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CD-ROM Today - The Disc! 2
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CD-ROM_Today_-_The_Disc_2_June-July_1994.iso
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powruser.txt
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1993-02-01
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76 lines
How to be a BBS power user.
By Kenneth C. Mazie
Sysop of Quasatron Systems BBS (510) 846-6085
Being a sysop I spend alot of time in front of the BBS watching what
you the user are doing. Don't be so surprised, many sysops do the
same and you never know it. By doing so I see the bad habits everyone
has and uses to to their own detriment. Often I give advise on how to
beef up skills while online, this is another attempt at doing so. What
I will do so as to not make this too drawn out is to list what you
SHOULD be doing. I'll leave it up to you to parallel the list with
your own BBSing style.
1: Your FIRST call to ANY BBS.
a: During your FIRST login activate your logging utility or begin an
ASCII download and capture EVERYTHING you see. End the download
when you disconnect the call. If you don't know how to log your
call ( Procomm Plus uses ALT-F1 ) READ THE BOOK and find out.
b: View EVERYTHING. Bulletins, notices, anything stating "required
you read this", and select a NON-STOP mode ( remember this is
being captured, don't try to read it now. ) so the WHOLE thing
will scroll by QUICKLY.
c: If command help exists view it.
d: Color is nice is'nt it? Trouble is it takes 5 times as long to
transmit. TURN COLOR OFF. It just wastes your online time.
2: Offline.
a: OK, you've captured everything during your first call (hopefully).
The file SHOULD be standard ASCII text with possibly a few ANSI
characters thrown in depending on the BBS you called. In any case
READ EVERYTHING NOW.
b: Familiarize yourself with the BBS so you are PREPARED for your
next call.
3: Second call.
a: At this point you may or may not have access depending on the BBS.
I'll operate under the assumption that you DO have access.
b: If the facility is available, use mail up and downloading. This
allows you to read and reply to messages OFFLINE at your liesure.
(See [N]etwork Mail here on Quasatron.)
c: If you have file access, look for and download any "ALLFILES.???"
type files. If these types of files do not exist, begin another
ASCII download or capture and do a listing of any directories of
interest to you. Again use NON STOP MODE.
4: Offline from second call.
a: Use your offline mail reader to read/reply to mail (i.e. Jabber,
OLX, EZrdr etc.)
b: View your downloaded ( or captured ) file listings and jot down
files you want.
5: Subsequent calls.
a: If META COMMANDS exist, use them (see the Quasatron newsletter).
b: If you prefer to view files online and a MARK utility exists,
( it does on Quasatron, see the file help ) mark files while you
list them. Then download the list (see file help).
c: Go to the mail up/down load utility and do your thing.
d: Make your uploads if necessary.
e: Go to the download area, enter your jotted list using a batch
protocol ( Zmodem recommended ), and select automatic logoff at
completion of download. Now go have a beer and watch Married
with Children.
===>> The trick is to be OFFLINE while reading everything so you DON'T
===>> incur phone charges and you DON'T waste your valuable online
===>> time allotment. Get on, get your buisness done, get off.
If you use these tips you can get the maximum out of your online time.
Many of the files here are from EAST COAST BBS's and were downloaded
using these methods. It takes getting used to but once mastered you'll
be amazed at what you can accomplish.
Also READ YOUR USERS MANUAL!!!! I can't stress that enough. Know how
to utilize what your communications software is capable of. If you
don't know what you CAN do you'll never know what you miss!