                                BBS Express! ST 

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                   General Help For File Transfer Sub-System
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        Please turn on your capture, if applicable, and save all of
        the following information.  It is divided into two sections
        which describe file transfer terminology in general, and
        then the specific commands of this system's file area.


                              Common Terminology


        "Batch Transfer" :  A batch transfer is either a download or
        upload where several files are sent as a group.  For the BBS
        to know which files you would like to group together to
        download, for instance, you simply view the files from a
        [B]rowse or [C]atalog listing, and select 'M'ark for each
        file you would like to add to your batch.  You must be using
        a terminal program which supports batch protocols in order to
        take advantage of this feature, obviously.  More on the
        protocols later.

        "Blocks" :  The amount of "packets" a given file transfer
        scheme sends and receives the information in.  For example,
        if you were using standard Xmodem protocol and the file you
        were going to receive was 51200 bytes long, it would be
        transferred in 400 blocks (each standard Xmodem packet is
        128 bytes, so 400 times 128 equals 51200).

        "DL" or " UL" :  Stands for Download and Upload.  For those who
        are very unfamiliar with telecommunications jargon, download
        means to transfer a file from a remote system to yours. Upload
        means just the opposite.
        
        "Download Ratio" :  This is usually expressed by a number which
        is the amount of files you can download before the system
        requires you to upload a file.  For instance, a download ratio
        of 4:1 means that after you download 4 files, you must upload
        1 file, or the BBS will not allow you to receive any more files.
        So 4:1 is like saying "four downloads to one upload."

        "Protocol":  When you download a file from a BBS, you must use
        some sort of protocol to insure a proper transfer.  Protocols
        currently supported are Xmodem, Xmodem-CRC, Xmodem-1K, Ymodem
        and Zmodem.  A brief rundown of protocol follows:

                Xmodem :  This is the protocol that most everyone
                          is familiar with and just about any
                          terminal program supports.  It is also
                          the slowest.  Because the information is
                          sent and received in 128-byte packets,
                          error-checking is more frequent; this is
                          one of the chief reasons to look into
                          another protocol.

            Xmodem-CRC :  Also sent in 128-byte packets, but this
                          is a more reliable protocol than the
                          original Xmodem, or standard checksum
                          method.  CRC stands for Cyclic Redunancy
                          Check.  CRC can be used with this, the
                          128-byte packet protocol, or with the
                          1024-byte Xmodem-1K protocol.
                          
             Xmodem-1K :  Often called Ymodem by mistake, this is
                          exactly the same protocol as Xmodem-CRC,
                          except the packet size is 1024-bytes.
                          1024-bytes = 1 Kilobyte, hence the name
                          "Xmodem-1K".  Most software supports
                          this, and BBS Express! ST will detect
                          automatically whether you are using CRC
                          on your terminal or not.

                Ymodem :  Ymodem is an improvement to the above
                          protocol; it will tell your terminal the
                          name of the file you are downloading, and
                          you can transfer a number of files with a
                          single command. Transferring files this
                          way is known is "batching" -- hence this
                          protocol is also known as "Ymodem Batch."

                Zmodem :  On of the latest entries in the protocol
                          arena, Zmodem is by far superior to all of
                          the above in terms of speed, convenience
                          and reliability.  Not all communications
                          software supports Zmodem yet, so if yours
                          does not have it built in, check into an
                          add-on or another software package.  It's
                          really that good.  All that applies to
                          Ymodem above also applies to Zmodem, plus
                          if you are in the midst of downloading and
                          somehow get disconnected, you can call back
                          and restart where you left off!

        "SIG":  This stands for Special Interest Group.  When we say
        SIG, we are referring to a particular file area of the BBS
        where files are grouped together (ie games, utilities, etc.)
        BBS Express! ST currently allows up to 32 SIGs.  This way we
        can support the file interests of more than one category and
        computer type.

        "Transfer Time" :  The BBS calculates the time it will take to
        send you any given file, based on your current baud rate.  If
        the transfer time exceeds the limit imposed by the System
        Operator (SysOp), then you will be informed (and denied the
        ability to download that file.)


                       File Area Command Descriptions


        [B] Browse Files

        When you press 'B' to enter browse mode you may specify some
        search criteria, or press RETURN to view all the files in the
        SIG.  This mode takes you one file at a time through the files
        which match your search criteria in the current SIG.  If you
        wished to see all the files which began with the letter "B",
        you would enter "B*.*" (less quotes).  As a further shortcut
        you can leave out the period, or dot, and the BBS will assume
        it for you -- so "B**" is equivilent to "B*.*".  Once you are
        browsing files, you can mark a file, download a file, view
        the contents of an ARC/LZH/ZIP'ed file, read an ASCII file,
        skip to the previous or next file, bring up a menu of commands,
        go into brief or verbose mode, or quit to the file SIG level.

        [C] Catalog Files

        All the information above regarding search criteria apply in
        the same way to the catalog mode.  Type the criteria (or press
        RETURN for all files) and you will receive a listing of files
        with 15 files per page (or 7 if you are in 40 column mode).
        There is a brief file description, too.  A one-line menu will 
        appear at the bottom of each page, and from here you can mark
        files, download a single file, view a full description, or
        continue to the next page.  You may also return to a previous
        page by pressing '-'.

        [D] Download A Single File

        This option applies only when you know the name of the file you
        are going to download, and only to a single file.  It is really
        better to use the [C]atalog or [B]rowse options to select a
        file, but this option is here for those who want to use it.

        [E] Erase Marked Files

        If you decide you wish to scrap your entire list of marked
        files and start again, use this option.

        [G] Goodbye
        
        If you wish to leave the BBS without returning to the main
        command level, you may do so with this option.
        
        [H] Help With Commands
        
        This is the file you are reading now!
        
        [L] List Marked Files
        
        If you have marked some files in the browse or catalog modes, 
        you can view a list of those files now -- along with each file
        size and approximate transfer time, followed by a tally of
        all the files, total bytes and total transfer time.
        
        [N] New Files
        
        Use this option to automatically execute browse mode and show
        you only the files uploaded since your last call date.  You can
        also do this globally (for all the SIGs available to you) by
        a main menu command.  See the menu at the main command level
        for details.

        [P] Profile of Your Stats

        This is the data from your user file which will tell you what
        your download ratio is, and how many files you have downloaded
        and uploaded since joining the BBS.
        
        [R] Remove File From Batch

        Use this to delete one file from your marked batch.  

        [S] Search by Date Specifier

        With this option, you may enter a date and the BBS will execute
        a browse of all file from that date forward.  All the normal
        browse options are available.

        [T] Terminal Translation

        Since the BBS supports more than just ASCII in the file areas,
        you can select your favorite emulation mode to add some colors.

        [U] Upload (Single and Batch)

        If you wish to send a file to the BBS, just go to the file area
        that best suits your upload and select this option.  If you are
        using either Ymodem or Zmodem, you can send your file(s) from
        any SIG; the BBS will prompt you after the send for the proper
        file area.  You should enter a file desciption for each file
        uploaded to the BBS.  Just follow the prompts.

        [X] Exit To Main

        This is your way back to the main command level of the BBS.

        [Y] Ymodem and Zmodem Batch Download

        To use this option, be sure you have marked one or more files
        while in browse or catalog mode, and be sure your terminal
        software supports either of the two protocols above.

        [=] Choose Another File Area

        You can press '=' followed by the number of the SIG you wish to
        jump to, or as a shortcut, just type the SIG number by itself.
        There is no carriage return necessary if the number is above 3.

        [\] Go To Next File Area

        The '\' will take you directly to the next available SIG.

        [@] Mark/UnMark This File SIG

        Pressing '@' will toggle the status of the current file SIG on
        your Xpress Scan list.

        [?] File Area Menu

        Pressing '?' will display a menu from just about anywhere on the
        BBS.  Always try it when in doubt!

        [Num] File SIG Number

        Just like '=' typing a number will jet you directly from one SIG
        to any valid SIG number you type.  A carriage return is not
        necessary if the number is greater than 3.

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        Well that's about it.  Hope this tour of the file SIG area
        commands has been helpful for you in learning our system.  Why
        not print out a hardcopy of it and keep it handy until you fully
        learn all the features available?
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