Synchronet Documentation Glossary of Terms Alias: False name that a user is known as. The use of Aliases is common on BBSs. Synchronet allows the sysop to disallow the use of them, forcing all users to be known by their real names. ANSI: American National Standards Institute. References made to ANSI are actually referring to the ANSI terminal definition and the related escape sequences used to change cursor positioning and text attributes. Archive: A file that contains multiple (possibly compressed) files, that can be expanded. Archived files usually have a specific extension that specifies what type of archive utility was used to create it. The most popular archive utilities are PkZip (.ZIP files), LhArc (.LZH and .ICE files), and ARJ (.ARJ files). ASCII: American Standard Code of Information Interchange. A 7 bit binary code used to represent letters, numbers, symbols, and control codes. Supported by almost every computer and terminal manufacturer. See Extended ASCII. BBS: Bulletin Board System. A system configured to accept users via modem or network to access public and private messages. Many BBSs also incorporate file transfers (the uploading and downloading of program and data files), information services, online entertainment, and more. BPS: Bits Per Second or Bit Rate. The rate of data transmitted between modems. For every byte of data (8 bits), a start and stop bit are added for a total of ten bits per data byte. So a through-put of 2400bps means 2400 bits are being transmitted every second, of which only 1950 bits are data. Chat: Online real-time communication between users. COM Port: RS-232 communications port on an IBM PC compatible computer through which digital signals are exchanged between it and the modem (or other peripheral). The interface is either a 25 or 9 pin mail connector. Command Line: The complete syntax used for the execution of a program. Includes the program path and name to execute and any parameters that may be required by the program for proper execution. Compression: See Archive. Co-sysop: BBS user with additional privileges to enable partial system maintenance. Co-sysops on a Synchronet system would usually have an ML in the range 80-89 and have an exemption flag for each sysop function he is given rights to. CR: Carriage Return. This character represents the end of a line of text and is usually initiated with the ENTER key on most keyboards. Decompression: See Extraction. Directory: A section within a file library that contains files for uploading or downloading. Also known as a file area. Download: Transferring a file from a BBS or other host system to a remote computer. DCE: Data Communications Equipment. Dial-up modems that establish and control the data link via the telephone network. DCE Rate: The data transfer rate between two modems. DTE: Data Terminal Equipment. The device that generates or is the final destination of data - the computer. DTE Rate: The data transfer rate between the computer and the modem. E-mail or Electronic Mail: Private multiple line messages between users that are stored on a BBS until the receiver deletes them. Escape Sequence: A sequence of characters usually preceded by a control code to perform attribute changes and cursor positioning on a terminal. See ANSI. Exemptions: Extended privileges given to users to remove access limitations or provide access to certain sysop functions. See USEREDIT.DOC. External Programs: Programs (.COM, .EXE, or .BAT files) that the BBS executes for added functionality. External programs are used for archive manipulation, file transfers, games, databases, text editors, virus scanning, backups, and more. Often referred to as doors or chains. Extraction: The splitting (and possible decompression) of an archived file into the original set of multiple files. See Archive. File Transfer Protocol: See Transfer Protocol. Flag: One of 26 possible switches labeled A through Z. Flags are used to represent specific security privileges or restrictions for a user. See USEREDIT.DOC for more information. Group or Message Group: A group of message sub-boards with a similar subject matter. Hardware Flow Control: The modem's use of the CTS (Clear to Send) line to control the flow of data to from the computer to the modem. LAN or Local Area Network: A group of personal computers connected in a local environment for the purpose of sharing data, applications, and peripherals. Library or Lib: A group of transfer directories with a similar subject matter. Logon: The act of entering a BBS system through a valid user account. Message: File stored on the system created by a user that may contain ASCII text ,Ctrl-A codes, and ANSI escape sequences. Messages are either public (posted on a sub-board) or private (e-mail sent to a single user). MF or Main Flags: Sysop configurable flags that can determine which Message Groups, Sub-boards, External Programs, and General Text File Sections a user can have access to. If a section of the board has been configured by the sysop to only allow access to users with a certain flag, then only user's with that flag set (and meet the other section requirements) will have access. See USEREDIT.DOC for more information. ML or Main Level: A decimal value in the range of 0 to 99 that determines a user's main security level on Synchronet BBS. A user's ML determines how long he can stay online per call, total time per day, total logons a day, maximum number of lines per message, which Message Groups, Sub-boards, External Programs, and General Text File Sections the user can access. Multinode: System that operates with multiple simultaneous access paths to the same database of messages and other resources. Multitask: The act of performing multiple tasks seemingly simultaneously. Modem: A device that transmits/receives computer data through a communications channel such as radio or telephone lines. Modems modulate, or transform, digital signals from a computer into an analog form that can be carried successfully on a phone line. Modems also demodulate signals received from the phone link back to digital signals before passing them to the receiving computer. Network: Connection of two or more computers to facilitate the sharing of resources. See LAN and WAN. NUP or New User Password: A password that the sysop has determined as a requirement before a new user can apply for access. Online: The state of a user when he is currently using a BBS. Offline: The state of a BBS or BBS Node when it is not able to receive users and the state of a user when he is not currently using the BBS. Post: The act of a user writing and saving a message on a public sub-board. Protocol: A system of rules and procedures governing communications between two or more devices. Protocols vary, but communicating devices must follow the same protocol in order to exchange data. The format of the data, readiness to receive or send, error detection and error correction are some of the operations that may be defined in protocols. See Transfer Protocol. QWK Packet: A single compressed file, usually created by PKZIP, that contains new messages, e-mail, sysop bulletins, and a list of new files that can be downloaded by a user for use with an offline message reader. The filename is the BBS ID followed by a .QWK extension (regardless of the compression method). The developer of this packet format was Mark Herring (Sparky) of Sparkware, for use with his Qmail Door (external program). There are many popular offline message readers that support the QWK format. REP Packet: A QWK reply packet. Also, a single compressed file, usually created by PKZIP, that contains e-mail or posts from the user that he/she created with an offline message reader. The filename is the BBS ID followed by a .REP extension. The packet must be uploaded by the user before the messages and e-mail can be sent to the destination users or posted. Restrictions: Flags that a sysop can place on a user to restrict the user from certain features of a BBS. RS-232: Interface standard developed by the Electronic Industries Association (EIA) to define the signals and voltages used when data is exchanged between a computer or terminal and a modem or serial printer. Data is usually transmitted via a cable with a 9 or 25 pin connector. Serial Port: See COM Port. Sub-board: A section within a message group that contains multiple messages posted by users on a specific topic. Also referred to as a conference, forum, or special interest group (SIG). Sysop: System Operator. A person who participates in the maintenance or management of a BBS. In Synchronet, sysops are defined as users with a main level of 90 or greater. Text File Sections: Areas for the storage of text files that the sysop wants users to have the ability to read. Often referred to as general text file sections. Common text files would be information about the BBS, ANSI art work, and documents on debatable subjects. Text files placed in text file sections do not get purged as public messages do and are not part of the transfer section, so transfer points and transfer access are not required. TF or Transfer Flags: Flags that a sysop can use to make certain file libraries or directories only accessible to users that have those flags set. If the sysop has configured a library or directory to only allow access to users with a certain TF set, then only users with that flag set will have access. See USEREDIT.DOC for more information. TL or Transfer Level: A decimal number in the range of 0 to 99 that a sysop can use to restrict certain users from accessing file libraries or directories. See USEREDIT.DOC for more information. Transfer Protocol: A protocol designed to govern the transmission of files between two computer systems. BBS transfer protocols are usually specific to modem transmissions. The most common of which are Xmodem, Ymodem, and Zmodem. Most communications programs contain built-in protocol support and stand-alone transfer protocol programs (like Omen Technology's DSZ) are also available. UART: Universal Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter. The IC that controls the serial port I/O. You must have a UART for each COM port in your computer. The most common UARTs for IBM PCs are NS8250s and NS16450s. If you are using a high-speed (9600bps or higher) modem with your COM port and having communication problems, quite often the only solution is to replace your UART for that COM port with a buffered UART, usually an NS16550AFN. SBBS's use of interrupt driven COM I/O allows high-speed modems to communicate accurately without a buffered UART, so an NS16550AFN is not necessary or even utilized. More modern UARTs are being integrated with other peripheral controller ICs into a single chip (or chip-set). This design does not allow for the replacement of the actual UART. Internal modems have their own built-in UART. Upload: Transferring a file from a remote computer to a BBS or other host system. User to User Transfer: An upload that is sent to a particular user or set of users. These transfers are only allowed if the sysop creates a sub-board with a short name of "User". The sysop should set the access TL to 90 and the upload TL to something in the user range to allow users to upload to the directory, but not be able to list the contents of the directory. A user performs a user to user upload with the '/U' command from the transfer menu, and the destination user(s) can download the file with the '/D' command. /* End of GLOSSARY.TXT */