   Fnordadel Network Tutorial
 
   Fnordadel can network rooms that are designated by an Aide or Sysop as
"shared" rooms.  Shared rooms can be identified by their prompts, which differ
from normal room prompts (">", "]").  Room prompts are ")" for network rooms,
and ":" for network directory rooms.  An exception is the Mail> room, which is
considered to be permanently networked, but uses the ">" prompt anyway.
 
   Network rooms may have both normal (local) messages, and network messages.
Local messages will not be sent to other systems, while network messages are
present on the local system PLUS as many other systems as are in the network
for that particular room.
 
   Normally, you must have been granted network privileges by the Sysop in
order to post a networkable message.  However, there is sometimes a way around
this restriction:  auto-net rooms.  These are rooms in which all messages
entered are automatically made into network messages, even if the author does
not have network privileges.  The Mail> room is never auto-netted; you will
always need network privileges to enter networked mail; you will also need
long-distance net credits if you're trying to send mail to a system that is
long-distance (according to the phone company).
 
   Even if a room is auto-net, local messages (ones that will not be
sent out on the net) are still possible.  Use .E(nter) L(ocal-message), or
save the message using [L]ocal-save in the message editor instead of [S]ave.
 
   The command for explicitly entering a network message is ".E(nter)
N(etwork-Message)".  When you enter the command,
 
   (1) If you are in the Mail> room, you will be asked for the destination
system.  A carriage return here aborts the message.  A question mark ("?")
will print out a list of systems that are currently on the net; this is a
convenience in case you don't quite know the spelling of a system's net name.
 
   After supplying the net system's name, you are asked for the recipient's
name.  NOTE:  The recipient's name for net mail CAN NOT be checked when you
enter the message.  Therefore, be VERY VERY careful when spelling the name!
Mail to "Sysop" on another system is allowed, and could be used to ask the
correct spelling of another user's name, or whatever.
 
   (2) If this is a room other than Mail>, you are allowed to enter your
message (if you have network privileges).  The message header will have
attached to it "@<this system's name>" to let you and everyone else know that
this is a net-message.  The message will be sent out to all other boards
participating in the net for that particular room, during the next network
session.
 
   There are a couple of other ways to enter a net-message as well.  If you
are in Mail>, you may send a net-message by using [E]nter and entering
"user@system" when Fnordadel asks you for the recipient, where "user" is the
name of the person to receive the message, and "system" is the target board.
 
   Also, if you started a normal message in a shared room or Mail>, you may
make the message a net-message by doing a [N]etwork save in the message editor,
instead of a [S]ave.
 
   Systems may network with each other in what appears to be a totally
haphazard way.  They may use "any time" networking, and call each other when
they have been idle for a few minutes.  Or they may use network "events",
designated times during the day when each system enters a special networking
mode to make and/or receive network calls.  Or they may use a combination of
both.  If you should call during a net event, the system will tell you that
it's busy, when it will be finished, and then punt you off again.
 
%%SEE ALSO:
%MAIL All about private mail
%TOPICS Main help topics list
