17 Bit Software 2: Collection B/17Bit_Collection_B.iso/files/2248.dms/in.adf/Noahs/BBS's

Text File | 1978-05-26 | 8.6 KB | 285 lines

                                   BBS'ing

  Hopping around the local boards is a fun way to spend some computer time,

and you'll have a good time with it.  The biggest "hassle", if that's the

word, is that different boards naturally use different software, so they're

all set up differently.  But you'll get used to them.


  Some things are fairly constant, like when you're in the message base

answering a message, S usually means Save, but other things can be dramatic-

ally different, so stay on your toes until you learn the system.


  Most BBS's have key commands something like this:

       Ctrl-P quits Scrolling or Search and gets you back to the menu.

       Ctrl-X quits an up/download.

       Ctrl-S Stops (pauses) a file from scrolling.  If you're using the

              Non-Interlace mode and a function scrolls off your screen,

              do the function again and use Ctrl-S to pause it.  Hit any

              key to continue.  You can also hold the right mouse button

              down to pause things.


  There are also a lot of boards out there that use P for Pause and S for

for Stop, which seems to make sense, in some strange, arcane way.

  Usually "Return" means Continue and a "?" means "show page again".  Some

boards use "hot keys", meaning you don't have to hit the Return after every

entry.  You might not like it at first, but you will, promise.


  Some also use "hot menus", meaning you don't have to wait for the menu to

end before hitting the next key, a personal favorite.


  The best function on any board is the Search feature, so use it, have your

little list of BBS key words at the ready, and go for it.  When searching

with a key word, use just enough letters to locate the file, don't overdo it.


  All BBS software programs seem to get slightly bent out of shape when

you don't Exit the system properly, so show some manners and do it right.


  Most SysOps appreciate (private mail) feedback on their systems, such as

mention of a mixspelled word or suggestion for a new directory.


  When you first register on a new BBS, things will usually be fairly easy to

understand.  Pick Zmodem for your protocol if your software supports it, pick

80 for your screen width and either 22 (Non-Interlace) or 44 (Interlace) for

number of lines per page.  That should do it.


Up/Download Help:

  To download a file, you need to do four simple things:

  1. Make sure your "Protocol" setting on the board matches the one you're
     using at home.  Somewhere in your terminal program, probably with a
     pull-down menu, you'll have various Protocol options, so pick ZModem
     if your program supports it.  Then go to the Main Menu of the board and
     "O" for Options and make sure they match.  Making sure your Protocols
     match is really the only important thing you have to do, but it IS
     important, so do it.  There might be a P: Protocol on the Files Menu.
     Many corrupt downloads can be traced back to mismatched protocols.

  2. Go to the Files Menu, then the Area Menu, then pick an area of interest
     and check out the files.  Scribble down the file names of the ones that
     look interesting, then hit "D" to Download.

  3. Type in the file name at the prompt and the BBS gets it ready to send.

  4. Pull down one of your terminal program's menus to "Download File" (or
     whatever), and that should do it.  Your term program might support a
     Right-Amiga-D to start the download, or it may do it automatically.
     You'll have already put the downloads directory pathname in your
     terminal program.  On some of the older term progs, you have to enter
     in the full pathname of the new file, then hit Return.

Uploading is pretty much the same procedure:

  1. Protocols match?  Hit "U" for Upload.

  2. Enter in the full file name.

  3. Enter in the description if it wants it now.

  4. Pull down your menu to Upload, do the thing, and there she goes.


  There aren't any settings besides the Protocol that will prevent a good

download, so if you ARE having hassles, it's most likely a problem on your

end.  If you're having any problems with your terminal program, give NCOMM921

a shot, my board recommendation.  If you've downloaded the same file twice,

maybe with two different protocols, and it's still corrupt, then probably

the board's copy is bad, and you should notify the SysOp.


  If you have Call Waiting with your phone service, you can call Ma Bell

and request their Call Waiting Disabling service to be activated, or just

try it, it may already be.  Put a *70 after your ATDT dial prefix in your

terminal program, and no more interruptions!  If you're living at your

parent's house, just don't tell 'em you did it, heh.

Notes on file compression:

  BBS files are compressed for two reasons: One, it bunches all the indepen-

dent files into one neat little package, and two, it compresses the files as

it packs them, so you end up with a smaller total package, thus a quicker

transfer time.


  There are five main types of compression you'll see out there:

               .arc - very popular once.  Poorest compression ratio

                      of the bunch.

               .zoo - another oldie, had some known quirks.

               .zip - works pretty well but never caught on much with Ami.

                      Uses a full-screen program, not just a handy CLI.

                      (The one CLI version I came across was real slow)

               .lzh - has been the standard for last number of years; very

                      quick and good file compression ratio.

               .lha - Latest rage, tiny bit faster/tighter than .lzh



  Since there are five methods of compression, you'll naturally have to

have a bunch of different tools for your downloads:


               Pkax    - for .arc files (just decompresses)

               Zoo     - for .zoo files

               PKAZip  - for .zip files

               LHA132  - for .lzh and .lha files (or latest version)

   PD-SOFT NOTE:  Many of the file archive utilities mentioned are

available on disk "V800".


  You can get the layout from just typing in the program's name for any of

the above; they're real easy to use.  Since you should be using LHA,

here's a brief summary of the routine.  LHA does both .lha and .lzh files.


  To decompress a file:

  > copy the file to an empty dir, or preferably Ram

  > CD to that dir

  > enter "LHA x <filename>"  That'll decompress the file into that dir.
    You don't have to type the ".lzh" or ".lha" part of the filename.

  > Because you started with an empty dir, or you're in an empty Ram, you
    know that everything in there came from the compressed file.


  To compress a file:

  > copy whatever you want to compress to an empty dir, or Ram

  > CD to that dir

  > enter "LHA a <newfilename> *"  The "a" makes the new file, and the "*"
    compresses everything in the current directory, the one you're in


  To compress dirs and sub-dirs, use "LHA -rx a <newfilename> *"  The -r

makes it do "recursive" directories (dir and sub-dirs), and the -x keeps

the pathnames together.


  To compress a file in the .lzh format, use "LHA -0 a <newfilename> *"

                                       *

  Remember to take it slow and have fun when you're on the BBS's...hey,

you've got an Amiga...don't forget!  Remember to always check for N)ew files

while you're there, even if you're going to call back in a few minutes,

'cause they may not be "New" to you then, and won't be displayed.


  As far as viruses go, don't worry about it unless you're decompressing

a "warped" disk, like a .dms, .lhw, .wrp or .zom.  As soon as it's written

to a blank disk, toss the disk in df1 and run your virus-checkers.  The

warped disks carry the boot block of the disk, a common place for viruses

to hang out.


  If you've got some bucks to spend, definitely get on GEnie (CompuServe's

a bit pricey), as well as maybe check up on PC-Pursuit, so you can enjoy

calling major boards in other cities, or ask your long-distance carrier.

You'll also probably have local boards that charge a subscription rate to

either get on the board in the first place, or to get to the good stuff, so

you might give that a whirl.


  Enable the Auto-Download feature if your term program supports it.  Also

the Auto-Resume, so it'll pick up a download where you left off, if you

happen to get cut off.  Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.


  The Amiga multi-tasks very well with the term program dialing in the back-

ground, so don't hesitate to set things on Continuous Dial and then go about

your business, play some games, whatever!


  Have fun!



                                           TBM