Shareware Grab Bag/Shareware Grab Bag.iso/010/2amuser.arc/NEWPROD.TXT

Text File | 1986-12-21 | 13KB | 411 lines

            2AM-BBS Version 2.0
            Product Description


Thank you for requesting more information on 2AM-BBS.  This
document contains a little product history and a guide to
the features of the BBS from both the user's view and the
sysop's view.

Product History
===============

2AM-BBS was written by Chris Gorman and Neil Clarke
(hereafter referred to as "we").  In January of 1986, we
decided that the software that was running on our board at
Drew University (we are students there...the board is the
Drew Underground, 201-377-8245) was too slow and didn't have
all the features we wanted.  Since we both had programming
experience (we are both computer science majors), we figured
there was no harm in writing a piece of software.  Well,
maybe we were wrong.  We started writing 2AM-BBS in CP/M on
an Epson QX-16 using TURBO Pascal.  We soon switched to MS-
DOS because the code was getting bigger and bigger, but CP/M
wasn't.  After months of 12 hour stretches at the keyboard,
something began to evolve.  In the meantime, we were talking
with our veteran users and bouncing ideas off of them.    Many
got interested in the project, and we got a lot of good
suggestions.  When the software finally went up at the
Underground in April of 1986, criticisms and suggestions
abounded.  By June, we had gotten everything to a point
where it worked, and worked well; we were ready.  We had a
good idea and wanted to share it.  After some quick lessons
on advertising (including one from a sysop in New York who
said "you need a product description"), we have gotten it
all together to a point where 2AM-BBS is for sale.  However,
we were far from finished.  In september, we put in routines
that allow 2AM-BBS to be run on a Bi-Tech star network.
With this modification, 2AM-BBS can be run on 2-8 Epson
QX-16's or IBM's (or compatibles) multiplexed to one hard
drive.    The result is a very efficient multi-user version.
Thru September and October, we are working on the second
version of the product, and in this version, in addition to
many improved sections, we hope to make additional revisions
that will allow 2AM-BBS to be run as a multi-user system on
an IBM PC-AT (or AT compatible) with 2 or more serial ports.

Our Philosophy
==============












Every programmer puts this section in.    It is to convince
you that we are people, not a faceless company, even though
we want to charge you money for the software (to eat and pay
tuition with...little stuff like that).

When you buy 2AM-BBS, you get the attention of two people
who want to see your BBS flourish as much as you do.
Although time is never on our side, we are ALWAYS around to
answer questions, provide suggestions, and write updates for
those of us who are NEVER satisfied with the software.

Program Specifications
======================

2AM-BBS runs on any IBM PC-XT/AT or compatible.  A specially
modified version is also available for the Epson QX-16
running DOS.  We have also made additional modifications to
                     1
allow the program to run on a Bi-Tech  Star Network.  On a
network, you can have 2-8 QX-16's AND/OR IBM PC-XT/AT or
compatibles multiplexed together running the same software.
In addition, a version that allows you to run the program
off of 2 or more serial ports on an IBM-PC/AT or compatible
should be ready by January of 1987.  The program currently
retails for $75 which includes the software, a sysop's
manual, a copy of this user's manual, the home phone numbers
of the authors who will be glad to answer questions that
come up and lifetime free updates (we have gotten addicted
to updates).  If you are interested in purchasing the board,
contact us through feedback at the Drew Underground (number
above).

The Product description -- What the user sees
=============================================


1.  Login -- request for:
    1.1.  Name
    1.2.  Address
    1.3.  Phone number
    1.4.  Age
    1.5.  Answers to up to three survey questions that are
      completely designed by the sysop.
2.  Full ANSI support.    Menus, login notes, and messages can
    be written with embedded ANSI graphics.  For users who
    cannot display ANSI, this feature is easily turned off.
3.  Message Bases -- unlimited number of message bases with:
    3.1.  Fast, easy to use read and quickscan features
      including read/quickscan new messages on a base,
      and read/quickscan new messages on a range of

-----------

1. The Bi-Tech star network is available thru Bi-Tech
   enterprises, Bohemia, New York


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      bases including all bases.  When reading new
      messages on several bases, a user can pause
      between each base and post a message on that base.
      Also, bases can be referenced to by name.  No
      longer do you have to remember message base
      numbers.
    3.2.  Options for deleting, undeleting, and editing each
      message.
    3.3.  2AM-BBS automatically keeps track of which
      messages are new and old for all users.
4.  Email -- Send electronic mail to a specific user.
    Features include:
    4.1.  Read incoming messages with reply AND forwarding
      options.
    4.2.  Read outgoing messages.
    4.3.  Send mail to any user.
    4.4.  Notification of read and unread messages -- keep
      track of who has and hasn't received your messages
      easily.
    4.5.  Userlog feature available where you can pattern
      match search for a user if you forget a user name.
    This utility is quick (searching for incoming mail is
    almost instantaneous as compared with most other
    boards), and very easy to use.
5.  Voting booth utility that allows users to vote upon up
    to 16 different questions with up to 10 multiple choice
    responses for each question.  Great for user surveys and
    just plain fun.
6.  Trivia utility that allows users to answer 10 trivia
    questions on a variety of topics.  Up to 10 sets of
    questions can be created by the sysop.
7.  Archiver -- Bulletins and articles are here.  They can
    be organized into an unlimited number of libraries so
    that a document is easily found.  Documents can then be
    read online or text or xmodem downloaded to be read
    later.
8.  FILES -- Public domain software online for xmodem
    downloading.  Software is organized into libraries, each
    of which has a directory in the standard, easy to read
    format.  Facility is available to get a listing of just
    the new files in a library.
9.  BBS Lister -- Online database of Bulletin boards.  This
    is not just a text file.  Users can search through the
    database for BBS's that run on a particular computer or
    software, or by telephone prefix, board name, location,
    and telephone number.  The database is separated into
    local (same area code) and non-local listings and each
    listing can be gotten in a full (complete) or brief
    format.
10.  Help files on every user option on the board.  If a
     user is confused with an option, it is covered here.
     All help files are organized in one utility that gives
     a menu of files to read.  Help can be called from
     everywhere;  one keystroke will end confusion.



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11.  Chat -- Standard chat module with word-wrap and the
     ability to edit user records while on-line.
12.  Konfigure utility that allows a user to set up terminal
     parameters and turn on and off various pause features
     in the board to his/her taste.
13.  Other main options include:
     13.1.  Feedback
     13.2.  System Information file
     13.3.  Message base list
     13.4.  Daily log for any date
     13.5.  User status

Product Description -- The Sysop's View
=======================================

1.  An online user validator that:
    1.1.  Keeps a system log of new users, BBS's added to
      BBS database, uploads and downloads
    1.2.  Keeps a log of all chat requests
    1.3.  Quickscan all users
    1.4.  Delete user
    1.5.  View and edit:
      1.5.1.  Username
      1.5.2.  Password
      1.5.3.  Phone number
      1.5.4.  Date of first and most recent login
      1.5.5.  Total time online
      1.5.6.  Number of calls made by each person
      1.5.7.  Time limit on system
      1.5.8.  User Privilege bits
      1.5.9.  Logfails
      1.5.10.  Number of email messages
      1.5.11.  Real name and address
      1.5.12.  Age
      1.5.13.  Reference
      1.5.14.  Application question responses
      for each user
     For each user, you can individually turn on or off 160
    privilege bits.  Several of these bits are used to
    control access to options in each module and the rest
    are available for you to assign (more on this later).
2.  In the FILES utility, there is a maintenance section
    that allows you to add files to the directory lists.
    When you add a file, you can specify a user privilege
    bit for the user to see the file in the directory.    Thus
    you can restrict a file from certain users and offer
    certain files to only a select group of users.  Giving a
    general access privilege bit to a file allows all users
    to access that file.
3.  In the archiver utility, there is a maintenance section
    that allows you to add bulletins and articles to the
    directory listings of each library.  These documents can
    also be individually privilege restricted.
4.  In the BBS lister, there are sysop sections to edit and
    delete boards from the database.  Also, you can assign


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    privilege bits so that a user can add just one entry to
    the database or so that a user can add any number of
    entries to the database.
5.  In chat, you can customize messages that are output to
    the user when requesting chat, leaving chat, etc.  In
    chat, you can edit the user's user record, change time
    limits, and dump files on the terminal screen if you
    want to show a user something in particular.
6.  In Email, there is an Emaint section that allows you to
    view the to/from fields on the messages, file messages,
    delete messages, and, if necessary, read messages.    You
    can restrict a user from using Email if necessary.
7.  In the editor, there are options to load and save text
    files so that you can use the editor to setup bulletins,
    etc.  Using privilege bits, you raise or lower the
    number of lines a user is allowed to fill when posting a
    message.  Also, the editor has full word wrap and a host
    of commands that make it both easy and flexible to use.
8.  In the message bases, you can specify a user privilege
    bit to gain access to a base for both reading and
    writing and for maintenance.  With these bits, you can
    easily set up special access bases and give users the
    privilege to maintain individual bases.
9.  In Trivia, there is a maintenance section for creating
    question files and scoring answers that users have
    given.
10.  In the voting booth, there are options for the sysop to
     create and delete voting topics.
11.  There is a maintenance utility from the main menu that
     allows you to:
     11.1.  Make sub directories
     11.2.  Delete sub directories
     11.3.  Erase a file
     11.4.  Rename a file
     11.5.  Copy a file
     11.6.  Read text files
     11.7.  Xmodem specific files to and from the BBS.
12.  All new to version2 is a utility that allows users to
     jump to DOS and execute programs and DOS commands.
     With this jumping ability, you can allow users to run a
     whole host of programs while keeping 2AM-BBS resident
     in memory.
13.  Also, if any errors crop up (unlikely), there is a
     built in error handler that will log the error.  The
     board will never crash as this routine will
     automatically restart the board after an error.  Errors
     will be fixed promptly and free of charge by 2AM
     Associates


If you have any further questions or wish to order a copy of
2AM-BBS, contact either of us through feedback at the Drew
Underground (201-377-8245 or 201-377-8193 or 201-377-7861)
or write:



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     2AM Associates
     59 Murphy Circle
     Florham Park, NJ 07932






















































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