from CompuMag - July/August 1989 Reviewers Corner WILDCAT! SETS A NEW STANDARD FOR BULLETIN BOARD SOFTWARE by John C. Dvorak The Wildcat! BBS system from Mustang Software, Inc. is a full-featured electronic bulletin board system that manages messaging, file transfer and does it well. Any computer with a modem can connect to another computer running a WILDCAT! BBS and send files, recieve files, read bulletins and leave messages. Connection speeds, using normal phone lines, range from 300 to 38,400 baud. Let's face it, electronic communication is the way of the future. WILDCAT! handles the caller traffic smoothly. It can be installed as a single-line BBS or a multi-line system. The changes I discovered between prior versions and the recently released V2.0 (typists note-V2.1 is now available) make it a solid competitor, especially when combined with the ease of setup and context sensitive installation help. The message system operates differently than other more traditional BBSes, but I understand it is undergoing changes to accommodate multiple forums in a release scheduled later this year. Overall, WILDCAT! is an excellent host system that manages to deliver exceptional performance and features withut demanding power-user status from the system operator. The package I recieved for evaluation was the Professional Release 2.0P. Version 2.0 is distributed in three configurations: WILDCAT! 2.0S is a single line release which includes the same features as the other two releases with the exception of file and record locking for multi-line or network operation; Version 2.0N is the Network/Multi-Line release which will operate from 1-10 lines or network nodes; Version 2.0P is the Professional/Multi-line release which expands the node count to 1-250, and also includes the PRO! Series Utilities. The PRO! Series is a set of five companion programs which greatly enhance the sysop's ability to perform sweeping alterations to the message, file and user file on the system. Both multi-line releases also function on any local area network providing access to the BBS in LAN settings. Although the review here addresses the Professional release 2.0P, all features discussed apply equally to other program levels unless noted. INSTALLATION & CONFIGURATION WILDCAT! is not copy protected. Installation does put you through a process of entering your registration number into the program one time. I was uncomfortable with this process at first but found it does nothing to protect the disk or restrict program use whatsoever. My setup of WILDCAT! began with copying the program and support files from six diskettes (three with the single line version) to specific subdirectories on the hard disk. This process assumes some DOS knowledge but is relatively straightforward. The configuration program MAKEWILD is the heart of the install process. Nineteen screens walked me through each step of the configuration process, asking specific questions about my setup parameters. Anytime I was unsure of my answer, pressing F1 provided extensive help. Each help field contains the entire explanatory text from the manual - this is the way it's supposed to be done. As anyone who has ever attempted to configure a BBS system knows, modem initialization can be one of the most frustrating aspects of the entire process. WILDCAT! eases the anxiety in this area by providing a point and load system. Your only chore is to highlight your modem model from a window and press ENTER. ALl 30 modem setup parameters on two screens are automatically filled in properly, needing only minor adjustments such as a different com (communications) port number. The entire configuration process can take from 1-3 hours depending on the level of complexity established for your particular system. A single-line BBS using standard menus and support files can be set-up and answering calls within an hour. My test system answered immediately on the first ring. FEATURES: Features in electronic bulletin board software can be approached from two directions. The remote caller, who is the ultimate target of the software, views the host from his perspective and judges it by the features offered to him as a caller. Mustang Software has addressed the caller's needs with the latest features, but their attention to my needs as the system operator is what sets WILDCAT! apart from the other BBS systems. Rather than maintain text lists or data files containing the valid user names, files available, or messages, WILDCAT! saves this information in databases with fast B-Tree sorting and multiple indexed fields. It pays off with virtually instant data access. A second advantage to the database concept is record based locking rather than full file locking. Major manipulation of files, messages and users in a multi-line system is possible even while callers remain on- line. When WILDCAT! is waiting for calls the screen dieplays information including the amount of free space on the drives; name, location, date and time of the last call; database totals for number of files, messages and users; the status of sysop pager, printer, page bell and keyboard. Once a call is received, the CAT! answers and handles all caller requests promptly. A two-line window at the bottom of the screen displays basic information on the connected caller. This window may be removed to show the entire screen as viewed by the caller if desired.. Function key choices are available to the sysop when connected to send a text file to the caller with optional automatic logoff. This option was useful during my evaluation to notify callers that the BBS was undergoing testing and that they would be automatically logged out in 10 minutes. The caller's options while connected include the standard BBS fare. The menu system revolves around the MAIN MENU, allowing access to a FILE menu, BULLETIN menu, MESSAGE menu and QUESTIONNAIRE menu. All menus return to the MAIN menu with the exception of FILE and MESSAGE which allow movement between one another without returning to the MAIN area. The menus themselves can be dynamically generated based on security level, or may be created by the sysop. The text and color versions that come with the program are FANTASTIC! All menus include the ability to watch for valid keystroke choices while displaying the menu, and will immediately terminate the display to execute the caller's selected option. I quickly became spoiled by this "hot key" feature which let me use the "novice" full menu mode at all times. The main menu is primarily used as a gateway to other menus and options. WILDCAT! questionnaires are custom designed by the sysop using a special full screen editor. Real-time branching to other questions based on callers answers provides great flexibility. Questions types include free- form text, phone numbers, 4 different redit card types, social security numbers, dates and customized multiple choices. The message section allows callers to place messages in message sections referred to as folders. I find the folder concept confining. It is a departure from the normal BBS setup that I'd like to see changed. Each folder in a WILDCAT! system is given a name, and may be used to seperate messages by content, or any criteria desired. Each security level is given access to any combination of message folders. This type of message organization functions well, but it takes some adjustment, especially for the seasoned BBS caller. To its benefit WILDCAT! offers a number of other message options including a local "snapshot" to the printer, forwarding to third parties, and notification to the author when mail is recieved (return reciept). My favorite message feature is the import of the text of a file into a message at any point. Importing allows the sysop to create a text file of any length and include reference to the file with a single coded message line. It saves space since the text is dynamically sent to the caller when the message is read. When I wanted to change the message text, a single file change reflected the revision in all messages. Very powerful. The file section has the standard BBS fare including downloading and uploading using ASCII, XModem, XModem/CRC and 1K-XModem. Internal support is also included for multiple file downloading using YModem and YModem/G (up to 50 files) and uploading up to 200 files. External protocols also extend batch transfers using ZModem, Kermit, Jmodem, Bimodem, SEAlink and many more. Here again the local screen displays a complete summary regarding the activity taking place. The file area aslo offers the ability to view the contents of files which have been compressed such as .ZIP, .ARC and others. The sysop menu - the control center. This menu is the command post for management of the CAT! and it takes the job very seriously. The User database menu choice displays a full screen record for each user. The list scrolls in alphabetical order, optionally sub-sorted by security level. A search function allowed me to locate any user within seconds even if only a portion of the first or last name was known. Once located, changes to a user record are saved automatically. The File database option dieplays complete information on each file in the system, including the date of last access, number of times downloaded. One convenience of the database concept is that changes to a file database record result in immediate changes to disk structure as well. For example, when I found it necessary to change the name of a file and it's file area area in the database, WILDCAT! took care of renaming the file on disk and also moved the file to the new subdirectory. The "event manager" in WILDCAT! schedules automatic system maintenance at any time on a daily or weekly basis. An event can trigger any external batch file process. The most powerful events make major database changes automatically using the PRO! series utilities mentioned earlier. Using U- PRO! (the user database utility) I told it to delete all users that have not called in the last 90 days and who were below security level 15. I then lowered the security level to 18 everyone who was currently at level 20 if they had not uploaded at least 25 files totalling at least 375 Kbytes. I did all of the above even while other callers were connected. Again, very powerful. The other PRO! series utilities offer equally impressive maintenance capabilities for the file database (F-PRO!), message database (M-PRO!), Questionnaire (Q-PRO!), and for statistical analysis of the ACTIVITY.LOG (S-PRO!). A final utility CATEYE is a small TSR (terminate and stay resident) program that may be run on any LAN workstation or in a foreground application under DesqView when multiple lines are installed. CATEYE can inform the sysop of any desired BBS activity by writing briefly to the bottom screen line in a foreground application such as a word processor or spreadsheet. Depending on the configuration CATEYE might indicate "Jim Hunter downloading WILDCAT1.ZIP - Node 3" or :Jim Hunter logged off - Node 3." CATEYE also offers direct control over all nodes at the touch of the hot key ALT-TAB. A screen window appears which allows the sysop to highlight a node and adjust caller timne remaining, perform an auto- logoff, enter chat and almost any other option available at the actual BBS terminal. The PRO! series operate on single and multiple installations. These are the most impressive BBS utilities I've ever encountered. PERFORMNCE: WILDCAT! 2.0 lives up to its name - its fast. It never pauses more than a second or so when searching for a user's name or the caller's personal mail. Refreshing not to see the endless dots we've become used to on many other systems. The speed carries over to the file area where transfers take place at a blinding speed, even on a multi-user system. Downloads using the internal Ymodem/G protocol with a US Robotics HST modem registered over 1600 cps, well over the 960 that might be expected with a 9600 baud modem. Through a combination of assembly language and Turbo Pascal, Mustang Software has created the fastest BBS available on the market today. DOCUMENTATION: The WILDCAT! manual comes with wire-o binding, so much nicer than perfect bound books taht refuse to lay flat on the desk. Almost half of the 250 pages addresses the setup program MAKEWILD, but I didn't even read it since this same text is included in the help screens. The balance devotes itself to an explanation of the program features including detailed reference to the display files available. A seperate section addresses more complex features such as Doors, Drop to DOS, and Events. These are complex activities and the documentation could be expanded with example configurations. The main manual includes an index and table of contents. The text is informal and written in a non-technical style. Version 2.0N and 2.0P also include a smaller "WILDCAT! Network Supplement" which addresses multi-line installations in detail. Seperate sections for server-based LANs, peer-to- peer LANs, DESQview and slave cards cover the addition of multiple lines under each configuration. Some sections of the documentation appeared to lag behind the actual program features, an apparant result of feature additions and enhancements after printing. An addendum addressed the differences but I look forward to the change to 3-Ring binder and slipcase promised for the next printing. EASE OF LEARNING/USE: Bulletin board software is notorious for being complicated and difficult to install. Much of the frustration comes from the intimate interaction necessary between hardware and software in a communications program. Mustang Software has smoothed out WILDCAT!'s installation with one of the best configuration programs available. WILDCAT! operation is intutitive for the sysop. The online user interface adheres to standard terminology and include extensive help for the novice caller. The presentation is clean, clear and to the point. No clutter and easy to follow. SUPPORT: Mustang Software provides free technical support for 90 days from the date of purchase. This seems adequate since after 90 days of daily BBS operation any users will ahve worked out the problems requiring immediate assistance. I called to ask about installation of the external protocol BIMODEM, and my request was transfered to support without delay. Although BiModem itself is not a Mustang SOftware product, my interface problem was solved easily. Support is also available by modem on the WILDCAT! HQ BBS, a five line system reserved for registered WILDCAT! sysops. I found the lines rarely busy. Users questions on the BBS were answered by Mustang Software staff as well as other sysops on the CatHouse. Mustang also offers support on CompuServe in their own section of the PC Vendors Support Forum (GO PCVEN S9). My program (like all others I'm told) included a free subscription to CompuServe with 2 hours of connect time as an introduction to this support service. Voice assistance can be extended for an additional year with the "Auto-Update and Extended Support Plan", a $50 service which also includes free mailing of all minor upgrades to WILDCAT! VALUE: The single line 2.0S is a good buy at $129. The 1-10 line release 2.0N is underpriced at $249. The 1-250 line Professional release with the PRO! series is an exceptional value at $499 if you need the additional line or network access. The PRO! Series should become a part of every WILDCAT! sysop's collection. At only $25 each or $99 for the entire set they shouldn't be overlooked. These utilities are a steal considering the felxibility they offer to the serious sysop. As part of Mustang Software's promotional campaign they created WILDCAT! logo T-shirts with the tag line "WHEN YOU ONLY HAVE TIME TO CALL THE VERY BEST" - I couldn't agree more. ----------------- John C. Dvorak graduated from the University of California. He is a contributing editor of PC MAGAZINE and MACUSER, considered by many to epitomize the contrarian view of things --- a charge a vehemently denies. Dvorak's motto is "If you have nothing nice to say, then don't say anything at all." ============================================================ Typists Notes: Version 2.1 was released and is working wonderfully; registered sysops NOT paying for the extended support plan will be able to dl the new version in Novemberof '89. BI Modem has become an integral part of WILDCAT! and the program has been in operation on my BBS for over 3 years now. It is by far the finest program around. Compare it to PCBoard, which is $149 for a single line version, $499 for a 10 node version and $999 for a 255 line version. Coupled with the lack of flexibility I found in PCBoard, I selected WILDCAT!...a decision I have never regretted! The single line version is availabale locally from COMPUTER DISCOUNTERS for $119, a $10 off the direct purchase price. For more information, call Tom at COMPUTER DISCOUNTERS at (804) 467-4267 Other Tidewater Area BBSs Running WILDCAT: THE FREE BBS CFI BBS THE MAILBOX BBS PLEASURE DOME BBS (Multi-Node) (over 4 years!) SUFFOLK NEWS BBS FROSTLAND BBS SILICON VALLEY BBS SEABEE BBS BOBS BBS