBS programs. It will also support Marshall Dudley's DOORWAY program. Setting up doors require some patience because there is no standard way of installing a door. You have to figure out how to install a door and then configure it with HPCONFIG. In Appendix "A" are outlined several examples of door installations. You may also get help from a local sysop who has doors on his board and has undergone the same process. Once you have followed the door's installation procedure you are ready to configure the door for Host+. Be sure to write down any command Telix v3.5x - Host+ Customizing Host+ 28 line switches that you will need to start the program because you will asked to supply them to HPCONFIG. A Add a Door Once you press "A" HPCONFIG will prompt you for the full path and filename to the door program. For instance, a game door called GOLF.EXE in the \DOOR\GAME directory would be entered as: C:\DOOR\GAME\GOLF.EXE When you have input the filename press Enter. HPCONFIG will next ask you for the command line. If you need to pass parameters to the program put it here. For instance, GOLF.EXE requires the name of its configuration file called GOLF.CFG to run. You would put GOLF.CFG on the command line. There are system variables that you can place on the command line to pass current information to your door program: %C Comm Port Number : Current Comm Port Number %P Port Address : Current Comm Port Address %I IRQ Line : Current Comm Port IRQ %B Baud Rate : Current Baud Rate %D DTE Rate : Current DTE Rate %M Minutes Left : Minutes User Has Left %S Seconds Left : Seconds User Has Left %L Location Of File(s) : Location the Door When finished with the command line (or if there were not any parameters needed) press Enter. Now HPCONFIG will ask for the description you want shown to the user in the list of available doors. Put a brief description of the door here. Next HPCONFIG will ask for the access level you wish the door to have. If you wish to limit the users who may operate that specific door then you would put that access code here. If you want it available to all, put in a 0. The last thing HPCONFIG will ask is what (if any) converter is needed for the door. Each BBS door program requires its own special system file. QBBS/RBBS doors need DORINFO1.DEF, PCBoard 14.x requires PCBOARD.SYS, Gap and Doorway want DOOR.SYS, and so forth. Host+ writes its own system file (called HOSTDOOR.SYS) and then converts it to match the BBS program you chose. It will then write this system file into the directory with the door's program file. In our example above, it would write the file into the C:\DOOR\GAME directory. Telix v3.5x - Host+ Customizing Host+ 29 If the door is written for Host+ or does not require a system file then choose the "No Converter" option. Once you are through with configuring the door, remember to save your changes by pressing "X" at the Main configuration menu. You will then want to log on to Host+ in local mode and test the door out. You are configuring two programs at once (the door and the bbs) so, be prepared to repeat the process. If you have made a mistake you can easily edit the information by choosing the "Edit a Door" option. If it still doesn't work check to make sure you have installed the door correctly. B Delete a Door When you press "B" you will be asked for the number of the door you wish to delete. It will then ask you to confirm the deletion with a Y/N prompt. When you answer "Y", the door will be removed from Host+. The program will not remove the door's program files from your drive. You will have to do that yourself in DOS. C Edit a Door If you wish to come back and make changes in an entry you can do that here. The program will take you through each of the options (filename, description, access, and converter) and ask what you want to change. D Jump to a Door This option will allow you to jump to specific door entry. X Exit To Main Menu This option will exit you back to the Main configuration menu. Remember to press "X" at the Main configuration menu to save your changes to disk. Telix v3.5x - Host+ Customizing Host+ 30 6.5 Configuring Archives ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── When a user uploads a file, you will want to test the archive to make sure that it has arrived in good condition. Host+ also allows users to view archives and extract files from archives while on line. Host+ comes configured to work with ZIP, PAK, ARC, LZH, and ARJ archives. If your favorite archive program is not on the list, you may add it here. Host+ will accept up to 10 archives at one time. Before adding an archive program not covered by Host+, you will need to know the three letter file extension that the program uses for the files it has compressed. You will also need the View, Extract, and Test commands for the program. To add an archive program, place the scroll bar (using Up/Down arrow keys) on an open line and press return. HPCONFIG will then allow you to edit each of the options in turn. Pressing Escape will allow you to keep that option unchanged. Below is a list of the five options: Extension : This is the acceptable extension for this archive. Program name : This is the file to run to work with this archive; note that the file must be in your path. Test Line : This is the command line sent to the file (Program) in order to run a test on the archives. View Line : This is the command line sent to the file (Program) in order to view the files in the archives. Extract Line : This is the command line sent to the file (Program) in order to extract files from the archives. Test Uploaded Archives Host+ will test the archives of newly uploaded files. In most cases, this switch should be left on. Delete Bad Archives If a file fails the archive test, Host+ will delete it. Choosing to turn this function Off will cause the file added to the database as a private upload to the sysop. The database will carry a warning message for the sysop about the failed test. External Script Telix v3.5x - Host+ Customizing Host+ 31 You may substitute your own archive testing program for Host+'s internal routines. This program has to be called by a script. See Appendix D for a script outline. 6.6 Configuring Macros ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── You may redefine any key in Host+. The keys used by Host+ may be reassigned to any other key by using the following Keywords: Macro Keywords Default Key $TOGGLECHAT F1 $USEREDIT F2 $LOWERACCESS F3 $RAISEACCESS F4 $TOGGLESTATUS ALT-8 $CHATMODE F10 $EXITHOST ALT-X $DOSSHELL ALT-J $TEXTEDIT ALT-A $HOSTCONFIG ALT-O $HOSTHELP ALT-Z $HANGUP ALT-H $FILECOMPRESS ALT-F $LOCALMODE ALT-L $LOWERTIME F5 $RAISETIME F6 $SCREENIMAGE ALT-I $CAPTURELOG ALT-C Display Key When you press "A" HPCONFIG will ask you to press any key you wish to have displayed. If a macro is assigned to that key, it will be displayed. If not, there will be a no macro assigned message that will let you know that the key is available to store a macro. Edit Key When you press "B" HPCONFIG will then ask you to press the key combination you wish to edit. Enter the information you wish the key combination to carry and then press Enter. Note that only ASCII characters (no ALT keys) may be used in macro's. Control characters may be used by placing a carat "^" in front of the character. For example, a Return would be "^M", a tab is "^I" etc. To save any macros you have made, choose the Save Macros option by pressing "X". Telix v3.5x - Host+ Customizing Host+ 32 Since you will be doing many local logons to test different parts of Host+, here is a simple macro that will speed up the process using Host+'s Quick Logon feature. Press "B" for edit, and then press Alt-1. Then enter the following combination: y{Your Name{your password^M For example: y{Jeff Woods{Hello^M Save the macro by pressing "X". The next time you make a local logon, press Alt-L for the logon and then press Alt-1. Host+ will print out the quick logon and then skip the opening screen to take you directly into the program. The Quick Logon feature may be used by any user. It is used it here to give you a working example of a macro. 6.7 Configuring Events ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Host+ will stop and run any program you choose at any time of your choosing. This is called a timed event. Up to 5 different events can be programmed to be run by Host+. You may use any program with an extension of EXE, COM, BAT, or SLC. In addition, there are two internal programs that can be run as events: EXITHOST and EXITTELIX. EXITHOST will exit Host+ back into Telix. EXITTELIX will exit Host+, exit Telix and return to DOS. Persons who use Host+ with FrontDoor will have to be careful with event scheduling. Call the Telix Support BBS for special documentation on attaching FrontDoor. The easiest way to learn how to configure events is to configure "EXITTELIX". Set it up to run and watch Host+ return to DOS. There are some sample event programs and batch files listed in Appendix B. Configure Event HPCONFIG will first ask for the time you wish the event to occur. Host+ will either want time entered in 24 hour (military) or 12 hour time depending on the format you have set in Telix. (In Telix see: Alt-O, General Settings, Section L: Time Format) To make an event happen each time a user logs off the system, type in the word "EVERY" instead of an actual time. Press Enter to move to the next topic or press Escape to abort. You will then be asked if you want the event to be sliding. A sliding event waits for the user to complete their call before the event is Telix v3.5x - Host+ Customizing Host+ 33 run. A non-sliding event occurs exactly at the time you specify. If a caller is on line when a non-sliding event is due to occur, Host+ notifies them that their time is being shortened due to the event. Host+ will hang up on them just before the event is due to occur. Next you will be prompted for the program name. Enter the full syntax for the program file and any parameters that need to be passed to the program. For instance, C:\BATCH\EVENT.BAT <argument>. Press Enter and your event will be logged. Press "X" to exit to the main menu. Remember to save your changes to disk. 6.8 Configuring User Options ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── A Log Off New Users The default (on) will log off all new users after they finish filling out the questionnaire. Turn off this switch to give access to all users on first call. B Number Of Downloads This is the ratio of downloads to uploads that a user must maintain. For example, if you wish users to maintain a 5:1 files ratio, place a 5 here. If you set the number to a '0', then there will be no upload/download ratio enforced. C Access 1 Download Limit This is the limit (in Kilobytes) that users with access level 1 may download per logon. This does not effect the other user levels. D New User Access Level Here you can choose the access level that you will give to new users to your system. If you are logging off new users, your choice should be "0". E Time per access level 0 This is the amount of time you allow level 0 users to have on the board. This should be set at 0 if you are hanging up after the initial questionnaire is filled out. The old default on Host44 from Host Software Products was 4 minutes. F-N Time per access level 1-9 Telix v3.5x - Host+ Customizing Host+ 34 Here you may set the number of on line minutes allotted to each access level. The defaults are set in 10 minute increments, but you may choose any time limits you like. X Exit To Main Menu This option will exit you back to the Main configuration menu. Remember to press "X" at the Main configuration menu to save your changes to disk. 6.9 Configuring the File Bases ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── You have one default file base called the Main File Base. You can add an additional 9 bases in the shareware version and 999 bases in the registered version. The shareware version can hold up to 99 files per base while the registered version allows 999. A file base is a data base of files available on your system. The files for a certain database do not have to be placed in the same drive or directory; however, doing so will keep things organized. A Add a File Base When you press "A" you will be asked to name the new files base. Type in the name and press Enter. You will then be asked what level of users will be allowed access to that files base. If all, enter 1, otherwise enter the access level you desire. Default menus do not allow users with an access level of 0 to go to the files base. B Delete a File Base When you press "B" you will be prompted for the name of the files base to delete. You then will be requested to confirm the deletion. Please note that the files in that data base are not removed from your drive by this operation. You will have to do that using DOS or a DOS shell. C Edit a File Base If you wish to come back and make changes in an entry later you can do that here. Press "C" and you will be allowed to edit the information. D Jump to a File Base This option will allow you to jump to specific file base entry. X Exit To Main Menu Telix v3.5x - Host+ Customizing Host+ 35 This option will exit you back to the Main configuration menu. Remember to press "X" at the Main configuration menu to save your changes to disk. 6.10 Configuring the Message Areas ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── You have one default message base called the Main Message Base. You may add an additional 9 bases in the shareware version and 999 bases in the registered version. The shareware version will hold 90 messages while the registered version will hold 29,999 messages. A message base is a data base that tracks messages that are available to be read on your system. A Add a Message Base When you press "A" HPCONFIG will ask for a description. Enter here the name of the new message base and press Enter. You will then be asked for the access level to the message base. If you want all users to have access to the messages, enter 1. Otherwise, enter the access level you desire and press Enter. Access level 0 users are not allowed into the message bases by the default menus. You will then be asked if you want to echo the messages. An echo is when you send messages written on your system to another system or a network of systems. Host+ has been written to be compatible with echo networks like FidoNet, RIME, ILink, etc. The required UTI (Universal Text Interface) programs to allow Host+ to interface with networks will be released as separate programs and will be available from the Telix Support BBS. When you are set up for echoes, press "Y" otherwise enter "N" for no and press Enter. B Delete a Message Base When you press "B" HPCONFIG will ask for the number of the message base to be deleted. Enter the number and you will be prompted to confirm the deletion. The messages in that message base will be deleted from your hard drive. C Edit a Message Base If you wish to edit the name, access, or echo flag of a message base, press "C" and you will be presented with those choices for changing. D Jump to a Message Base This option will allow you to jump to specific message base entry. Telix v3.5x - Host+ Customizing Host+ 36 X Exit To Main Menu This option will exit you back to the Main configuration menu. Remember to press "X" at the Main configuration menu to save your changes to disk. 6.11 Configuring the Upload Items ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── A Host Upload Directory Press "A" and HPCONFIG will ask for the full path name to the drive and directory where uploaded files from users will be stored. For example, C:\TELIX\UPLOADS. It is a good idea to set aside a directory just for uploads to ease the process of scanning the files for virus and processing. Registered Users can use HPFEDIT (files editor) to later move the files from the upload directory to another files base and directory. Shareware Users will have to make the transfer manually (See Manually Adding Files) B Upload File Base Press "B" and HPCONFIG will ask for the number of the files base where you wish Uploads to be listed. Shareware Users should enter a 0. This adds uploaded files to the file database where the user is located at the time of the upload. For a complete discussion of this, see Manually Adding Files under the heading Adding Files to Host+. Registered users can follow the common BBS practice of having a separate file base for new uploads. Enter an unused number for the Uploads Data Base. Use the Files Editor to move files from the upload file base to other bases. (See Registered Programs). C Level of Uploads This is the access level to which a file is set when uploaded by a user. If set to a 1 then all access levels will be able to see newly uploaded files. If you want to limit access to new uploads, set this level to a higher number. X Exit To Main Menu This option will exit you back to the Main configuration menu. Remember to press "X" at the Main configuration menu to save your changes to disk. 6.12 Configuring General Info ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── A System Password Telix v3.5x - Host+ Customizing Host+ 37 This is the password that allows the sysop to shell to DOS and do a system shutdown when calling in from a remote. Pick a good password and don't give it to anyone! B Screen Blank Time Limit This option allows you to set the number of minutes Host+ will wait before blanking the main call screen. C Time Chat is to come on This is the time that you would like the "Chatting Times" to start. Chat will come on at this time. (Chat may also be forced on or forced off at any time by pressing F1). When you press "C" you will be prompted for the time you wish this function to be enabled. The time format will depend on how you have time set in Telix. Telix may be configured for 24 hour (military) time or 12 hour time. D Time Chat is to go off This is the time that you would like the "Chatting Times" to end. When you press "D" you will be prompted for the time you wish chat to end. E User Logon Alarm If you would like an alarm to sound when someone logs on to your system, choose On. If you like to sleep at night, choose Off. F User Comments Sent To This is the name of the person who will receive any user comments. The default is Sysop. Changing this to your name will allow you to logon to the board using your name and receive the comments. If you leave the setting at the default, then you will have to log on to Host+ under the name of Sysop in order to read user comments. G DOORWAY Command Line This is the command line string sent to DOORWAY.EXE (if used) when a user does a online shell to DOS. Note that the option can contain any of the System Variables. See Appendix B, System Variables for more information. This default setting will work fine for simple shells to DOS. (See Using Doorway) H Telix Config File This option contains the name of the TELIX configuration file being used. This should be changed only if you are using Host+ with a separate Telix configuration file. Since Host+ uses information found in the file it is important that this is set correctly. Telix v3.5x - Host+ Customizing Host+ 38 X Exit To Main Menu This option will exit you back to the Main configuration menu. Remember to press "X" at the Main configuration menu to save your changes to disk. 6.13 Configuring BBS Data ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── This is where you enter information about the BBS you will create. The information will be used by Host+ and any QWK mail packet door that you use. A BBS Name The name of your BBS (40 character limit) B BBS Telephone The phone number of your BBS C BBS City/State The Location of your BBS D BBS Net/Node Your QWK door ID for hookup with E-mail networks E BBS Sysop Name Your Name 6.14 Restoring and Saving Configs ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Reset Default Options If chosen this option will reset all of the configuration options to their original default values. Save changes to disk After you have finished making your changes in HPCONFIG, press "X" to save those changes to disk before exiting the program. Exit Config Program Press "Z" to leave HPCONFIG. Make sure you save your changes before exiting. "Z" will not save changes by itself. Telix v3.5x - Host+ Customizing Host+ 39 6.15 Creating Colorful Screens ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── You can create colorful screens for use in Host+ by using TheDraw or other ANSI drawing programs. You can greet the user at Logon, give the latest news, greet new users with the board policies, and say goodbye. You need to follow the following guidelines when making screens: Input Buffer The input buffer for these files is set at 255 characters per line. Screen writes will be smoother if the input buffer is evenly divisible by 80. (E.G. 80, 160, or 240.) This is because most screens are 80 columns wide. A buffer of 240 writes fairly quickly even on XT machines. Screen Size You really don't have all 25 lines of the screen available to you. It is best to draw your screen from Line 2 Column 2 to Line 21 column 79. Line 25 is taken up by most comm program's status line. Lines 23 and 24 holds the prompts for the next action. The last column sometimes holds screen information that would interfere with your graphic. Block save your screen from position 1,1 to 21,80 and it should work perfectly. ANSI/ASCII Save your screens in both ANSI and ASCII. This way users who do not have ANSI enabled may still see a screen. The File Names Use the following file names for your screens and place them in your \TELIX\HOST directory. Note that *.ANS files are ANSI and *.ASC files are ASCII: LOGON This file is displayed when a user logs on the system. NEWS This file is displayed after the user has logged on the system for the first time each day. See The NEWS.* File for tips on making this file. BBSINFO This file is displayed every time the user logs on to the system. It follows the news screen and may be used for any number of things. LOGOFF This file is displayed when the user logs off the system. Telix v3.5x - Host+ Customizing Host+ 40 NEWUSER This file is displayed to all new users. Its a good idea to put board policies here. Examples: LOGON.ANS, NEWS.ASC, NEWS.ANS, or LOGOFF.ASC. The NEWS.* File The news file may be made in an ASCII editor. If you want color, you may construct separate pages in TheDraw and then concatenate the files using DOS's copy command. (e.g. COPY FILE1 + FILE2 NEWS.ANS). The easiest method is using a program written for BBS's that construct bulletin screens. One well known program of this type is FLASH30 by Qsoft. News files may be made many pages long. Host+ will pause the screen after a page of lines has been sent and wait for the user to ask Yes or No before proceeding. Global Variables Host+ has several global variables that may be inserted into any user created screen, bulletin, or message. Global variables are preceded by the "at" symbol (@). The three text variables are: @user displays the current user's full name @frst displays the current user's first name @mins displays the current user's number of minutes remaining online There are also six global color codes based on the colors set by the user in the Your Defaults area: @C1 : Displays the first color defined by the user @C2 : Displays the second color defined by the user @C3 : Displays the third color defined by the user @C4 : Displays the fourth color defined by the user @C5 : Displays the fifth color defined by the user @C6 : Displays the sixth color defined by the user For example: @C1Would display this line of text in color. In making your design, you should realize that anything positioned to the right of a text variable will change position depending upon the number of characters that replace the variable. For instance, "Tristin Andrew" uses many more character spaces than "Joe Blow", so the line of text would look differently for each. This is how the lines of text would look: @user the Global Variable Joe Blow the Global Variable Telix v3.5x - Host+ Customizing Host+ 41 Tristin Andrew the Global Variable You can experiment with these variables in the message base. Just write a message using the global variables, save it, and read the message. Note that the color variables are for use on ANSI screens only. You will need to edit them out of ASCII versions of the same screen because the codes can be seen by ASCII viewers. Users of the registered HPMENUS.EXE program should use their ANSI editor for colors and not color variables as ASCII versions of the menu are created by the program and would display the codes to ASCII users. Telix v3.5x - Host+ File Management 43 7. Adding Files to Host+ A files data base is a collection of information about files available to your users. You may define up to 10 files data bases in the shareware version and 999 files data bases in the registered version. In addition, you are limited to 99 files per files base in the shareware version and 999 files in the registered version. Its possible to have both A:\FILE1.ZIP and C:\TELIX\UPLOAD\FILE2.ZIP in the same files database; however, it is a good idea to group your files together in one directory and database if you plan to offer a lot of files. You may have databases available to one set of users and not another. For instance, special files could be kept in an area defined for access level 6 and above. Users below level 6 would never see the area from the menu. (See Customizing Host+) You may also set access levels for each file. A file with access level 6 could be in the same files database with a file set at access level 0. A user with an access level of 5 would not see the access 6 file. Files may be password protected so that only special users can get a certain file. Host+'s ADDFILES.EXE program will allow you to add files to any database while off line. You may also add files manually while in local logon mode. Registered Users can easily edit database entries off line with the Files Editor. 7.1 Adding Files with ADDFILES.EXE ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── ADDFILES.EXE allows you add files from any drive or directory to any files database. You view all files available and tag the ones you want added. ADDFILES.EXE should be in your Telix directory. If the Telix directory is in your DOS path statement, ADDFILES.EXE may be run from any directory. Otherwise, you will have to start the program from the Telix directory each time. This external program should not be run when shelled to DOS from a local logon of Host+. Choosing the Drive and Directory Addfiles opens with a window on the left side of the screen that shows all of the files and sub-directories located in your current directory. To change directories, move the cursor bar to the directory you want and press the enter key or use the left button of your mouse. To change drives, press F2, and you will be presented with a prompt for the name of the drive. Telix v3.5x - Host+ File Management 44 Choosing Files Once you are in the proper drive and directory, move the cursor bar to the file you want to add and press the spacebar or the right button of the mouse. A check (√) will appear next to the file. Move through the directory checking all the files you want. You may change drives and directories anytime during this process and Addfiles will remember all file tags. Adding Files When you have tagged all the files you wish to add, press F1 to begin adding files. You will be presented with a new screen and menu. The bottom half of the menu is for entering information about the file. The top half of the menu lists your menu choices and the current data base. Be sure you are in the right file data base before you starting saving files. It is not easy to correct an addition to the wrong database if you don't have a copy of the Files Editor. F3 Change Current File Base Press F3 and you will be presented with a window to change the database by entering the database's number. If you do not remember the number of the database, press F1 at this window and a listing of the files databases will be presented to you. You may change data bases at any time in your Addfiles session. Here is the information you are asked to provide ADDFILES.EXE on each file: File Name This is the complete drive, path, and filename of the file. It should already be in place. File Description You are given two lines to describe what the files does. File Uploader This defaults to sysop. You may change the name to any name you wish. File Access This is the access you wish the file to have. If you want all users to have access to the file, enter "1". File Password If you want the file protected by a password, enter that word here. Telix v3.5x - Host+ File Management 45 File Date Addfiles will put today's date in this field. You can change it if you wish. F1 Add file to the data base Once you have entered all the information about the file, double check it to make sure it is correct. Make sure you are adding it to the correct database. Press F1 to save this data to the database and advance to the next file. When you have saved all the files you had checked, ADDFILES will return you to the opening menu. Once the data is saved, you can change your entries by making a local logon and using (C)hange File from the files menu (See Manually Changing Files). Registered users can use the wonderful Files Editor. F2 Skip to next file Pressing F2 will skip to the next file that you have chosen to be added. You will not save the current file to disk, but ADDFILES will hold it for you during the session should you want to come back. F10 Exit Exits ADDFILES.EXE. It is possible to add files, change file listings, and remove files from any files database while in local logon. This is best used by Shareware users of Host+. Registered users have the Files Editor for these functions. SPECIAL NOTE: Shareware Users should not have a Special Upload Files Base defined or they will have problems when manually adding and moving files. Any file you manually add will go to the Upload files base and not the files base you are in at the time. For example, you are in the Main File Base and manually add FILE.ZIP. After you are through, you will *not* find the file listed in the Main File Base. It will be found in the Uploads File Base. The only way to move the file to into the Main File Base back would be to add it with ADDFILES or using the Files Editor program available to Registered Users. Simply put, if you define an Uploads Files Base, you will have to make all of your file additions with ADDFILES.EXE. You will not be able to add files manually unless you want them to be in the Uploads File Base. To move user uploads from the Upload File Base to another Base you will have to move the files out of the Upload Directory to another directory and then run ADDFILES to add the files to another file base. Telix v3.5x - Host+ File Management 46 Then run the Files Compressor on the Upload File Base with the Kill Files Not Found option. You may not wish to put up with all of this to have an Upload File Base. It is up to you. 7.2 Manually Changing Files ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── To Add A File Manually Select the file database to which you want to add files by pressing "A" for Area change. Select "U" for upload. At the prompt asking what file to upload, enter the full drive, path, and filename of the file. Entering just the filename with no path will cause Host+ to act like you are making a remote upload and ask for your protocol. If this happens, press "N" for None to abort. If you have defined a special uploads directory (not a files base, a directory), you can add files from there without entering the complete drive and path. A very simple files setup is just one directory that has been defined for uploads and holds all your host zip files. You can add multiple files to the database at one time. If you have several files to upload, just enter the drive, directory and "*.*", like so: C:\DOS\ZIPS\*.* Host+ will then process each file one at a time and prompt you for information. Testing If you have Host+ configured to test all new archive files (the default setting), Host+ will first test the archive to see if it has CRC errors. Description Host+ will ask you to supply a two line description of the file. Access level You cannot set the access level for an individual file while making a manual file addition. You have to use ADDFILES for this. Registered Users can add an access level later using the Files Editor. Password Protect Telix v3.5x - Host+ File Management 47 To require a password for the file, select yes and enter the password. To change the listing for a particular file, press "C" from the files menu and then supply the name of the file. You do not need to give the full path and name of the file as it is in the database. You will then be taken through a series of prompts asking if you wish to change the drive\path\filename of the file, the description, and the password of the file (if any). 7.3 Manually Moving/Removing Files ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── You may remove a file by pressing R from the files menu and then supplying the name of the file. Host+ will prompt you to confirm that you wish to delete the file from the data base. Answer yes and the file will be removed. You will then be given the option to erase the file from the directory on your drive. To erase the file, press y and it will be removed. To change the file to another file database you must first remove the file from the existing data base, change to another files area, and then add the file to the new file data base. You may wish to shell to DOS and physically move the file to another directory on your drive. Telix v3.5x - Host+ User Management 49 8. The User Editor After someone has logged on to your board, information about their account is stored in the user file HPUSER.DAT. To edit that information you turn to the User Editor. There are two user editors. One is available to shareware users and is located inside of HPUTILS.SLC. The other is available only to registered users and is called HPUEDIT.EXE. (See 'Registered Programs'). The following are instructions for using the shareware version: You may access the user editor in two different ways. In Host+, you can start the user editor from the sysop menu by pressing F2. In Telix, you can run the script HPUTILS.SLC and choose the user edit option. To open a new user account, the user has to logon and fill out the questionnaire. You may also make a local logon and enter the information about the user yourself. Registered users can pre- register new users with HPUEDIT.EXE. Here is how you move around the USER EDITOR: Page Down : This moves you to the next user Page Up : This moves you to the previous user. Home : This moves you to the top of the page. End : This moves you to the bottom of the page. Up Arrow : This will move you up one field. Down Arrow : This will move you down one field. To Edit A Field You may select a field to edit by either moving the cursor or by selecting the letter out to the left hand column. Press Enter to edit the field. When you are through, press Enter again. To abort the process, press Escape. To save your changes, press "X" for Save User. To exit the editor, press "Z". Be sure you have saved any changes before exiting the editor. 8.1 User Fields you Can Edit ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── User Fields you can Edit You can move around the editor screen and edit any of the following 9 fields: User's Full Name Telix v3.5x - Host+ User Management 50 This is the user's full name. When editing, be sure that you do not leave any extra spaces after the last name or Host+ will want those spaces given as part of the last name. User's Password The user fields are sensitive to open spaces. If you change a users password, be careful that there are no spaces following the password. Otherwise, the user will have to input a space following the password. User's Access Most of the time, you will be editing the new user's access level after verifying their application to the board. Just enter their new access level here and press "X" to save. User's Status Flag The three legal entries for this field are: "A" (active), "D" (delete), and "B" (blacklist). Putting a Status Flag of "D" for delete will remove the User's Account from active status. The user will be unable to logon. The file will remain visible to you in the user editor until the next time the Files Base Compressor is used. (See Files Base Compressor, below) Putting a Status Flag of "B" for blacklist will temporarily place the User's Account on inactive status until you choose to change it. User's Phone Number This is the user's phone number. User's Street Address This is the user's street address. User's Location This is the user's city and state. User's Zip This is the user's zip code. Comment About User This is a place to put in a comment. Telix v3.5x - Host+ User Management 51 8.2 User Fields you Cannot Edit ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Here is a listing of information shareware users can see but not edit. Editing of this information is limited to registered users with the program HPUEDIT.EXE. Date User Last on This shows when the user was last on Users Total Downloads Shows how many downloads the user has made Users Total Uploads This shows how many uploads the user has made ** *Users ANSI Status Shows if ANSI is turned on *Users Pause Status This shows if screen pause is activated +Users Experience Level Shows the level of menus the user has chosen (*) can be edited by the user at the Main Menu prompt (Y)our Defaults. (+) can be edited by the user at the Main Menu prompt (X)pert Menus. (**) an edit here can award a specific user more downloads or require more uploads! Telix v3.5x - Host+ Maintenance 53 9. The Files Compressor The Files Compressor (HPCOMP.EXE) should be in your Telix Directory. If the directory is in the DOS path you may start the program from any directory. The program can be run from the Sysop Commands Menu by pressing Alt-F or as an event from a batch file using command line switches for automatic operation. Do not run when shelled to DOS from a local logon in Host+ Here is a what the Files Compressor does: Resorts Files: After you have made changes in your files base, or user base they will not be in order. Running the compressor will resort them. Delete Record: When you delete a file, message, or user in one of the bases, the record still remains. Running the compressor removes record from the chain and rebuilds the data base. Packs Bases: Deletes users who have allowed their accounts to lapse by being inactive on the board. Deletes old messages and private messages that have been read. Removes file listings for files that are no longer on the drive. 9.1 Compressing the User File ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── To pack the user base, press F1 from the main menu. You will be asked if you wish to delete users who haven't connected in a number of days. The program default is 30, but you can change that by typing in another number. The program will then delete records of users who haven't called and users that you have marked for deletion. It will resort the file alphabetically and write a new file to disk. If any problems are encountered, you will be prompted to run HPREPAIR.EXE (see below) 9.2 Compressing the File Base ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── You have a choice of two actions when packing the file bases. You can either compress a single file base by pressing F2 or you can pack all files bases by pressing F3. Here are your options: Sort By Date or Name To sort the files alphabetically, choose "N" for name. To sort by date press "D" and the files will be sorted in ascending order with the oldest file first. Telix v3.5x - Host+ Maintenance 54 Reverse Sort This switch reverses the sort routine making it sort in descending order. If you have chosen a name sort, then choosing reverse will sort the files from Z-A. If you have chosen a Date sort the files will be sorted from the newest to the oldest files. Kill files not found This switch causes the program to run a check on each file to see if it is actually on the drive and in the directory. If the file is not found, then it will be removed from the database. 9.3 Compressing the Message Bases ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── You have a choice of two actions when packing the message bases. You can either compress a single message base by pressing F4 or you can pack all message bases by pressing F5. You will be given two options: Kill Private This option will delete all private mail which has been read. Days to allow This option will delete all messages (x) days old. The default setting is 30 days, but you can change it to whatever you like. 9.4 Running from a Batch File ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── You can set up HPCOMP to run from a batch file using command line switches. Host+ can be set to run that batch file at a certain time as an event. For instance: HPCOMP /U D:90 Would run HPCOMP.EXE and compress the User Base, deleting all users who haven't called in 90 days. You can only run either a User Base, Files Base or Message Base compression at one time. HPCOMP will not let you combine operations. Here are the command line switches: U Compress User File M:(x) (X) Days since last call F Compress Message Base K Kill Private D:(x) (X) Days to allow B:(x) (X) Message Base To Compress Telix v3.5x - Host+ Maintenance 55 F Compress File Database D Sort by Date R Reverse Sort K Kill files not found B:(x) (X) File Base To Compress B:(x) switches determine the number of the base that is to be compressed. If the B switch is left out or set to 0 then HPCOMP will compress all bases. If B is set to a number then it compresses only that base. Here are some command line examples: HPCOMP /M K D:30 Compress all message bases, kill private messages that have been read and messages over 30 days old. HPCOMP /F K B:4 Compress file base #4 and kill all files not found HPCOMP /U D:90 /M K D:30 /F K You cannot combine switches on a command line. This example would only compress the user base, the switches for message base and files base would be ignored. 9.5 Repairing Damaged Files ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── The Files Compressor monitors the integrity of your data bases. Should it find a corrupted database, it will write a file for that data base with a .REP extension. HPCOMP will then tell you to run a program called HPREPAIR.EXE. Exit the Files Compressor and run it immediately. HPREPAIR will attempt to repair HPUSER.REP (the user base), INDEXxxx.REP (the message and file pointers for each user), HPMSGxxx.REP/HEADERxx.REP (the messages) and FILESxxx.REP (the files base). It is a good idea to run daily backups of all your Host+ files in case HPREPAIR is unable to fix them. Many sysops run backups of their systems automatically as part of a daily event. Use several different sets of backup diskettes so that you will be assured of having a good set. Troubleshooting Note -- This is a worst case scenario. We include this here as a backup to HPREPAIR and to save you a call to the Telix Support BBS. Should HPREPAIR be unable to fix a message base, there is another way to fix it: Telix v3.5x - Host+ Maintenance 56 Go to the message base configuration menu and print screen the description of all your bases. Exit Host+. Backup all your HPINDEX.*, HPMSG.*, AND HPHEADER.* files from your host directory to another diskette *or* use a better set from a backup diskette. Delete those files from your hard drive along with HPMBASE.DAT. Restart Host+ and you will see HPMBASE created on the start up. Open the configuration program and reinstall your bases using that printout from the print screen. Shell to dos and restore the files you backed up. Run HPCOMP. It may crash on the index, requiring HPREPAIR. After that, it should work in most cases. If not, delete the HPINDEX.* files, and run HPCOMP again. It will crash because there aren't any index files. Run HPREPAIR and it will create new ones from the *.rep files created by HPCOMP. Compact once more. Your bases will be restored, but your users will have had their message read pointer reset to 0. Telix v3.5x - Host+ Using DOORWAY 57 10. Using Doorway.EXE DOORWAY.EXE, by Marshall Dudley, is a shareware program that allows an online user to Shell to DOS and not only run all of the DOS commands but also to run almost any IBM character based program online. DOORWAY redirects the input and output of the program to the comm port as well as to the console allowing the user and the sysop to control the program. Without DOORWAY.EXE in your Telix directory, Host+ will use DOS's CTTY for the shell. Many programs will not run in CTTY and CTTY does not feed screens to the console so that you can see what the remote user is doing. When running DOORWAY.EXE under Telix/Host+ there might not be enough RAM to allow certain programs to run. To find out your available RAM from the local mode, press Alt-J to shell to DOS and then run Doorway in local. The command line for this operation is: Doorway Local /s:* /c:dos. Once doorway is up, run DOS's CHKDSK command. This will tell you the available RAM. Remember to type exit to return to your original prompt. Do not run CHKDSK from a remote! Do this only in local mode. Note that beginning with Telix v. 3.5x, much of the used RAM can be swapped out to EMS, XMS, or disk, to free it up for use in the DOS shell. If you need more available memory, turn on swapping in Telix, under ALT-O/General. To use DOORWAY.EXE with Host+, you must be running ANSI.SYS (Or any ANSI program with the exception of FANSI-Console) and you need to place the DOORWAY.EXE program in your Telix directory. Once a user shells to DOS then DOORWAY.EXE will run using the default command line that is already installed in Host+'s configuration. The user can now use any DOS commands they want. To keep their communications program from interfering with certain commands (Like the function keys and ALT-key combinations) they will need to activate the DOORWAY mode on their end. Doorway is supported by many communication programs. Telix users can turn on Doorway mode by pressing Alt-= (by holding down Alt and pressing Equal). With Doorway activated on the user end, all the keyboard output will go directly out the comm port to the remote computer. Once finished in DOS the user types "EXIT" to return to Host+. If they have invoked their terminal into DOORWAY mode they will need to turn it off once they have returned to Host+. Telix v3.5x - Host+ Using DOORWAY 58 Doorway monitors the carrier. If the carrier is lost it will either reboot or return to the Host+ program. Which option depends on how you have set the Doorway command line. The default is set to return to Host+. Telix v3.5x - Host+ Security/Legal Issues 59 11. Security and Legal Issues Host+ provides you with several features to help maintain security for your computer. If your host is strictly private, you can put that message on your welcome screen and use the log off feature to bump the caller off the board. If you are using Host+ as a general purpose BBS, you may occasionally have someone violate your BBS rules. You can temporarily remove their account from service by changing their account flag in the User Editor from Active to Blacklist. You may have the misfortune to come in contact with a person so laboriously vile that you wish to never see them on your board again. To ban their name for all time, put them in the trashcan file. Create an ASCII file called TRASHCAN.DAT with your favorite editor. Place one name per line. Here is an example format: Joe Blow Jiminy Cricket John Hacker When that person calls back and inputs their name, Host+ will post a message that their name is not acceptable on the board. Persons who try to "hack" your board by entering it illegally or causing damage to your computer are in violation of The Electronics and Communications Privacy Act of 1986. Copies of this act are available from most Bulletin Boards. The act also holds that you may be held liable by someone who thinks they are leaving a private message on your board only to have it read (by accident or otherwise) by others. To protect yourself, you need to post a warning that messages are not private on your board. Below is an example of boiler plate legal language in use on some BBS's. This is shown as an example only and not as legal advice. Consult your lawyer for language suitable to your situation. NO PRIVACY WARNING Pursuant to the Electronic and communications privacy Act of 1986, 18 USC 2510 et seq., notice is hereby given that there are no facilities provided by this system for sending or receiving private or confidential communications. All messages shall be deemed readily accessible to the general public. Telix v3.5x - Host Registered Utilities 61 12. Registered Utilities The following utilities do not come with the shareware evaluation copy of Telix. They are supplied on the registered disk you are sent when you purchase Telix. 12.1 The Files Editor ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Once you have added files with ADDFILES.EXE or manually, you can make changes quickly with the files editor. This program allows you to edit your file entries, copy or move file entries among files bases, or move files from one directory to another. The filename for the program is HPFEDIT.EXE and it should be located in your Telix directory. The opening screen looks like the ADDFILES.EXE program. The top of the menu shows the current database name and number, plus the current record number of the file. The bottom of the menu holds all the different information fields for the file. A complete listing of actions can be obtained by pressing F1 for help. To edit a file, change to the files database you wish to work in by pressing F3 and the database number. If you don't remember the database number, press F1 for help. A screen showing all the database files will come up and you will be prompted again for the data base number. Once you are in the proper file database, you can scroll through the base by pressing page up and page down. Once you are at your file, use the enter key to jump from field to field. You can change everything: File Name, File Description, File Uploader, File Access, File Password, and File Date. When you are finished with your changes, press F2 to save the file info. Here is a listing of all the actions available to you in the FILES EDITOR: F1 Help Screen The help screen listing these commands. F2 Save File Info Once you are through editing a listing, press F2 to save it before you move to the next file. F3 Change File Base Telix v3.5x - Host Registered Utilities 62 Press F3 and you will be presented with a window to change the database by entering the database's number. If you do not remember the number of the database, press F1 at this window and a listing of the files databases will be presented to you. F5 Copy File to Another Base To copy the current record to another files base, press F5 and you will be prompted for the number of the files base. If you cannot remember it, press F1 for a listing of files bases. F6 Move File to Another Base To move the current record to another files base, press F6 and you will be prompted for the number of the files base. If you cannot remember it, press F1 for a listing of the files bases. If you are also moving the actual file to another directory at the same time, make the move with Alt-M first and then move the record. Alt-M Move File to Another Directory To move the actual file from its current directory to another directory, press Alt-M. You will be prompted for a full drive and path to the new directory. To aid in multiple file moves, the drive and path you enter are saved for the session. F7 Delete File from Base Pressing F7 will cause the File Access level to be changed to "D" for Deleted. You will still see the record in the files editor, but it will not be visible to your users. The record will remain until the files database has been compressed using the Files Compressor (See Using the Files Compressor). F10 Exit File Base Editor Exits the program. 12.2 The Menu Editor ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── HPMENUS.EXE should be found in your Telix directory. If the Telix directory is in the DOS path, you can start this program from any directory. Do not run the program when shelled to DOS during a local logon of Host+. HPMENUS lets you personalize all Host+ menus. You can limit the access to each menu function, personalize the menu keys, add up to three different external functions for each menu, and replace all internal functions with external ones. Telix v3.5x - Host Registered Utilities 63 You can also change the look of the menus by creating new ANSI screens and importing them into HPMENUS. Here is the listing for all command keys in HPMENUS. It is followed by instructions on making new Menu Screens and customizing Menu Commands. F1: Help Screen The Help Screen listing these commands. F2: Load Default Menu This pulls up the default menu that came with Host+. You can reinstall it to Host+ by pressing F5. You can copy it to disk by pressing F4. F3: Load Menu From File Pressing F3 brings up a window for you to enter the name of the file you wish to load into HPMENUS. For instance, you have drawn a new Lower Access Main Menu screen in a file C:\TDRAW\PICS\MAINLOW.ANS. You would enter the entire file name and press enter. The file will come up on screen. For less typing, open HPMENUS in the directory with your menu screens and enter only the filename and extension. F4: Save Menu to A File This action will save the menu on your screen to a data file so that you can edit it. F5: Save Menu to Data File This installs the new screen or the default screen into Host+. F7: Switch Menu Types Pressing F7 will bring up a choice of menu areas for editing. (Main, Message, or Files). F8: Switch Menu Level Pressing F8 will bring up a choice of high or low access menu areas. F9: Configure Menu Keys This will take you to the key editor for the current menu. Here you can personalize the menu keys, limit the access to each menu function, add up to three different external functions for each menu, and replace all internal functions with external ones. The Menu Key area has its own Command Set: Telix v3.5x - Host Registered Utilities 64 F1 The Help Menu F2 Load Default Menu F3 Save Menu to Host+ F10 Quit F10: Exit Program Be sure you have saved any changes before exiting. 12.2.1 Making New Menu Screens You can create your own menu screens for Host+ using any ANSI editor such as TheDraw, ANSI Write, or others. You are limited to a screen display of 16 lines and 8000 characters; however, it is recommended that you limit the screen to 11 lines for faster screen rights and better fit on the screen. Creating new menus follows a three step process: 1. Saving Default Menus to disk files for editing 2. Editing Default Menus to create new screens 3. Importing the new designs into Host+ via HPMENUS 1. Saving Default Menus Open HPMENUS and you will be presented with the Lower Access Main Menu. Press F4 to save this screen to a file for editing. You will be asked to supply a file name (e.g. C:\TDRAW\PICS\MENULOW.ANS)> To see the High Access Main Menu screen, press F8. You will be given two choices: Higher Access Menu and Lower Access Menu. Choose the Higher Access Menu. The Higher Access Main Menu will come up on the screen. Press F4 to save this screen to another file. To see the File Menu or the Message Menu, press F7. You will be given three choices: Main Menu, File Menu and Msg Menu. Move the cursor to your choice and press enter. Save those menus to separate files using the F4 key. Remember to save both the Higher and Lower Access versions to files. Then exit HPMENUS by pressing F10. 2. Create New Menus Now, open your favorite ANSI editor and load one of the files you just saved from HPMENUS. Create your new design around the Menu Commands. Your design does have to fit in a special limited space. Users who have screen pausing in effect will get (Y/n)? prompts if your screen scrolls over 24 lines. Host+ will insert three lines at the top of your design, so move the menu to the top of the screen when editing. Although you are allowed 16 lines by the program, practice has shown that 11 lines fits the screen better. If possible, leave line 11 blank so that there will be a space between the menu and the Host+ prompt. Telix v3.5x - Host Registered Utilities 65 When you are finished, block save the new menu screen saving no more than 16 lines. Select no screen preparation, 240 characters per line, and the fastest screen write. You can experiment with other options later. When you use Clear Screen, HPMenus will not create an ASCII version of your menu for your ASCII users. If that is not a problem, Clear screen will provide a cleaner look; but, it does erase the status window at the top of the screen. You must leave 5 lines clear at the top of the design if you use Clear Screen. Host+ wants those lines for the status window and will hold them there, scrolling other lines under it. To bring the status window back up, Hit Chat (F1) twice. When the user calls up another menu, the status window will be erased again. Characters per line that are evenly divisible by 80 are best for smooth screen writes. This is because screens are usually 80 columns wide. Fastest writes are from buffers of 240 characters per line. Animation is tricky with the limitations of 8000 characters per screen. Animation uses lots of control characters. If you do try animation, keep it very simple. A slow screen write can be irritating to users. Use your imagination and have fun! Personalized menus make a board truly "yours". For more help, download the file HPMENUS.ZIP from the Telix Support BBS for a collection of sample menu files. 3. Importing New Screens Exit your ANSI editor and reopen HPMENUS. Call up the menu type that you are going to replace using the F7 key. Call up the menu access level you want with the F8 key. Now, Press F3 to load your new menu. Give the filename and press Enter. The file will be loaded. Check to make sure it has written cleanly to the screen. If there are problems, exit and re-edit the file. If the screen looks good, press F5 to save it to Host+. Your new menu screen is now installed. You may want to run Host+ now and see how the menu works. 12.2.2 Customizing Menu Commands This area will allow you to change all the allowable keys that are used in Host+. By changing the key to a different one you can completely redesign the Host+ "Look and Feel". You can input any standard letter character as long as the letter is not already be in use in the current menu. To enter the Key Editor, press F7 for the selection of Menu Types and choose the Menu (Main, Files, or Message) that you wish to edit. Once that menu appears on the screen, press F9 to edit its keys. Telix v3.5x - Host Registered Utilities 66 You will be presented with all the Menu Commands available for the menu you have selected. Each command is listed first by its description and then the key that activates the command. Out to the side is the access level for that command and a script that may be run instead of the command. Using cursor keys, move down the list to the item you wish to change. Here is the list of Commands in the Key editor: F1: Brings up the Help Screen. F2: Load default key assignments. F3: Save key assignments to Host+. F10: Quit to Menu Configuration. You can do the following in the Key Editor: Change the letter that activates the Menu Command You can change any letter on any menu. Just make sure that you don't use the same letter for two functions in the same menu. Here is an example of a letter change: To change (A)rea Change in the Files Menu to (O)ther File Areas you would first press enter until your cursor was over the "A". Press the letter "O". Now press F3 to save your change. You will have to edit your Files Menus (both Lower and Higher Access) to reflect the change from "A" to "O" and then install them into Host+ with Menu Edit. If you wish to restore the Default Menu Commands, press F2 to load the commands and then F3 to save them to disk. Turn off a Menu Command You can completely remove a function from use by replacing the key assignment with a space (blank). Here is an example: The System Shutdown command is "Z". It is not listed on any menu, but it is an active command. A person with the system password can press "Z", enter the password, and turn off the system from remote. To remove the "Z" command: move the cursor to the letter "Z" on the Main Menu and press delete, then press F3 to save your change to disk. If you wish to restore the Default Menu Commands, press F2 to load the commands and then F3 to save them to disk. Change the access to a Menu Command You can change the access to any Menu Command. Here is an example: The co-sysop levels (7 and 8 access code) have access to nice features like *.* downloads and directory listings. They also have access to the Shell to Dos. To move that access up to Level 8 only, move the Telix v3.5x - Host Registered Utilities 67 cursor to the access code for Shell to DOS. Enter an "8" and press enter. Then press F3 to save your change to disk. If you wish to restore the Default Menu Commands, press F2 to load the commands and then F3 to save them to disk. Replace a menu command with a SCRIPT to call another function You can replace any Menu Command with a SALT Script to call another function. This does require considerable skill in the writing of SALT script. Most BBS add-on programs require a system file (DORINFO.DAT, PCBOARD.SYS, DOOR.SYS and others) in order to operate. Host+ does write the file HOSTDOOR.SYS when it calls a script. If you know how to write a converter, you can convert HOSTDOOR.SYS into the system file your door needs. A format for serious programmers is provided in the Appendices. Add up to three extra functions to each menu You can also add simple doors to your menus with the external functions. Just enter the Letter for the command and the SALT Script that you want run. Host+ will write the HOSTDOOR.SYS file when an external function is called. Serious programmers can convert this file into a system file for use with other bbs doors. Here is a very simple, but necessary, function you can add to the message menu. Registered users can get the file HTYPEF.SLC from the Telix Support BBS to do the following exercise instead of using DOORWAY. In the security and legal section above, we discussed the need for a privacy statement to be posted prominently for users to read. Using Marshall Dudley's DOORWAY, we can allow users to call that statement for viewing from the Message Menu. First, compile this SALT script using Telix's CS.EXE. Call the script PRIVACY.SLT. Main() { Dos("C:\TELIX\DOORWAY.EXE local /s:* /i:C:\PRIVATE", 0); } Inside the quotes is a DOORWAY command line. Any DOS command would work inside the "quotes". Here is what the command line does: Local is for running doorway in local mode so you can test it with a local logon. Once you test this out, change this command to either COM1 or COM2 and recompile. /s:* is for running doorway without a sys file Telix v3.5x - Host Registered Utilities 68 /i:C:\PRIVATE is for showing a text file. You do not have to give the full path if the file is located in the same directory with DOORWAY. The PRIVATE file contains the privacy warning text. At the bottom of the file you should add the line: $:PRESS [ENTER] TO RETURN Be sure that the $ sign is in the first column on the left hand side. You can color the text in TheDraw, but you must then edit the file with a text editor to insure that the $ is on the extreme left of the screen; Otherwise, DOORWAY will not recognize the $ command. Now, enter the HPMENUS program and call up the MESSAGE MENU. Press F9 to edit the keys. Using the cursor keys, move to the first external function and enter the letter "P" for Privacy Statement. Enter the file name PRIVACY.SLC for the name of the script. You will also want to edit your menu screens to include the (P)rivacy Warning command. Make a local logon and press P at the message menu. DOORWAY should run in local mode and call up the text of your message. When you press a carriage return, DOORWAY returns control to Host+. Now re- edit your PRIVACY.SLT script to replace the LOCAL command with the appropriate comm port command (COM1 or COM2) and you are done. 12.3 The External User Editor ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── The HPUEDIT.EXE program should be in your Telix directory; you can start it from anywhere if that directory is in the path. When you call the user editor from Host+ (F2) you will get this registered version instead of the shareware version. HPUEDIT.EXE is the full screen external user editor program that lets you to edit all of the information that is available on a user. That includes information the shareware version would not allow you to edit. The following keys have functions in HPUEDIT.EXE: F1 Help Screen Brings up a the listing of menu commands F2 Saves the current user Before moving to the next record, you must save the changes you have made by pressing F2. F3 Print user information When you press F3 you are prompted to print the information for the current user or all users. F4 Search Users Telix v3.5x - Host Registered Utilities 69 To find a particular user, press F4 and enter their name. HPUEDIT will advance to the first listing holding that name. F5 Create New User You can pre-log new users by pressing F5 and then entering all the information. You primarily need the user's name, password, access, and activity flag for the account to work. Information on address and the like is optional. F10 Exit Program Before exiting the program, make sure you have saved the changes by pressing F2 on the user's record. Telix v3.5x - Host+ Installing Doors 71 13. Appendix A - Installing Doors A.1 Simple Setup ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Here's an example of the simplest setup for a PCBoard door such as HiDice. Your filename is: C:\DOORS\HIDI\HIDICE.EXE The command line is: HIDICE.CFG The converter is: PCBoard 14.x Many doors want some type of configuration file. Here is what a typical one looks like: C:\DOORS\HIDI\PCBoard.sys Jeff Woods deltaComm Development 000000 The first line is where the PCBOARD.SYS file will be found. Host+ will write the PCBOARD.SYS file into the directory given in the filename, in this case: C:\DOORS\HIDI\. Getting the directory wrong is a common mistake. When the door is called, Host+ writes PCBOARD.SYS to C:\DOORS\HIDI. It then changes to that directory and starts the program by issuing the line: C:\DOORS\HIDI\HIDICE.EXE HIDICE.CFG. A.2 Using a Fossil Driver ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Some doors need a fossil driver active in RAM before they can operate. Fossil drivers are used by most BBS programs to monitor the communications interrupt in memory and are available from almost any BBS. The two main programs in use are called BNU and X00. You put the fossil driver in memory before you start your door and remove it when you are through by calling your door from a batch file. Locate the batch file in the same directory as the door program. This way, Host+ will send the system file to the same directory as the program. Be sure and use full path and filenames in your batch file to avoid DOS calling another copy of COMMAND.COM and eating up memory. Here is a sample Host+ configuration: Filename : C:\DOORS\CARDS\BLACKJAK.BAT Command Line: Blank Converter : RBBS Here is the batch file: Telix v3.5x - Host+ Installing Doors 72 rem This is Blackjak.bat rem Starting fossil driver C:\MISC\BNU.COM /F rem now start the program C:\DOORS\CARDS\JACK.EXE JACK.CFG rem when the program is over, remove fossil driver C:\MISC\BNU.COM /U :end A.3 Using Scripts as Doors ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── You can run Telix scripts as doors and even pass them parameters. For instance, there is a script available to registered users of Host+ on the Telix Support BBS called HTYPEF.SLC. This script will type a file on the screen of the local and the remote. This is how you would configure it in Host+ to show a file called AFILE.ANS: Filename : C:\TELIX\SCRIPT\HTYPEF.SLC Command Line: C:\TELIX\HOST\AFILE.ANS Converter: none Script writers need to know that anything you put in the command line is sent to the script as a SINGLE string. A door with the command line as: "THIS IS A TEST" would be passed to a script as a single string. A script can use this string by having it's main function set up like so: main(str commandline) { ... } The string commandline could be set to use one of the internal parameters. For instance, %C will expand to tell the Comm port in use: "THIS IS A TEST %C" Could expand to: "THIS IS A TEST 1" Telix v3.5x - Host+ Example Events 73 14. Appendix B - Example Events Most sysops run events to do maintenance on their BBS files. They run batch files to backup their drive, run maintenance programs for the various game doors, scan new files for virus, pack data bases, and any number of things. It is a good idea to run your event at some time other than midnight because this is one of the busier times for callers. An event time like 4am is not likely to inconvenience users. Listed here are some sample events and batch files. B.1 Checking Uploads for Virii ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── You will want to check all new files that have been uploaded to your board before you make them available for users. This set of batch files uses PKzip and McAfee's ViruScan to do just that. The file assumes that all uploads are sent to a directory called C:\BBS\UPLOAD; that there is an empty directory called \TEMP; that you have a zip comment file called ziphead.asc. The batch files are called EVENT.BAT and SCANNER.BAT. These batch files are set to run every time someone logs off your board. This is written for ZIP files only. You can modify it to work with Archive programs popular in your area. rem This is EVENT.BAT rem if exist C:\BBS\UPLOAD\*.ZIP goto send goto end :send XCOPY C:\BBS\UPLOAD\*.ZIP \TEMP /m if not exist C:\TEMP\*.ZIP goto end md \TEMP\$$$ cd \TEMP for %%a in (*.zip) do call SCANNER.BAT %%a rd \TEMP\$$$ for %%a in (*.zip) do PKZIP %%a -z < \TELIX\HOST\ZIPHEAD.ASC COPY C:\TEMP\*.ZIP C:\BBS\UPLOAD DEL C:\TEMP\*.* < ECHO Y ATTRIB -A C:\BBS\UPLOAD\*.ZIP HPCOMP /F K B:4 cd \TELIX :end Line 3 checks to see if there are any files in your upload directory. If there are no files, the batch file ends. Line 6 uses XCOPY to send all files that have not had the archive bit set on to a sub-directory called TEMP. Line 7 is a test to see if there are any new files; if TEMP is empty the batch file ends. Telix v3.5x - Host+ Example Events 74 Line 8 creates a new directory for use by SCANNER.BAT. Line 10 sends each new file in turn to SCANNER.BAT for processing. Line 12 inserts your own zip comment file in the place of any file that was present. If you don't want to have a zip comment, create a blank file called ZIPHEAD.ASC and this will serve to wipe out the comment. Line 13 copies all the files back to \BBS\UPLOAD. Line 14 deletes all the files in \TEMP. Line 15 sets the archive bits of all the files in \BBS\UPLOAD to off. Line 16 starts up the Files Compressor and resorts all the files to include the new ones. If you are a registered user, you may want to have it compress only the Uploads file base. Here is SCANNER BAT: PKUNZIP %1 *.COM *.EXE *.OVL C:\TEMP\$$$\ if errorlevel 1 goto end SCAN C:\TEMP\$$$ if errorlevel 1 goto bad if errorlevel 0 goto end :bad md C:\XXX copy %1 C:\XXX del %1 del C:\BBS\UPLOAD\%1 echo ** %1 carries virus ** >>C:\TELIX\HOST\HOST.LOG echo ** File removed!!! ** >>C:\TELIX\HOST\HOST.LOG :end del C:\TEMP\$$$\*.* < ECHO Y Line 1 unzips the file name passed to it by EVENT.BAT. It unzips files that commonly hold virus into the directory C:\TEMP\$$$ that was created by EVENT.BAT Line 2 checks to see if any of those files existed in the archive. PKzip gives an error level of 1 if no files are found. If the files aren't found, the batch file ends. Line 3 calls VIRUSCAN to scan the files. An error level of 1 or higher means bad files were found. An error level of 0 means the files are ok and the batch file branches to the end where the files are deleted and control is passed back to EVENT.BAT. Lines 7 - 12 create a directory called \XXX and moves the bad files to it. The bad files are also erased from \TEMP and \BBS\UPLOAD. A warning is inserted in the HOSTPLUS.LOG file. We have included these batch files so that you can get started with an important event right off the bat. Later, you may wish to find a file on the BBS's called CHECKOUT. This program does essentially the same Telix v3.5x - Host+ Example Events 75 functions as the batch file, but does it much faster. It also handles all kinds of archive formats. B.2 Backing up the BBS Files ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── You can back up all of your important BBS files each day on to a diskette. This is good for saving your Users list and other databases against corruption. It is a good idea to rotate the disks out of your floppy each day and have several sets. An easy batch file line for this event is: XCOPY C:\TELIX\HOST\*.* A: You can combine this with other actions in a once per day event B.3 Compressing the Data Bases ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── After you back up your data, its a good idea to compress the files. You may be already compressing the Filebases in EVENT.BAT whenever a new upload is made. Since you may go a day or two without an upload, its a good idea to compress them at least once a day. Here are some sample batch lines: HPCOMP U D:90 HPCOMP M D:30 B:0 K HPCOMP F B0 K Line 1 compresses the User base and deletes all callers who haven't logged on in 90 days. Line 2 compresses all the Message bases, kills all messages over 30 days old, and kills all private messages that have been read. Line 3 compresses all Files bases in alphabetical order and kills any entries where the files are not present. Telix v3.5x - Host+ Product Support 77 15. Appendix C - Product Support Host+ is a relatively large and complicated program. In order to support Telix, Host+, and to provide a means of distribution, a BBS (Bulletin Board System) for Telix support has been set up. The Telix Software Support BBS is available 24 hours a day at 919-481- 9399. The Support BBS accepts calls from 300 baud to 9600 baud and beyond, including v.32/v.32bis calls, and HST calls at 14,400 baud. If you have a Host+ question or problem, or have found a bug in Host+, give the support BBS a call. The latest versions of Telix and Host+ may also be found on the support BBS. If you're calling about a problem, try to be as specific as possible when describing the problem. Include any relevant details, such as your machine's configuration, Telix version number, Host+ version number, resident software installed, steps taken before the problem happens, and any other things you feel are important. It is very hard to answer vague questions such as, "Host+ doesn't work on my PC. Do you know why?". At the current time, the support BBS is open to all callers. Since it is extremely busy, it is almost certain that in the future it will be restricted to registered users of Telix. Registered users will also receive mailed notices of major updates to the program. Telix v3.5x - Host+ File Formats 79 16. Appendix D - File Formats D.1 HOSTDOOR.SYS ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── This file is written out when Host+ runs a door program. It contains information pertaining to both the user's status and also to the status of certain variables in Host+. This information is intended for people who are able to program in SALT to help them customize door converters and attach programs to the menus. The following is the file format of the HOSTDOOR.SYS file and then a short description of the different variables and their use. NOTE: Each of the Positions given are actual locations in the data file, as referenced by the Fseek() function in SALT. These positions might not be exactly the same (but should be) in any other language. The following is information on the data type formats used in the HOSTDOOR.SYS file. Str String of [Total] size, can be read in with the FREAD() function, and written with FWRITE(). Chr String of 1 character size, can be read in with the FREAD() function, and written with FWRITE(). Uint Unsigned integer stored in the Intel format, that is Low Byte/High Byte format. Unsigned integers can be read in as a string and the converted to a integer variable using the following code: (Unsigned Char [Total = 1] integers) x = SubChr(temp, 0); (Unsigned Integer [Total = 2] integers) x = SubChr(temp, 0) + SubChr(temp, 1) * 256; (Unsigned Long Int [Total = 3] integers) x = SubChr(temp, 0) + SubChr(temp, 1) * 256 + SubChr(temp, 2) * 65536; Sint Signed integer stored in the Intel format, that is Low Byte/High Byte format. Signed integers can be read in as a string and the converted to a integer variable using the following code: (Signed Integer [Total = 2] integers) x = SubChr(temp, 0) + SubChr(temp, 1) * 256; if (x > 32767) x = x - 65536; Telix v3.5x - Host+ File Formats 80 HOSTDOOR.SYS Position Total Type Data Name ────── ──── ──── ────────────────────────── 0 2 Str Host Version Number 2 64 Str Host Data Directory 66 1 Uint Status Bar Location 67 1 Uint System Color 1 68 1 Uint System Color 2 69 1 Uint System Color 3 70 1 Uint System Color 4 71 1 Uint System Color 5 72 1 Uint Auto Baud Detect 73 1 Uint Local Mode 74 5 Str Baud Rate 79 5 Str DTE Rate 84 1 Uint Com Port 85 2 Uint Com Port Base 87 1 Uint Com Port IRQ 88 1 Uint Error Correcting Connection 89 6 Str User Log On Time (Seconds) 95 6 Str Seconds Remaining This Call 101 3 Str User Number 104 1 Chr User Access Level 105 20 Str User Name 125 35 Str User Location 160 18 Str User Phone 178 10 Str User Password 188 10 Str User LastOn 198 1 Uint User ANSI 199 1 Uint User Pause 200 1 Uint User Experience 201 1 Str User Protocol 202 3 Uint User Uploads 205 3 Uint User Downloads 208 1 Uint User ANSI 1 209 1 Uint User ANSI 2 210 1 Uint User ANSI 3 211 1 Uint User ANSI 4 212 1 Uint User ANSI 5 213 1 Uint User ANSI 6 214 2 Sint Minutes Credited/Removed from time 216 2 Uint Current Message Base Number 218 2 Uint Current File Base Number Telix v3.5x - Host+ File Formats 81 This is a list of all information in the data file and a brief description of each: Host Version A string (of 2 length) that contains the version number of Host+. It's a constant (it will only change when a new version is released) and for Host+ is set to 10. Host Data Dir The name of the directory where Host+ keeps all of its data files (such as HPUSER.DAT, HPFILES.1, etc). This is for doors that have their own data files and wish to keep them in the data directory (which they really should, just keeps everything orderly). Status Bar This is an integer showing the current position of the Host+ status bar. If the status bar is off, this will be '1', if on this will be '4'. This is given so that any script doors may be able to write to the screen without disturbing the status information. Color1 Color2 Color3 Color4 Color5 These 5 integers are the five system colors that have been chosen by the sysop for the system sided options. These colors are provided only for the ability for the door programs to make themselves "Blend" into Host+ in operation and to provide a more constant interface of the doors and Host+. Com Port A integer that gives the actual port number (1,2,3,4 and etc) Com Port Base The actual address base for the com port given in an decimal form. For instance, 3f8 would be 1016. Com Port IRQ The IRQ number for the Com Port in use. AutoBaud This is an integer that indicates if Host+ should change the baud rate on a call (Locked DTE Rate). If a '0', Host+ leaves the baud rate alone (the DTE is locked), a '1' tells Host+ to change the rate. Local Mode A '1' means that Host+ is in a Local Test Mode (sysop has done a local logon). A '0' means there is a user online. Baud Rate This is the baud rate that the caller is using. In the case of high speed modems like the USRobotics HST, this rate may not match the rate Telix v3.5x - Host+ File Formats 82 that the local modem is running. If a door makes a baud change, the DTE Rate should be the rate that is used. Any attempt to change the baud rate of a High Speed modem to a rate that is different from the DTE Rate will cause a loss of the carrier. DTE Rate This is the actual operating speed of the modem. It should always be given preference over the Baud Rate See above for more details. Error Correct This is an integer that indicates if there is an MNP (Error Correction) connection established. Logon Time This is an integer containing the time the user logged on the system. The integer is given in seconds from midnight. Seconds Left This is the time the user has left on the system based in seconds. User Number This is the current caller's User Number held in the user data file. It is used to locate the user information quickly. This is NOT an actual location in the data file, but is a reference number that is used to calculate the data's true location in the file. Access Level This is an integer which represents the users access on Host+. It can be a number between 0 and 9. User Name This is the user's full name. User Location This is a combination of the user's city and state and State they are calling from in the format "CITY, STATE". User Phone This is the user's phone number. There is no special format for the phone number. It is input as a string of 18 characters in length. User Password This is the user's password. User LastOn This is the date the user was laston. The format of the date is "MM-DD-YY". User ANSI This is an integer representing the user's current ANSI status. A '1' means ANSI is on, and a '0' means that ANSI is off. The ANSI_x variables will contain the ANSI color the user has chosen regardless of this line's status. This variable should always be checked before using ANSI color. Telix v3.5x - Host+ File Formats 83 User Pause This is an integer representing the status of the pause function. If it is a '1' then Pause is on and the screen should be paused every 23 lines. A '0' is off and the screen should not be paused. User Exper. This is an integer representing the user's current help level. A '0' is the Novice level, '1' is Intermediate, and '2' is Expert. User Protocol This is the user's current default protocol. User Uploads This is an string which contains the total number of uploads the user has made to the system. User Downloads This is an integer which contains the total number of downloads the user has made from the system. ANSI_1 ANSI_2 ANSI_3 ANSI_4 ANSI_5 ANSI_6 These six integers contain the colors chosen by the user as their default color. They should be used where a specific color is not required. Note that these will contain the color number even if the User has specified ANSI to be off. The program should ALWAYS reference the User ANSI variable to check if ANSI is on or off! Mins. Cred/Rem A Signed Integer in the amount of minutes that should be credited or removed from the users time. Credited time numbers from 1 to +32,767 and Removed time numbers from -1 to -32,768 Msg Base # An integer that holds the number for the current Message Base. File Base # An integer that holds the number for the current File Base. D.2 Custom Converters ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── This section gives a brief listing of the "Special" format for a Host+ Door converter. It is given for those of you who would like to write your own converter. The converters are standard Telix scripts with a few "Extra" specific details about the script. Following the description is a small example (no actual code) for a converter script. The compiled script must have Telix v3.5x - Host+ File Formats 84 a extension of HP, and should be placed in the HOST data directory. If you have a converter you have written please share it with us! 1. The first (not counting notes) compilable line must be a string _____ definition (global) of 12 characters in length giving the name of the BBS system the door was written to serve. Here is the format: STR ConverterName[12] = "PCBOARD"; It is not necessary for the actual string to have an exact 12 characters but it must not be more than 12 characters. 2. The script must have two passed variables declared in main(). The first variable is a string that contains the path where the converted data file will be placed. The second variable is an integer defining if the data file should be created, or should be erased. Since the converter must do both it is important that it knows which to do. Here is an example: main(Str Path_Name, Int EraseFiles) If you attempt to run the converter from outside of Host+ it will not run. 3. The converter must create / erase the data file based upon the value of the passed integer. If the integer is a '0' then the script must create the data file. If the integer is a '1' it must erase it. The following page holds a short template for a script. It does not have any specific code except for the initial variable declaration and the branching based on EraseFiles. This example is to show the initial variables and the Main() variable declarations. Telix v3.5x - Host+ File Formats 85 ////////////////// EXAMPLE CONVERTER ////////////////////// Str ConverterName[12] = "EXAMPLE"; // define all other needed global // variables here Main(Str Path_Name, Int EraseFiles) { // define all needed local vars here If(EraseFiles) { EraseTheFile(); // run user function to delete data file Return; // return to Host+ } GetData(); // run user function, get data from .SYS file WriteData(); // run user function, write data to .SYS file Return; // return to Host+ } ///////////////// END OF EXAMPLE CONVERTER //////////////// NOTE: This is not intended to be a lesson in writing scripts. If you are not proficient at writing scripts then please do not attempt to write your own converter. It is possible to destroy important information if you make a mistake. This information is intended solely for those people who are programmers. If you want/need a converter and are not able to write your own, we will be more then happy to help you out! Telix v3.5x - Host+ External Archive Testing 87 17. Appendix E - External Archive Testing There are several attractive archive testing programs on the BBS market. We have left an option open to substitute one of those for Host+'s internal archive test routines. During Beta test, several Beta users started work on scripts to mesh with their favorite archive program. None were finished by release date, but you should be able to find them soon on the Host Software Products Support BBS. If you are a script writer, here are some tips for writing your own. Be sure an upload any successful script you write to share with others! You must start this function with a SALT script. The script requires a single parameter, and MUST return a integer value of -1, 0, or 1. An example of the main entrance code would be: main(str filename) { ... return(xxx); } Filename would contain the name of the file just uploaded and ready for testing. You could then use SALT's RUN function to start the program and pass the string FILENAME as the parameter. Your archive test program must exit with a DOS ERRORLEVEL that gives the result of the test. You must then translate that ERRORLEVEL to one of three return codes to pass back to Host+. Here are the codes: -1 Archive failed the test. Erase if Host+ is set to erase bad archives. 0 Archive Can't Be Tested, save and notify sysop with message. 1 Archive Tests Ok. Telix v3.5x - Host+ Index 89 Chat with User..............12 18. Index Checking Uploads for Virii..73 Co-sysop access..............8 *.HP.........................3 Colors......................26 @frst.......................40 Comment to Sysop............22 @mins.......................40 Comments Sent To............37 @user.......................40 Compress a single file base.53 Access level, files.........46 Compress a single message base Access Levels...............17 54 Add a Bulletin..............26 Compressing the File Base...53 Add a Door..................28 Compressing the Message Bases54 Add a File Base.............34 Compressing the User File...53 Add a Message Base..........35 Configure Event.............32 ADDFILES.EXE.............4, 43 Configure Host+.............15 Adding an archive program...30 Configuring Archives........30 Adding Files................43 Configuring BBS Data........38 Adding menu commands........67 Configuring Bulletins.......26 Alarm.......................37 Configuring Doors...........27 Alt-=.......................57 Configuring Events..........32 Alt-8.......................11 Configuring General Info....36 Alt-A.......................15 Configuring Macros..........31 Alt-C.......................13 Configuring the Colors......26 Alt-F................7, 15, 53 Configuring the File Bases..34 Alt-G........................7 Configuring the Message Areas35 Alt-I.......................12 Configuring the Modem.......25 Alt-J................9, 12, 57 Configuring the Upload Items36 Alt-L................9, 15, 32 Configuring User Options....33 Alt-O................8, 15, 25 Copying files...............62 Alt-X.......................15 Create New User.............69 Alt-Z....................9, 11 Creating Colorful Screens...39 Alt-I.......................12 Ctrl-O......................19 ANSI........................39 Ctrl-Z......................19 ANSI drawing programs.......39 Ctrl-P......................22 ANSI editor.................64 Ctrl-X......................22 ANSI graphics................5 CTTY.....................4, 23 ANSI.SYS....................57 Custom Converters...........83 Answer On Ring Number.......25 Customizing Menu Commands...65 Archive testing..............8 Data directory...............7 ASCII.......................39 Default colors..............26 AUTOEXEC.BAT.................7 Default file base...........34 Backing up..................75 Default message base........35 BBS City/State..............38 Delete a Bulletin...........26 BBS Name....................38 Delete a Door...............29 BBS Net/Node................38 Delete a File Base..........34 BBS Telephone...............38 Delete a Message Base.......35 Black & White...............26 Deleting bad archives.......30 Blacklist...................59 Deleting files..............62 BNU.........................71 Disabling a command.........66 Bulletin Listings...........21 Door converter..............83 Bulletins...................26 Doors.......................27 Capture Log.................13 DOORWAY Command Line........37 Changing menu letters.......66 DOORWAY mode................57 Chat hours..................37 DOORWAY.EXE..4, 23, 27, 37, 57 Chat Mode Toggle............11 Download....................20 Telix v3.5x - Host+ Index 90 Download limits.........20, 33 Host+ Files..................2 Echo........................35 HOSTDOOR.SYS............28, 79 Echo networks...............35 HOSTPLUS.CAP................13 Echomail....................35 HOSTPLUS.CFG.................4 Edit a Bulletin.............27 HOSTPLUS.DAT.................2 Edit a Door.................29 HOSTPLUS.IMG................12 Edit a File Base............34 HOSTPLUS.KEY.................4 Edit a Message Base.........35 HOSTPLUS.LIB.................3 Enhanced keyboard...........19 HOSTPLUS.LNG.................3 Environment variable.........7 HOSTPLUS.LOG.................3 Events......................32 HOSTPLUS.OVL.................2 EVERY event.................32 HOSTPLUS.SLC.................2 Example Events..............73 HPBLTS.DAT...................4 Exit........................15 HPCOMP.EXE...............3, 15 Exit To Main Menu...........29 HPCONFIG................15, 25 EXITTELIX event.............32 HPDOORS.DAT..................4 Expert......................22 HPFBASE.DAT..................3 Expert Mode.................22 HPFILES.*....................3 Extracting an archive.......21 HPHEADER.*...................4 F1......................11, 53 HPINDEX.*....................4 F10.........................12 HPLOGON.SLC..................5 F2...............9, 15, 49, 53 HPMBASE.DAT..................3 F3......................12, 53 HPMENUS.....................17 F4...................9, 12, 54 HPMENUS.DAT..................3 F5......................12, 54 HPMENUS.EXE.............41, 62 F6..........................12 HPMSG.*......................4 FidoNet.....................35 HPMSGED.OVL..................3 File areas..................20 HPREPAIR....................55 File Compressor.............15 HPREPAIR.EXE.............7, 53 File Description............44 HPUEDIT.EXE.................68 File Formats................79 HPUSER.DAT...................3 File management.............43 HPUTILS.SLC..............2, 49 File ratio...............8, 33 HSHELL.BAT...................4 File System.................19 Installing Doors............71 Files Compressor............53 Installing Host+.............7 Files Editor............43, 61 Intermediate................22 Files included...............2 Jump to a Bulletin..........27 Fossil drivers..............71 Jump to a Door..............29 FrontDoor...................32 Jump to a File Base.........34 Full Screen Editor......18, 19 Jump to a Message Base......35 Full screen external user editor Legal Issues................59 68 Level of Uploads............36 Getting some sleep..........37 Line Editor.................18 Global color codes..........40 Listing of files............20 Global messages.............18 Listing of files, expanded..20 Global Variables............40 Local logon...............8, 9 Goodbye.....................22 Local Mode..................15 Hangup......................13 Local uploads...............20 Hardware.....................2 Log Off New Users...........33 Help screen.................11 Logoff......................22 Help Screen Toggle..........11 Lower Access................12 Higher access menus.........17 Lower access menus..........17 HINSTALL.EXE.................2 Lower Time..................12 Host Upload Directory.......36 Machine Requirements.........2 Telix v3.5x - Host+ Index 91 Macros......................31 Security, file..............47 Mail doors..................38 SET TELIX....................7 Making New Menu Screens.....64 Shell to DOS8, 9, 12, 23, 37, 57 Manually Changing Files.....46 Shut down Host+.............23 Memory requirements..........2 Sliding events..............32 Menu Editor.................62 Sorting, file bases.........53 Menus.......................17 Sorting, file lists.........53 Message areas...............35 Status box..................11 Message Base menu...........17 Status Box Toggle...........11 Message System..............17 Status line..................9 Modem Answer String.........25 Support.....................77 Modem Auto Answer Mode......25 Swapping....................57 Modem Pickup String.........25 Sysop commands...........9, 11 Monochrome..................26 Sysop level..................9 Moving files................62 Sysop Name..................38 Netmail.....................35 System hangs................23 New callers..................8 System Log..................22 New User Access Level.......33 System password......8, 23, 36 New user account............49 System shutdown..........8, 37 News file...................40 Telix Config File...........37 Novice......................22 Telix Software Support BBS..77 Pack all files bases........53 TEMPARC.ZIP.................21 Pack all message bases......54 Testing archives.............8 Packing.....................53 Text Editor.................15 Packing the file bases......53 TheDraw.................39, 64 Packing the message bases...54 Time limits.................33 Packing the user file.......53 Time per access.............33 Paging the sysop............21 Timed event.................32 Passwords, file.............47 Trashcan file...............59 Pickup Modem In Local.......25 TRASHCAN.DAT.................4 Pickup Modem In Utils.......25 Turning off a command.......66 Previous versions............7 Universal Text Interface....35 Print user information......68 Upgrading from Host3.........7 Privacy Act.................59 Upload......................20 Private mail............18, 59 Upload File Base............36 Quoting a message.......18, 19 Upload limitations..........36 Raise Access................12 Uploading a message.........18 Raise Time..................12 Uploads, access to..........36 RAM requirements.........2, 57 User Commands...............17 Reading messages............17 User editor......9, 15, 49, 68 Redefining keys.............31 User Fields.................49 Repairing Damaged Files.....55 User options................33 Reset Default Options.......38 User records, deleting......53 Restoring and Saving Configs38 User settings...............22 RIME........................35 User status.................50 Running a door..............22 Using a Fossil Driver.......71 Saving a message........18, 19 Using Doorway.EXE...........57 Screen Image................12 Using Scripts as Doors......72 Screen input................39 UTI.........................35 Screen saver................37 Viewing an archive..........20 Screen Size.................39 Virus checking..............73 Scripts as doors............72 Writing messages............18 Search Users................68 X00.........................71 Security.................8, 59