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MEGAHOST System Version 2.30 Document Created on January 1, 1994 Don Mankin Copyright (c) 1994 by Don Mankin All Rights Reserved 231 Market Place #353 San Ramon, CA 94583 Support BBS Number 209-836-2402 (ONLINE Registration) This is a user supported product. We encourage you to pass it along to others. If you find MEGAHOST of value, please register it with us. If used commercially or for commercial purposes, a registration fee of $79 (US Dollars) is required. Otherwise, registration would be just $49. Include $4.00 shipping and handling plus California sales tax of 7.75% if ordering from California. Please send your registration to the above address or, register online using your MasterCard or Visa. Support of this product is provided exclusively through the Support BBS at the number provided above. Thanks for supporting MEGAHOST! MEGAHOST User Guide Contents I. INTRODUCTION .........................................2 II. THE SMALL PRINT .....................................4 2.1 Shareware ......................................4 2.2 Warranties (There aren't any) .................4 2.3 Miscellaneous Notices ..........................4 III. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ....................................4 IV. MEGAHOST FILES ......................................5 4.1 Files Used by MEGAHOST .........................5 4.2 Examples of Displays to Callers ................6 4.3 Files Created by MEGAHOST ......................7 4.4 Documentation for MEGAHOST .....................9 V INSTALLATION ..........................................10 5.1 Modem and Cable ................................10 5.1.1 Modem Settings ..........................10 5.1.2 AT Cable Configuration ..................11 5.2 Directory Setup ................................12 5.2.1 General and for Single-User Systems .....12 5.2.2 Special Instructions for a multi-user BBS ............................................12 5.3 Computer Configuration .........................13 5.3.1 Autoexec.bat ............................13 5.3.2 Config.sys ..............................13 5.3.3 Multi-User BBS Requirements .............14 5.3.4 Operation under Desqview ................14 5.3.4.1 Desqview and ANSI ................14 5.3.4.2 Change a Program Settings ........14 5.4 Program Configuration ..........................15 5.4.1 Configuring Security Level ..............15 5.4.2 The Menuing System ......................16 5.4.3 MEGAHOST.CNF Settings ...................18 ACFILES= ..................................18 ALLOW300= .................................18 ANSIDELAY= ................................18 ANSWERSTRING= .............................18 ASKANSI= ..................................19 ASKBIG= ...................................19 ASKCONDOR= ................................19 ASKFILECHECK= .............................20 ASKMAILCHECK= .............................20 ASKNAPLPS= ................................20 ASKRIP= ...................................21 AUTOINDUCTION= ............................21 MEGAHOST Copyright (c) 1994 - by Don Mankin i MEGAHOST User Guide BATCHLOG= .................................21 BATCHON= ..................................22 BATCHOFF= .................................22 BATCHUPL= .................................23 BAUD= .....................................23 BBSNAME= ..................................23 BETWEENRINGS= .............................23 BIOS= .....................................23 BUMPNEWUSERSECURITY= ......................24 BUMPQUESTIONNAIRE= ........................24 CALLBACK= .................................24 CALLERRECS= ...............................24 CHANGEMENU= ...............................24 CHECKAPI= .................................24 CLOSEDSYSTEM= .............................24 CMDLINE= ..................................25 COLOR= ....................................25 CONDORSYS= ................................25 COSYSOP= ..................................25 COMn_BASE= ................................25 COMn_INT= .................................25 COMn_IRQ= .................................25 CONFERENCE= ...............................26 DATAPATH= .................................27 DEBUG= ....................................28 DEFAULTS= .................................28 DEVICELAYER= ..............................28 DIALSTRING= ...............................29 DIRECT= ...................................29 DIRECTORY= ................................29 DIRPW= ....................................30 DOORMENU= .................................30 DOORSYS= ..................................30 ENABLEFIFO= ...............................30 ENTERMSG= .................................30 EVENT= ....................................30 EXECSWAP= .................................31 HOURS= ....................................31 HWFLOWCTL= ................................31 INITSTRING= ...............................31 INTERNALXFRS= .............................32 LOCKBAUD= .................................32 LOGFILE= ..................................32 LOGONALIAS= ...............................32 LPT= ......................................32 MAILMENU= .................................32 MATCHLEVEL= ...............................32 MDM300= ...................................33 MDM1200= ..................................33 MDM2400= ..................................33 MDM4800= ..................................33 MDM9600= ..................................33 MDM19200= .................................33 MEGAHOST Copyright (c) 1994 - by Don Mankin ii MEGAHOST User Guide MDM38400= .................................33 MDM57600= .................................33 MENU=ANSI .................................33 MENU=BUZZBACK .............................33 MENU=CHANGEDIR ............................33 MENU=DOWNLOAD .............................33 MENU=ECHODOOR .............................33 MENU=FILEDESC .............................34 MENU=HELP .................................34 MENU=LOGDRIVE .............................34 MENU=KNOWNCALLER ..........................34 MENU=MSGTOSYSOP ...........................34 MENU=OPERATOR .............................34 MENU=PROGRAMDIR ...........................34 MENU=QUESTIONNAIRE ........................34 MENU=READLOG ..............................35 MENU=SEARCH ...............................35 MENU=TRAPDOOR .............................35 MENU=UPLOAD ...............................35 MENU=VIEWBULL .............................35 MENU=ZIPPYDIRSCAN .........................35 MODEMDELAY= ...............................35 MSGRECS= ..................................35 NAPLPSDELAY= ..............................36 NETTYPE= ..................................36 NEWPVTMSG= ................................36 NEWUSERSECURITY= ..........................36 NEWUSERTIMELIMIT= .........................36 NODE= .....................................36 NOTIMERS= .................................36 OFFHOOK= ..................................37 OPTION= ...................................37 PORT= .....................................37 PRINTER= ..................................37 PROTECT= ..................................37 PROTOCOL= .................................38 QUIET= ....................................38 READMSG= ..................................38 RESETSTRING= ..............................39 RETRIES= ..................................39 REVMSGFILE= ...............................39 RINGBACK= .................................39 RINGPIN= ..................................39 SAVESCRN= .................................40 SEPARATORS= ...............................40 SHOWSWAPMSG= ..............................40 SKIPFILECHECK= ............................40 SKIPMAILCHECK= ............................40 START= ....................................40 SWAPTOEMS= ................................40 SYSOP= ....................................41 TDSTRING= .................................41 TEMPDIR= ..................................41 MEGAHOST Copyright (c) 1994 - by Don Mankin iii MEGAHOST User Guide TRAPDOOR= .................................41 UPLOAD= ...................................42 UPLOADINPLACE= ............................42 USEPS2= ...................................42 USERLOCK= .................................42 USERMENU= .................................42 XONXOFF= ..................................42 5.4.4 CDROMDIR.CNF Settings ...................43 VI. OPERATING MEGAHOST ..................................44 6.1 Startup ........................................44 6.2 Local Mode .....................................44 6.3 Bulletins ......................................44 6.4 The Directory/Status Lines .....................45 6.5 Using MEGAHOST: The Menus .....................46 6.5.1 The Main Menu ...........................46 (A)NSI Color -- on/off ....................46 (B)uzz Back ...............................46 (C)hange Directory ........................46 (Download File ............................46 (E)cho Mail ...............................48 (F)ile Descriptions .......................48 (G)oodbye Logoff ..........................48 (H)elp with MHOST .........................48 (K)nown Caller Log ........................48 (L)og New Drive ...........................48 (M)essage System ..........................48 (O)perator Chat ...........................48 (P)rogram Directory .......................49 (Q)uestionnaire ...........................49 (S)earch for File .........................49 (U)pload File .............................49 (V)iew Bulletins ..........................49 (Z)ippy Dir Scan ..........................49 (+)-Trap DOOR(s) ..........................49 (*)-Read Log File .........................49 (&)-Add Prog. Desc. (SysOp Only) .........50 Operating Under Networks ..................50 6.5.2 Known Caller System Options .............50 (A)dd Caller (SysOp Only) ................50 (C)ompress Database (SysOp Only) .........50 (D)elete by Record (SysOp Only) ..........50 (E)dit Caller Info ........................51 (I)nquire Personal ........................52 (G)oodbye Logoff ..........................52 (L)ist Callers ............................52 (S)end to Printer (SysOp Only) ...........52 (P)ause Toggle ............................52 (Q)uit to Main ............................52 (R)ebuild Database (SysOp Only) ..........52 (X)pert Mode ..............................52 6.5.3 Message Database System Options .........53 (B)ackward Read ...........................53 MEGAHOST Copyright (c) 1994 - by Don Mankin iv MEGAHOST User Guide (C)ompress Database (SysOp Only) .........53 (D)elete by Record (SysOp Only ...........53 (E)nter Message ...........................53 (F)orward Read ............................54 (G)oodbye Logoff ..........................54 (I)ndividual Message ......................54 (L)ist to Printer (SysOp Only) ...........54 (M)essage Area ............................54 (N)ew Message .............................54 (P)ause Toggle ............................54 (Q)uit to Main ............................54 (R)ebuild Database (SysOp Only) ..........55 (S)earch Messages .........................55 (X)pert Mode ..............................55 (Y)our Mail ...............................55 Note on Reading Messages ..................55 6.6 Closing MEGAHOST Down ..........................56 6.7 Function Keys ..................................56 6.7.1 F-Key Alone .............................56 6.7.2 SHIFT + Function Key ....................57 6.7.3 CTRL + Function Key .....................57 6.8 Keypad Keys ....................................57 6.9 Tilde Key ......................................58 VII. FOR THE ADVANCED AND THE CURIOUS ...................59 7.1 More on initstring .............................59 7.2 Running a DOS (or a program) from a remote .....60 7.3 Premature Exits (and exiting remotely) .........62 VIII. COMPATIBILITY PROBLEMS ............................66 8.1 Downward compatibilty of future versions .......66 8.2 Memory resident program problems ...............66 IX TESTIMONIALS .........................................67 A. MINIHOST / MAXIHOST / MEGAHOST CONVERSIONS ...........68 A.1 MiniHost to MaxiHost Conversion ................68 A.2 MaxiHost to MegaHost Conversion ................68 A.3 MegaHost 1.3 to MegaHost 2.0 Conversion ........71 B. BIG TERMINAL .........................................73 C. NAPLPS TERMINAL ......................................74 D. RIPscript ............................................76 E. MegaFIDO .............................................79 MEGAHOST Copyright (c) 1994 - by Don Mankin v MEGAHOST User Guide I. INTRODUCTION MEGAHOST is a low maintenance, feature-rich, bulletin board program. It can be operated as a a single-user or ulti-node system, either under DOS, shared on a network, or multitasked under Quarterdeck's DesqView and Microsoft's Windows 3.1. MEGAHOST runs on an IBM PC or compatible with 384 RAM under PC- or MS-DOS 3.0 or higher. It can be used with floppies but is written with a hard drive in mind. MEGAHOST is initially configured for Hayes-compatible modems, but can be set up for other modems. See 5.1 and 'More on INITSTRINGS' below. A person calling MEGAHOST should call at 8 bits, no parity and 1 stop bit, to enable Xmodem transfers. However, MEGAHOST also operates if called at 7 data blits, even parity and one stop bit. Some MEGAHOST features: * Multi-User Message and Caller Databases * No limit on number of callers (databases support over 2 billion records) * Event Scheduling * Questionnaire facility * Operator Chat hours * Trap DOOR menuing system * Message System printing * Menu driven DIRECTORY changes * User-defined Menus * Marked Downloads * Built-in Xmodem, Xmodem-1K * Xmodem 1KG, Ymodem, Ymodem-G, Zmodem, & Kermit modules are available at no extra cost * Supports up to fifteen external file transfer protocols * Hierarchical or non-hierarchical security structure * Releases all but 12k when in a door or a DOS shell * File description updates in any directory * Data files may be in a separate directory * Twenty five character CONFERENCE descriptions MEGAHOST Copyright (c) 1994 - by Don Mankin 6 MEGAHOST User Guide * ANSI graphics new user, help, and good-bye screens * Creates DOOR.SYS or DOORINFO1.DEF file * Support for REMOTE IMAGING PROTOCOL (RIP) terminals * Support for NAPLPS GRAPHICS terminals * Support for BLUE INSTANT GRAPHICS terminal * Support for CONDOR GRAPHICS terminals * Support for ACFILES * Support for front end mailers and echo mail doors * Support for DigiBoard Universal Device Driver * Support for FOSSIL drivers MEGAHOST Copyright (c) 1994 - by Don Mankin 7 MEGAHOST User Guide II. THE SMALL PRINT 2.1 Shareware This program is not in the public domain. If you decide to keep this product and use it on a regular basis you must register this program with the author. Read the opening screen for registration details. 2.2 Warranties (There aren't any.) All WARRANTIES of merchantibility and fitness for any particular purpose are disclaimed. The author disclaims any liability by way of warranty or otherwise, for any damage which results from any application of this program. 2.3 Miscellaneous Notices This document mentions the names of various commercial products; many of these names are trademarks or registered trademarks. III. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I want to thank Rod Cole, Jimmy Nord, Matt Wakeley, Ted DeCastro, Chuck Childers, Lyle Eddy, Andy Walsh, Peter Evans, Carl Sagerquist, Jim Spheekas, Don Lokke, Dennis Tuchler, and many others for the help they have provided. This has included suggestions, coding, and system documentation. It is truly appreciated. MEGAHOST Copyright (c) 1994 - by Don Mankin 8 MEGAHOST User Guide IV. MEGAHOST FILES 4.1 Files Used by MEGAHOST MEGAHOST.CNF MEGAHOST Configuration file MEGAHOST.EXE The main executable program BATCH1.BAT Tests BATCHLOG front end -- See BATCHLOG= BATCH2.BAT Sample BATCHLOG.BAT file -- See BATCHLOG= BATCHLGn.BAT For alternative logon front end for node n BATCHON.BAT Used to call external programs upon logon BATCHOFF.BAT Used to call external programs upon logoff BATCHUPL.BAT Used to call external programs after uploads ECHODOOR.BAT Used to invoke optional 3rd party echo mail system EVENT.BAT Used to call external programs at a certain time TRAPDOO?.BAT Provides a door to a program or batch file, which you select. If only one trapdoor is to be used, the batch file should be TRAPDOOR.BAT. If more than one is used, the file should be TRAPDOO?.BAT where ? is a letter, A...Z (e.g. TRAPDOOA.BAT, TRAPDOOB.BAT) WATCHDGn.COM Public domain program to monitor Carrier Detect for COMn (WATCHDG1.COM for Com1, WATCHDG2.COM for Com2) MEGAHOST Copyright (c) 1994 - by Don Mankin 9 MEGAHOST User Guide 4.2 Examples of Displays to Callers BULLETIN.G00 ANSI color bulletin menu BULLETIN.T00 ASCII (monochrome) bulletin menu BULLETIN.G?? ANSI color bulletin. ?? is a number 01-99 BULLETIN.T?? ASCII (monochrome) bulletin. ?? is a number 01-99 CHNGMNU?.G00 Sample CHANGE DIRECTORY menu. See User Defined Menus DOORMNU?.G00 Sample TRAPDOOR menu. See User Defined Menus GOODBYE.G01 ANSI color text file (edit to suit your needs) displayed upon logging off the system GOODBYE.T01 ASCII (monochrome) text file (edit to suit your needs) displayed on logging off the system HELP.G00 ANSI color help menu file (edit to suit your needs) displayed if caller picks the (H)elp with MHost Main Menu option HELP.T00 ASCII (monochrome) menu help file (edit to suit your needs) displayed if caller picks the (H)elp with MHost Main Menu option. ?? is a number 01- 99 HELP.G?? ANSI color help file (edit to suit your needs) displayed if caller picks the (H)elp with MHost Main Menu option. ?? is a number 01-99 HELP.T?? ASCII (monochrome) help file (edit to suit) displayed if caller picks the (H)elp with MHost Main Menu option MAILMNU?.G00 Sample Mail Menu. See User Defined Menus MEGAHOST Copyright (c) 1994 - by Don Mankin 10 MEGAHOST User Guide MAINMNU?.G00 Sample Main Menu. See User Defined Menus NEWUSER.G01 ANSI color file displayed for new users NEWUSER.T01 ASCII (monochrome) file displayed for new users QUESTn.IN Sample Questionnaire input file for node n - See MENU=QUESTIONNAIRE. WELCOME.G01 ANSI color file displayed after connection is established WELCOME.T01 ASCII (monochrome) color file displayed after connection is established Additional GRAPHICS support files have been added to the list. Files that support BIG Graphics have file extensions that end with '.3??', '.2??., or '.1??' depending upon the graphics mode. Files that support NAPLPS graphics have file extensions that end with '.P??'. 4.3 Files Created by MEGAHOST BATCHLOG.DAT Created when BATCHLOG=Y. CALLERSn.LST Created or appended to when LPT=0 and the SysOp selects (S)end to Printer from the Known Callers Log menu (n=node in which the SysOp was when (S) was pressed). CALLERSn.PRN Created or appended to when LPT=0 and the SysOp selects (P)rint from the user record screen called after pressing (E)dit Caller Info or (I)nquire Personal from the Known Caller Log Menu (n=node in which the SysOp was when (P) was pressed). COMPRESn.FLG This informs MEGAHOST when a compression is occuring; n=node (COMPRES2.FLG is for node 2). DIRNAME.BBS Created for descriptions of files for download in \DIRNAME. Where DIRNAME is the name provided UPLOAD=, it MEGAHOST Copyright (c) 1994 - by Don Mankin 11 MEGAHOST User Guide includes file descriptions provided by the caller uploading them. If the UPLOAD keyword points to a root directory (not recommended) the filename becomes FILES.BBS instead. Files from \DIRNAME can be moved to the proper download directory (e.g. \DNLOAD) and the relevant data in DIRNAME.BBS can be put in a file there (e.g. DNLOAD.BBS). The data file for files in a directory must always have the name of the directory and the extension, BBS. If network support is requested, uploaded file descriptions go to UPLOADSn.BBS, not DIRNAME.BBS. File descriptions in these *.bbs files must be put in the appropriate DIRNAME.BBS files by the SysOp. DOOR.SYS See DOORSYS=. DORINFO1.DEF See DOORSYS=. MAILFIL.DAT Message data file. MAILFIL.IX Message index file. MEGAHSTn.LOG Logs callers' activities on the board, for node n. MEGAHST1.DEF See DOORSYS=. MESSAGEn.LST Created or appended to when LPT=0 and the SysOp selects (L)ist to Printer from the Message System menu (n=node in which the SysOp was when (S) was pressed). MESSAGEn.PRN Created or appended to when LPT=0 and the SysOp selects (P)rint from the menu of choices under a message (n=node in which the SysOp was when (P) was pressed). NODEn.FLG This informs MEGAHOST when other nodes are running; n=node (NODE2.FLG is for node 2). QUESTn.OUT Questionnaire output file for node n. See MENU=QUESTIONNAIRE. MEGAHOST Copyright (c) 1994 - by Don Mankin 12 MEGAHOST User Guide REINDEXn.FLG This informs MEGAHOST when reindexing is occuring; n=node (REINDEX2.FLG is for node 2). USRSFIL.DAT Caller data file. USRSFIL.IX Caller index file. ????????.$$$ Temporary file. If MAILFIL.* or USRSFIL.* is deleted, MEGAHOST recreates them on the next logon. Deleting either *.IX file will cause the related database to be reindexed next logon. 4.4 Documentation for MEGAHOST MEGAHOST.DOC This file, which can be printed on most laser printers by setting the lines per page to 66. READ.ME Last-minute news. MEGAHOST Copyright (c) 1994 - by Don Mankin 13 MEGAHOST User Guide V. INSTALLATION Installation is easy. This part of the document leads you through the steps. 1. First, your modem must be set up properly, and the cable connecting the modem to the communications port of your computer must be in good shape and properly configured. See 5.1.1 Modem Settings and 5.1.2 AT Cable Configuration. 2. Second, you must load MEGAHOST's executable files into a directory and list that directory in the PATH statement of your autoexec.bat. See 5.2 Directory Setup. 3. Third, you must check your config.sys and autoexec.bat to be sure they include necessary statements. These steps are described in 5.3 Computer Configuration. 4. Finally, you must configure MEGAHOST, itself, by editing its configuration file. The configuration file, MEGAHOST.CNF is an ASCII text file which contains the information MEGAHOST needs to function properly. This step is covered in 5.4 Program Configuration. 5.1 Modem and Cable 5.1.1 Modem Settings Your modem must have these settings: DTRnot forced on! CD not forced on! AA not forced on! Note: Apparently some versions of the AST Six Pack force the DTR and CD signals true. See the AST manual for more information. Here are some modem setting examples: a. HAYES 1200 EXTERNAL MODEM Switch Set. 1 UP DTR controlled by pin 20. Required. MEGAHOST Copyright (c) 1994 - by Don Mankin 14 MEGAHOST User Guide 2 DN Numeric messages. Optional. Set by MEGAHOST software. 3 DN No result code display. Optional. Set by MEGAHOST software. 4 DN Modem does not echo. Optional Set by MEGAHOST software. 5 DN Auto Answer suppressed. Optional. Set by MEGAHOST software. 6 UP CD controlled by pin 8. Required. 7 UP Single line connection. Required. 8 DN AT command recognition. Required. b. HAYES 1200B INTERNAL MODEM Set the three switches on the board from A-B to B-C, the alternate position. This jumper is not documented in the manual. MEGAHOST now works with the factory set switch settings. c. HAYES 1200B MODEL 07/00043 INTERNAL MODEM Switch Set. 1 UP/DN Select COM1: or COM2: 2 UP Select single line 3 DN Detect carrier 4 UP Monitor DTR status 5 UP Select Bell 212A 6 UP US/Canada d. US ROBOTICS 2400 AND 9600 Use Hayes 1200 external switch settings. (Early ROM versions of the 9600 seem to ignore the V setting and respond only to switch 2.) 5.1.2 AT Cable Configuration If the cable which connects your modem to your computer, is new, and was purchased from a reputable dealer, you can skip this part. AT nine pin --------DB 15 1 -----------CD---------8 2 -----------RD---------3 3 -----------TD---------2 4 -----------DTR-------20 5 -----------SG---------7 6 -----------DSR--------6 7 -----------RTS--------4 8 -----------CTS--------5 MEGAHOST Copyright (c) 1994 - by Don Mankin 15 MEGAHOST User Guide 9 -----------RI--------22 5.2 Directory Setup 5.2.1 General and for Single-User Systems All executable files should go in a single directory (you might name it C:\MEGAHOST). That directory's name must be in the DOS path. You may keep data files (eg. menu files, bulletin files, etc.) in another directory (e.g., C:\MEGAHOST\DATA), but if you do that, be sure to insert the name of that directory after DATAPATH= in MEGAHOST.CNF. If your data directory is C:\MEGAHOST\DATA, then DATAPATH=C:\MEGAHOST\DATA. It is also a good idea to set aside a directory for files uploaded to your MEGAHOST bulletin board, and one or more directories for files to be downloaded by people who call in to your board. You might call the upload directory C:\UPLOADS. If you do set up such a directory, put its designation after the UPLOAD= statement in the configuration file, MEGAHOST.CNF. If your upload directory is called C:\UPLOADS, then that entry would be UPLOAD=C:\UPLOADS. Each directory set aside for files to be downloaded by those who call in, should be listed after the DIRECTORY= statement in MEGAHOST.CNF. Using an alias for the directory name, and limiting access to that directory to persons with a particular security level, are discussed after DIRECTORY=. 5.2.2 Special Instructions for a multi-user BBS You cannot run the same MEGAHOST executable files more than once. Do not invoke MEGAHOST executable files twice. You must have a separate directory for the executable files for each node, and each of these directories should be in the path. In each of my directories, I have BATCHOFF.BAT, BATCHON.BAT, EVENT.BAT, TRAPDOOA.BAT, TRAPDOOB.BAT, TRAPDOOC.BAT, TRAPDOOD.BAT, MEGAHOST.EXE, MEGAHOST.CNF, MEGAAPIn.EXE, and MEGAAPIn.DAT. You may keep the shared data files in a separate subdirectory, and set DATAPATH= to that subdirectory. This directory should have MAILFIL.* and USRSFIL.* files, and all menus, bulletins, etc. MEGAHOST Copyright (c) 1994 - by Don Mankin 16 MEGAHOST User Guide (*.Gxx), ASCII (*.Txx), BIG (1.xx, 2.xx, 3.xx), and NAPLPS (P.xx) files' attributes to read only. This is done with this DOS 5.0 command: attrib +r filename.ext. I have these files set read-only: BULLETIN.*, CHNGMNU1.*, DOORMNU1.*, GOODBYE.*, HELP.*, MAILMNU1.*, MAILMNU2.*, MAINMNU3.*, NEWUSER.*, USERMNU1.*, USERMNU1.*, and WELCOME.* 5.3 Computer Configuration 5.3.1 Autoexec.bat The PATH statement in your autoexec.bat file should include the name of each directory in which you have MEGAHOST executable files. As an alternative, if you start up MEGAHOST with a batch file, you can include a SET Path= statement on a line batch file before the line which calls MEGAHOST. COMSPEC should point to the location of command.com. The computer should know where to find command.com. Normally, command.com is kept in the root directory on the drive from which you boot up (C:\), and DOS doesn't need to be told where to find it. Still, it doesn't hurt to be sure, so include a COMSPEC= statement at the beginning of your autoexec.bat. If you keep command.com in the root directory, the statement should be COMSPECT=C:\. If you keep it in another directory (eg. C:\DOS), then the line should be COMSPEC=C:\DOS. Be sure the COMSPEC statement includes the drive specifier. Some problems involving COMSPEC have been resolved either by placing a path to command.com , or by placing a copy of command.com in each directory with executable MEGAHOST files. 5.3.2 Config.sys You should have ANSI.SYS loaded in your system before you run MEGAHOST. You can do this by placing this line in your CONFIG.SYS: DEVICE=ANSI.SYS If ANSI.SYS is in a directory other than the root directory of the disk from which you boot up, include the path to ANSI.SYS in that DEVICE= statement e.g.: DEVICE=C:\DOS\ANSI.SYS MEGAHOST Copyright (c) 1994 - by Don Mankin 17 MEGAHOST User Guide You should also have at least 40 files available to DOS. You can do this by putting this line in your CONFIG.SYS: FILES=40 If you operate MEGAHOST under Quarterdeck's memory management program, Qemm, see your Qemm manual for an alternative way to provide for 40 files. 5.3.3 Multi-User BBS Requirements If you set NETTYPE=MSNET or NETTYPE=DESQVIEW, in MEGAHOST.CNF, load SHARE. This can be done by this line in config.sys: Install=[p:]Share.exe.[/f:n][/l:n], where [p:] is the full path for Share.exe, including the drive specifier, [/f:n] is the space in bytes to record sharing information (e.g. /f:4096, the default being 2048) and [/l:n] is the number of files that can be locked at a time (e.g. /l:30, the default being 20). 5.3.4 Operation under DesqView 5.3.4.1 DesqView and ANSI If you operate MEGAHOST under DesqView, loading ANSI.SYS from your CONFIG.SYS will do you no good at all. Load DesqView's DVANSI.COM into the window in which you will run MEGAHOST. You can do this by starting MEGAHOST from a batch file, which calls DVANSI before calling MEGAHOST. This is an example of such a batch file: @Echo off REM This file is called Mhost.bat DVANSI MEGAHOST EXIT The DesqView Change a Program Program Name field would hold MHOST.BAT, and the Directory Field would hold the name of the MEGAHOST home directory (e.g. C:\MEGAHOST). 5.3.4.2 Change a Program Settings If you use the batch file described above for loading DVANSI, do not set the MEGAHOST window to close on exit. That is, put N in the Close on exit (Y, N, blank) field on the Change a Program Advanced Options menu. The EXIT command at the end of the batch file MEGAHOST Copyright (c) 1994 - by Don Mankin 18 MEGAHOST User Guide will take care of closing the window after exit, and allow the whole batch file to complete its commands before the window closes. The Protection level (0-3) field on the Change a Program Advanced Options menu should not be set to 3, unless you also instruct QEMM386 to exclude your EMS paging address. Otherwise, DesqView will error when MH tries to write to EMS. 5.4 Program Configuration Before you use MEGAHOST, configure it by making entries to the configuration file MEGAHOST.CNF. This is a plain ASCII file, which you can edit with an ASCII text editor. You may also use a word processor if you save the file in "document" or "dos text" form. Items begun with semicolons are considered comments and are ignored when MEGAHOST.CNF is read by the program, so you can insert comments in the configuration file with safety. This section guides you in setting up MEGAHOST.CNF, the MEGAHOST configuration file. It begins by describing two important features of MEGAHOST, which need separate discussion before you move on to adjusting the entries in MEGAHOST.CNF. 5.4.1 Configuring Security Level A caller's security level determines a caller's access to various features of MEGAHOST. By setting a caller's security level in that person's file (see MEGAHOST.CNF Settings, NEWUSERSECURITY= and see (K)nown Caller Log, (E)dit Caller Info under CALLER MENU OPTIONS) you determine whether that caller can enter a message, upload or download a file, log onto a subdirectory, etc. MEGAHOST can be configured for hierarchical or non- hierarchical security levels: 1) A hierarchical security level system is cumulative. The privileges of those with higher security numbers include all the privileges of those with lower security numbers. If access to C:\Dir1 and C:\Dir2 is made available to persons with security level 1, and access to C:\Dir3 and C:\Dir4 is available only to persons with security level 2, then those with security level 2 have access to all four directories. MEGAHOST Copyright (c) 1994 - by Don Mankin 19 MEGAHOST User Guide 2) A non-hierarchical system is noncumulative. It limits persons to access privileges assigned to persons with their particular security level. In the former example, if you set up MEGAHOST in a non-hierarchical way, then the people with security level 1 would have access to C:\Dir1 and C:\Dir2, and people with security level 2 would have access only to C:\Dir3 and C:\Dir4. For further information on how MEGAHOST can be set up for hierarchical or non-hierarchical security levels, see DIRECTORY=, MATCHLEVEL=, MENU= and PROTECT=. 5.4.2 The Menuing System MEGAHOST supplies six menus: 1) The Main Menu, from which all other menus are accessed 2) The Known Caller Log Menu (see 6.5.2 Known Caller System Options) 3) The Message System Menu (see 6.5.3 Message Database System Options) 4) The Upload Menu, which offers a selection of protocols and guides the process of uploading to the MEGAHOST board 5) The Download Menu, which offers a selection of protocols and guides the process of downloading from the MEGAHOST board 6) The Exit Menu, which offers a choice to leave, continue or leave a comment for the SysOp and then leave. These menus are also available 7) The Bulletin Menu, if you have Bulletin.T00 or Bulletin.G00 (or both) available for use 8) The Change Directory Menu, if the caller has access to more than one directory. 9) The door Menu, if the caller has access more than one Trapdoor with the + option on the Main Menu The options available on the main, message and known caller menus are set out below. A few things need to be noted here: Security level determines the availability of a main menu option. A security level can be assigned to a main menu item. If security levels are non- hierarchical (MATCHLEVEL=Y), you can assign multiple MEGAHOST Copyright (c) 1994 - by Don Mankin 20 MEGAHOST User Guide security levels to a menu item. Security levels are separated with commas, e.g.: MENU=ANSI;0,5,8,100 To disable a menu item, specify a security level of -1. The SysOp can add or change main menu choices. The MEGAHOST.CNF keyword, OPTION= enables the SysOp to alter the MEGAHOST supplied main menu by adding or changing main menu choices. This freedom has limits: First, if you select a letter which belongs to an item already provided on the menu, that option is overridden. It cannot be assigned to another letter. Second, because of the first limitation, you cannot override the (G)oodbye menu option. Finally, you are limited to 35 OPTION= entries. User-defined menus are available. While MEGAHOST has a default menu display for each menu, the SysOp can create alternative menu displays for the main, change directory, trapdoor, mail, and known caller menus. You may have up to 10 menus for each. The example given will address the main menu setup, because what is described for that menu applies as well to: CHANGEMENU=, DOORMENU=, MAILMENU=, MAINMENU=, and USERMENU=. Syntax for User-defined menus is: MAINMENU=MAINMNU1;0 MAINMENU=MAINMNU2;100 MAINMENU=MAINMNU3;8 MAINMENU=MAINMNU4;5 Order of entry is not important. This menu array is sorted in highest to lowest order by security level - the order each entry is read into memory is not important. If a caller with a security level of 0 calls in, MAINMNU2 is first checked, then MAINMNU3, then MAINMNU4, then finally MAINMNU1 will be displayed. If a caller with security level 7 calls in, MAINMNU2 is first checked, then MAINMNU3, then MAINMNU4 is checked and displayed. When a match is found, the search ends - only one menu will be displayed. Because only one menu can be displayed, it does not make sense to duplicate security levels. MAINMNU1 and the other examples represent 8 character names of files that exist in the directory pointed to by DATAPATH=. In this example, a caller whose security matches MAINMNU1 will either see MAINMNU1.G00 if ANSI is enabled, or MAINMNU1.T00 if it is not. If MATCHLEVEL=Y, a callers security level must exactly match one of the menu's security levels or no menu will be displayed! You may assign multiple security levels MEGAHOST Copyright (c) 1994 - by Don Mankin 21 MEGAHOST User Guide to each menu entry. The security levels statement should be separated with commas as in the following example. MAINMENU=MAINMNU1;0,5,8,100 MAINMENU=MAINMNU2;23,65,81,22 These entries are sorted by the first number of the available security levels so that the search order would be MAINMNU2 (security 23) first, then MAINMNU1 (security 0) second. This should not be significant providing you do not duplicate security levels. The MENU= configurations in MEGAHOST.CNF must be set even if the User-defined Menus are installed. The MENU= setting provides the security level for each menu option. The MENU= keywords MUST be configured to provide the necessary security levels for each menu option. If you are upgrading from a previous version of MEGAHOST that supports User Defined Menus, make sure that the extensions for your UDF Menus now reflect the change from '.??1' to '.??0'. This change was implemented to conform with the extension standard used in the bulletin and help menus. 5.4.3 MEGAHOST.CNF Settings Be sure you change the setting of SYSOP=. Substitute your name for "DON MANKIN" so that the system recognizes you as SysOp. ACFILES=N If Y, filenames in new file descriptions are left-justified, making the .BBS file compatible with the program ACFILES. ALLOW300=Y Set to Y, this allows 300 baud modems to use the system. N would prohibit 300 baud modems from coming on. ANSIDELAY=Y Setting this to N eliminates a short pause added when displaying ANSI output that causes some high speed modems to miss ANSI escape sequences which displays garbage on the display screen. ANSWERSTRING=ATA This string causes the modem to answer. MEGAHOST Copyright (c) 1994 - by Don Mankin 22 MEGAHOST User Guide ASKANSI=Y If set to N, the caller is not asked whether ANSI color, nor any of the following supported graphics modes are desired. ASKBIG=N If set to Y, MEGAHOST adds the Blue Instant Graphics mode to the availability list. When BIG protocol is chosen, it is assumed that the caller is using the terminal program BIG and MEGAHOST requests BIG's status. Three modes of BIG are supported: DEMO-LEVEL, REGISTERED, and REGISTERED-ADLIB. If BIG Terminal is in REGISTERED-ADLIB mode, text files and menu screens with the extension .3?? are displayed. If the level is REGISTERED, text files and menu screens ending with .2?? are displayed. Finally, if BIG is in DEMO-LEVEL, files with the extension .1?? are displayed. If display files appropriate to a mode are not available, the next lower mode's files will be used. For example, if the mode is REGISTERED-ADLIB but *.3?? files are not found, *.2?? files are used. If there are no *.2?? files, MEGAHOST will look for *.1?? files to display. If no DEMO-LEVEL file are found, ANSI *.G??' files are tried, and if that fails, ASCII *.T?? files are sought. If *.T?? files are not available, no files are displayed. This option cannot be set unless ASKANSI=Y. Note: When a BIG file is transmitted to the caller, the files are not displayed on the BBS side. Instead, the SysOp is notified that a BIG file is being sent. See Appendix B. ASKCONDOR=N If set to Y, MEGAHOST adds the CONDOR mode to the availability list. When the CONDOR protocol is chosen, it is assumed that the caller has loaded the CONDOR.SYS device driver into his/her CONFIG.SYS and is using a terminal compatable with it. MEGAHOST cannot test the terminal for CONDOR support. When selected, text files and menu screens with the extension .C?? are displayed. If CONDOR (*.C??) files are not found, ANSI *.G??' files are tried, and if that fails, ASCII *.T?? files are sought. If *.T?? files are not available, no files are displayed. This option cannot be set unless ASKANSI=Y. If CONDORSYS-Y and the CONDOR.SYS device driver is loaded in the SysOps CONFIG.SYS file, the MEGAHOST Copyright (c) 1994 - by Don Mankin 23 MEGAHOST User Guide SysOp may also see the CONDOR graphics on the BBS machine. Otherwise, when a CONDOR file is transmitted to the caller, the files are not displayed on the BBS side. Instead, the SysOp is notified that a CONDOR file is being sent. See Appendix D. ASKFILECHECK=N If set to Y, the caller is asked whether new file names, available since the last time the caller logged on, should be displayed. If set to N the new files' names are shown without asking. If you set both ASKFILECHECK and SKIPFILECHECK TO Y, MEGAHOST will not load and will show you an error message. ASKMAILCHECK=N If set to Y then the system will ask the caller if it should check for new messages since the last time the caller was on the system. If set to N the system will check for new messages without asking. NB: If you set both ASKMAILCHECK and SKIPMAILCHECK TO Y, MEGAHOST will not load and will show you an error message. ASKNAPLPS=N If set to Y, MEGAHOST gives callers a choice of ASCII, ANSI, or NAPLPS Graphics protocols. When NAPLPS protocol is chosen, it is assumed that the caller is using a NAPLPS terminal program similar to the one available from MicroStar Software Ltd. MicroStars terminal requires a code sequence of #27+'%'+'A' to change to NAPLPS graphics mode, and a sequence of #27+'%'+'@' to change back to ANSI mode. These sequences are sent by MEGAHOST appropriately. When a NAPLPS graphics screen is requested, MEGAHOST look for the files with the extension .of P?? to display If display files appropriate to a mode are not available, the next lower mode's files will be used. For example, if the NAPLPS graphics files *.P?? are not found, *.G?? ANSI files will be displayed. If that fails, ASCII *.T?? files are sought. If *.T?? files are not available, no files are displayed. Note: When a NAPLPS file is transmitted to the caller, the files are not displayed on the BBS MEGAHOST Copyright (c) 1994 - by Don Mankin 24 MEGAHOST User Guide side. Instead, the SysOp is notified that a NAPLPS file is being sent. See Appendix C. Limitations: Unlike BIG graphics which supports ANSI text when in graphics mode, the NAPLPS implementation must switch between graphics and text modes. MEGAHOST cannot properly prompt the caller for anything requiring more than one keystoke. This means that, when supporting NAPLPS, you are only allowed 9 bulletins (more if you also use letters) and 9 entries in the (C)hange Directory menu. (You may not change directories freeform) ASKRIP=N If set to Y, MEGAHOST adds the Remote Imaging Protocol mode to the availability list. When RIP protocol is chosen, it is assumed that the caller is using the RIPterm terminal program and MEGAHOST requests the RIPterm's supported RIPscrip version number. If detected, text files and menu screens with the extension .R?? are displayed. If RIP (*.R??) files are not found, ANSI *.G??' files are tried, and if that fails, ASCII *.T?? files are sought. If *.T?? files are not available, no files are displayed. This option cannot be set unless ASKANSI=Y. Note: When a RIP file is transmitted to the caller, the files are not displayed on the BBS side. Instead, the SysOp is notified that a RIP file is being sent. See Appendix D. Limitations: MEGAHOST cannot properly prompt the caller for anything requiring more than one keystoke. This means that, when supporting RIP, you are only allowed 9 bulletins (more if you also use letters) and 9 entries in the (C)hange Directory menu. (You may not change directories freeform) AUTOINDUCTION=Y Causes the Induction function to be called upon logon if the caller is not recognized by the system. The caller will be disconnected if the induction process fails. BATCHLOG=N BATCHLOG is not fully supported in MEGAHOST. It is available only as it was implemented in MAXIHOST. If BATCHLOG=Y, MEGAHOST selects an alternate, user-written, batch logon routine; it is up to the SysOp to provide one that is CTTY MEGAHOST Copyright (c) 1994 - by Don Mankin 25 MEGAHOST User Guide compatible (INT 21). After the carrier is detected, BATCHLOG.BAT is invoked by MEGAHOST. BATCHLOG.BAT calls your logon routine. This can provide a custom front end for a business to tailor to its requirements. The user program must create an ASCII file, BATCHLOG.DAT, containing this information: USER=FIRST LAST SECURITY=9 TIMELIMIT=60 KBDTIMER=3 BUZZBACK=836-2402 ANSI=Y The keywords should not have leading spaces in the file; they are only shown this way here for clarity. BATCHLOG.DAT is read by MEGAHOST upon return. If BATCHLOG.DAT is not found, the caller's security defaults to 0. If SECURITY = NEWUSERSECURITY then NEWUSER.?00 will be displayed. If SECURITY is a negative number the user is logged off. The USER field length is 25 characters. If BATCHLOG=Y you must toggle Batchlog OFF by pressing SHIFT-F7 from the Configuration Screen before pressing ESC to exit MEGAHOST. BATCHON=N If BATCHON=Y, MEGAHOST executes BATCHON.BAT just before it shows a caller the newuser screens and the bulletin menu, or checks for mail. This lets the SysOp customize the system with external routines such as checking a badname file against the callers name or giving the caller his fortune or horoscope. External programs for such purposes are available for download from various BBSs throughout the country. BATCHOFF=N This can be set to A, B, N or Y. If BATCHOFF=Y or B, MEGAHOST executes BATCHOFF.BAT just before logging the caller off. If BATCHOFF=A, MEGAHOST executes BATCHOFF.BAT just after logoff. This allows the SysOp to customize the system with routines such as personal messages, updating bulletins, logs, etc. External programs for such purposes are user supplied and may be downloaded from various MEGAHOST BBSs throughout the country. MEGAHOST Copyright (c) 1994 - by Don Mankin 26 MEGAHOST User Guide BATCHUPLOADS=N This can be set to N or Y. If BATCHUPLOADS=Y then the file BATCHUPL.BAT will be called immediately following an upload to the system. This allows you to invoke one of the many virus checkers to test the integrity of the upload. The uploaded file names are passed as command line arguments to the batch file. Be aware that the caller is still online during this process. BAUD=1200 Selects initial baud rate. Usually this is set to the highest allowed by the modem, which at connection moves down to that of the caller if necessary. For example, if you are using a 9600 baud modem, you would normally set this switch to 9600. Note: Probably, the Multi Tech 2400 should be set to 300 as it moves up to the correct speed. BBSNAME= + + +U U U THE SWAMP THE SWAMP THE SWAMP U U U+ Replace "THE SWAMP" with your system's name (unless, of course, you have named your system The Swamp). You have up to 25 characters. What you put here is shown on the main menu screen. See section 6.4, below. BETWEENRINGS=-1 Changing this value allows MEGAHOST to recognize different ringing signatures when used in conjuction with PBX's, voice / data / FAX switch boxes, etc. It is not a good idea to change this value unless your situation fits the above condition. Setting this to -1 disables this feature, MEGAHOST's default condition. Any other value enables it. The value expected is not in seconds, but is an arbitrary number. MEGAHOST defaults it at 7, a good place to start. When enabled, RINGBACK will not work, unfortunately, and must be set to -1. BIOS=Y This prevents the program from writing directly to the screen. It is MUCH faster to set BIOS=N. Under the supported multitaskers DesqView, TaskView, TopView, DoubleDos, and Microsoft Windows, BIOS may be set to N and direct screen writes will occur correctly within the proper window. MEGAHOST Copyright (c) 1994 - by Don Mankin 27 MEGAHOST User Guide BUMPNEWUSERSECURITY=0 Increases a new users security level by the number specified after the caller has successfully completed the induction module. If the SysOp wants to screen and upgrade each new caller individually leave this at 0. If you wish the system to upgrade each caller automatically, indicate the number to add to NEWUSERSECURITY here. Also see NEWUSERSECURITY. BUMPQUESTIONNAIRE=0 Increases a new users security level by the number specified after the caller has successfully completed the Questionnaire. CALLBACK=N If set to Y, mandatory BUZZBACK is invoked. This provides a great deal of security. A user places a call to MEGAHOST. After his password is confirmed, MEGAHOST hangs up and returns a call to the telephone number placed in the caller database's Data Phone Number field for that caller. The user gives his first name, last name and password again and is then able to log on. You may need to add S7=60 to your INITSTRING. Also see BUZZBACK and RINGBACK. CALLERRECS=500 This number sets the maximum number of callers available to the Caller Database. Once this number is reached, caller entries must be deleted before new ones can be added. You may always increase this number if you run out of room. You may NOT reduce the size of the database any smaller than the highest message number. You may, however, delete all USRSFIL.* files and start over if necessary. Additional utilities should be available by the time you read this that will help you better maintain this database. CHANGEMENU=CHNGMNU1;0 See User-defined menus under section 5.4.2 CHECKAPI=N If set to Y, MEGAAPIn.EXE is being used. MEGAAPIn.EXE is not bundled with MEGAHOST but may be obtained from the Support BBS. CLOSEDSYSTEM=Y If set to Y (Yes), anyone giving a name not found in the caller database file will have NO access -- he'll be disconnected. MEGAHOST Copyright (c) 1994 - by Don Mankin 28 MEGAHOST User Guide If set to N (No = an OPEN system), then a new caller will have the security level set by NEWUSER= in this file. CMDLINE=N Select Y to invoke MEGAHOST from a front end mailer such as FRONT DOOR. The batch file invoking MEGAHOST should send the connected baud rate as its first command line parameter followed by CARRIER if invoked remotely, or LOCAL if invoked locally. If the parameters are not given, CMDLINE=Y is ignored. For example: MEGAHOST 9600 CARRIER invokes MEGAHOST at 9600 baud with carrier checked. MEGAHOST 9600 LOCAL invokes MEGAHOST with no carrier checking. COLOR=Y Selects color mode. Select Y if you are using a color monitor with a color graphics adapter, N otherwise. CONDORSYS=N If ASKCONDOR=Y and the caller selects CONDOR mode when logging on, and CONDORSYS=Y and the CONDOR.SYS device driver is loaded in the SysOps CONFIG.SYS file, the SysOp will also see the CONDOR graphics displayed on the BBS computer. Otherwise, when a CONDOR file is transmitted to the caller, the files are not displayed on the BBS side. Instead, the SysOp is notified that a CONDOR file is being sent. See Appendix D. COSYSOP=DON MANKIN Replace 'DON MANKIN' with your co-SysOp's name. The co-SysOp has certain privileges normal callers do not. Comment out this line (put a ; in the first character position of this entry in the MEGAHOST.CNF file) if no co-SysOp is wanted! You may have up to two COSYSOP entries. COMn_BASE= and COMn_INT= and COMn_IRQ= The following are default values: COM1_BASE=$3F8 COM1_INT=$0C COM1_IRQ=$04 COM2_BASE=$2F8 COM2_INT=$0B COM2_IRQ=$03 COM3_BASE=$3E8 COM3_INT=$0C COM3_IRQ=$04 COM4_BASE=$2E8 COM4_INT=$0B COM4_IRQ=$03 MEGAHOST Copyright (c) 1994 - by Don Mankin 29 MEGAHOST User Guide They establish the port addresses, interrupt lines, and IRQs for the UART. Specify changes in the .CNF file. Be Careful! CONFERENCE=1;GENERAL;0;Miscellaneous Topics;Local CONFERENCE=2;BETATEST;9;Beta Test Conference;Net The identifier following the ID would be the conference name, followed by the security level, followed by the description, followed by an optional network identifier. Your conference name and description may contain up to 25 characters. Your network identifier needs to be either Local, or Net. If left off, MegaHost defaults the conference to Local. This Net descriptor is necessary if you are importing and exporting FIDO echos via Crystal Vision's MegaFIDO program. See Appendix E for more information on this product. If you do not specify at least one conference in the configuration file, one GENERAL conference is the default. You may have up to fifty conference entries. Each conference entries should begin with a unique id number 1 - 32767. This number is used by the (M)essage System to associate a message with a conference. Once established, you must not change a conference's ID number. Doing so would get your conferences mixed up. You may, however, delete conferences, and sort them. For instance, suppose you wanted to add a conference between: CONFERENCE=1;CATS;0;Cat Stuff;Local and CONFERENCE=2;ZEBRAS;0;Zebra Stuff;Local You would a third conference and sort them as in the following: CONFERENCE=1;CATS;0;Cat Stuff;Local CONFERENCE=3;DOGS;0;Dog Stuff;Local and CONFERENCE=2;ZEBRAS;0;Zebra Stuff;Local This would display them in the correct order in the conference menu. MEGAHOST Copyright (c) 1994 - by Don Mankin 30 MEGAHOST User Guide Later you could even delete a conference as in CONFERENCE=3;DOGS;0;Dog Stuff;Local and CONFERENCE=2;ZEBRAS;0;Zebra Stuff;Local As long as the IDs have not been changed the message database will be intact. If you do decide to delete a conference entry, make sure you delete the associated messages from the message database first. If MATCHLEVEL=Y then the syntax for CONFERENCE could be: CONFERENCE=2;ZEBRAS;0,5,8,100;Zebra Stuff;Local Notice that allowed security levels are separated with commas. DATAPATH=C:\MEGAHOST\DATA Single-User BBS: You may store your data files on a separate drive and directory by stating it here. Your data files include bulletins, welcome, newuser, messages, and user files. Executables would be kept in the directory MEGAHOST would be run from, C:\MEGAHOST for instance. Executables would include .EXE, .BAT, and .COM files. The configuration file must also exist in the executable directory. I keep MAXHOST.EXE, MEGAHOST.CNF, TRAPDOOR.BAT, and all my external file transfer programs together in my executable directory. Multi-User BBS: Set DATAPATH= to the subdirectory where you store all shared files. Shared files include MAILFIL.* and USRSFIL.* files, all menus, bulletins, welcome files, etc. NB: Set all ANSI/ASCII files' attributes to Read Only (use the DOS command, attrib +r filename.ext). I have these files set to read- only: BULLETIN.*, CHNGMNU1.*, DOORMNU1.*, GOODBYE.*, HELP.*, MAILMNU1.*, MAILMNU2.*, MAINMNU3.*, NEWUSER.*, USERMNU1.*, USERMNU1.*, and WELCOME.* MEGAHOST Copyright (c) 1994 - by Don Mankin 31 MEGAHOST User Guide DEBUG=N If DEBUG=Y then WELCOME, NEWUSER, and GOODBYE text files will be displayed when the SysOp logs on locally. Also, BATCHON.BAT and BATCHOFF.BAT will be executed if they are set to be executed. Also, record information is displayed when viewing records in the database systems. If set off, none of the above will occur when logged on locally. DEFAULTS=100 This works with PROTECT= to let you decide which of your users can go where on your system; it sets protection defaults for drives and directories not named in a PROTECT= line. Regardless of a DEFAULTS=9 setting, a caller with security level 5, say, would be able to access drives or directories having PROTECT= set at 5 or less, e.g. PROTECT=A;5 or PROTECT=C:\GAMES;5. However, that user could not change to a directory not so listed as it would default to a security level of 9. In short, PROTECT= takes precedence over DEFAULTS=. If MATCHLEVEL=Y then the syntax for DEFAULTS would be: DEFAULTS=0,5,8,100 Notice that the allowed security levels are separated with commas. DEVICELAYER=UART MegaHost supports three different device drivers. UART is the default device layer. Specifying FOSSIL here allows the use of fossil drivers. MegaHost was tested with BNU but should work fine with X00 as well. Note that if FOSSIL is specified for MegaHost, using external file transfer protocols and door programs that do not support fossil drivers could cause problems when MegaHost gets control back. Specifying DIGIBOARD allow the use of DigiBoards utilizing the XIDOS5.SYS universal device driver. MegaHost currently supports only COM1 through COM4. MEGAHOST Copyright (c) 1994 - by Don Mankin 32 MEGAHOST User Guide DIALSTRING=ATDP This string tells MEGAHOST to use ATDP as the dialing prefix, for a dial (pulse) telephone line. Use ATDT for touch tone. This configures the modem for use with the BUZZBACK and CALLBACK features explained later. DIRECT=N DIRECT=Y tells MEGAHOST it is connected to another computer by a null modem rather than a modem. Carrier detect must be forced on. This method has been used to transfer files between two machines connected via a null modem cable. MEGAHOST has also been tested in this configuration with limited success on an Ungermann-Bass broadband LAN. Flow control may prevent Xmodem file transfer. Experiment with this if you wish. DIRECTORY=C:\NEWFILES;0;MEGAHOST Programs;UPLOADED.FILES This allows for programmatic change of directories within a list. You may have up to 50 of these entries unless ASKNAPLPS=Y or ASKRIP=Y. (see ASKNAPLPS or ASKRIP for restrictions) The directory is first, followed by the security level, then the description. If the caller selects a menu choice here, the security level is determined by the level in DIRECTORY=. If the caller enters the directory name manually, the security level is determined first by a DIRPW= entry, and if not found, then a PROTECT= entry, and if a PROTECT= entry is not found, the DEFAULTS= security level is used. See DEFAULTS above, DIRPW and PROTECT below. The 4th argument, UPLOADED.FILES is an optional directory alias. It can be up to 25 characters maximum. Some SysOps wish to 'hide' real directory information from the caller. If a directory alias exists, it will be displayed rather than the real directory when changing directories, searching, etc. If MATCHLEVEL=Y then the syntax for DIRECTORY would be: DIRECTORY=C:\NEWFILES;0,5,8,100;MEGAHOST Programs Notice that allowed security levels are separated with commas. MEGAHOST Copyright (c) 1994 - by Don Mankin 33 MEGAHOST User Guide DIRPW=C:\SECRET;PASSWORD This allows password protection of directories. In the above example, the directory SECRET on drive C: would require the password of PASSWORD. You may have up to 10 DIRPW entries. Directory security precedence is determined in the following order: DIRECTORY=, DIRPW=, PROT=, and finally DEFAULTS=. DOORMENU=DOORMNU1;0 See User-defined menus under section 5.4.2 DOORSYS=0 If set to 1, MEGAHOST creates a small version of DOOR.SYS file in the directory pointed to by DATAPATH=. This file is used by Doorway. See the documentation provided with it. If set to 3, MEGAHOST create the larger generic version of the DOOR.SYS file. Unless set to 0, MEGAHOST will also create a DORINFO1.DEF file and a MEGAHSTn.DEF file. The DORINFO1.DEF file is used by Door programs written for QuickBBS and others. The MEGAHST1.DEF. file contains all of the current callers information as required by MEGAHOST. It is provided for programmers who design door programs. ENABLEFIFO=N If Y, MEGAHOST enables the FIFO buffering of the 16550 UART chip. This is desirable for high speed modem transmissions. ENTERMSG=1 A user needs a clearance level of 1 or higher to leave messages to other users. (Replaces MENU=ENTERMSG) EVENT=Y;24 Setting event to Y enables event scheduling. The event will be triggered, in the above example, at 12 midnight. Should a caller be on the system at midnight, the caller will be logged off. The batch file EVENT.BAT, created by the SysOp, will then be executed by MEGAHOST. As in HOURS=, MEGAHOST accepts only 24 hour increments. Allowable hours are 01 - 24. Half hour increments are ignored. For instance, 2330 would set off the event at 11pm. Note: If a caller is transferring files using an external file transfer protocol, and is on during the event time, the event could be missed! MEGAHOST Copyright (c) 1994 - by Don Mankin 34 MEGAHOST User Guide EXECSWAP=N If EXECSWAP=Y then the amount of memory MEGAHOST leaves resident in memory while executing external programs is approximately 12k. Most of MEGAHOST is swapped out to EMS or disk if EMS is not available. This leaves almost all of your system's memory available to your programs called from (+)- Trap Door! One note of caution using this feature. It is never a good idea to run a TSR from within a child process. HOURS=18;08 This would make (O)perator Chat available to those callers with the proper security level (See MENU=OPERATOR below) between, in the example above, the hours of 6pm through 8am. As in EVENT=, MEGAHOST accepts only 24 hour increments. Allowable hours are 01 - 24. Half hour increments are ignored. For instance, 2330 would be recognized as 11pm. The HOURS= availability may be forced on via SHIFT-F10 in the F1 Configuration Screen. HWFLOWCTL=Y A N disables CTS and DSR checking, which are needed to support high speed modems. CTS (Clear To Send) and DSR (Data Set Ready) are signals a modem sends (and receives) from the terminal, telling the terminal that the modem is ready to send (or accept) data for transmission. INITSTRING=ATE0M0Q0V1X1S0=0S1=0 This is the INITSTRING for Hayes 1200 baud modems. Your communications program (e.g. Procomm, Qmodem, etc) must be responsible for resetting the modem. You may have two INITSTRING= entries each consisting of 40 characters or less. If you can fit all of your commands into one INITSTRING= you should do so. Using two strings lengthens the time required for resets. If you enter a command into your INITSTRING that is not recognized by your modem, the entire INITSTRING is ignored by the modem. See More on INITSTRING for further information, particularly on troublesome modems. MEGAHOST Copyright (c) 1994 - by Don Mankin 35 MEGAHOST User Guide INTERNALXFRS=Y Setting to N disables the availability of the built-in file transfer protocols. LOCKBAUD=N This option supports 9600 and 14400 modems. If LOCKBAUD=Y then your modem will communicate to the UART at the speed specified by the BAUD= keyword in your MEGAHOST.CNF file instead of the baud rate your caller has connected with. LOGFILE=Y If LOGFILE=Y, MEGAHOST creates a file MEGAHSTn.LOG for each node (n=node number) records in it whatever a user does on line, and appends to it records of subsequent activity. This is useful for open systems; it lets the SysOp see who uploaded/downloaded what, when. Setting PRINTER=Y also directs this output to the printer. LOGONALIAS=N If LOGONALIAS=Y, MEGAHOST allows single or multiple word logon aliases. This implementation is not ideal as it does not allow for both private name and public alias entries in the caller database. LPT=1 Indicates which printer port to send printed output to. LPT=1 indicates LPT1, LPT=2 indicates LPT2, and LPT=0 indicates to send printed output to the MEGAHOST.LOG file. MAILMENU=MAILMNU1;0 See User-defined menus under section 5.4.2. MATCHLEVEL=N MEGAHOST normally uses a hierarchical security structure. Under a hierarchical security structure, for example, a caller with security level 10, has access to menu options, protected directories, conferences, and so on, would be restricted to those that were protected at levels 10 or below. MATCHLEVEL=Y changes this to a non-hierarchical structure. Menu options, protected directories, conferences, etc., would have several security levels associated with them. A caller's security level must match one of the security levels associated with that item to gain access to that item. MEGAHOST Copyright (c) 1994 - by Don Mankin 36 MEGAHOST User Guide MDM300=CONNECT;1 MDM1200=CONNECT 1200;5 MDM2400=CONNECT 2400;10 MDM4800=CONNECT 4800;11 MDM9600=CONNECT 9600;12 MDM19200=CONNECT 19200;14 MDM38400=CONNECT 38400;-1 MDM57600=CONNECT 57600;-1 These defaults configure MEGAHOST to be compatible with Hayes V Series Modems. They should not have to be modified unless your modem supports baud rates of 9600 or greater and is not Hayes-V Series-compatible. First comes the keyword, then a semicolon, the verbal connect string, a colon, and the numeric connect string. If your modem does not support a baud rate, set the numeric result code to -1. An example for a US Robotics Courier HST: MDM300=CONNECT;1 MDM1200=CONNECT 1200;5 MDM2400=CONNECT 2400;10 MDM4800=CONNECT 4800;-1 MDM9600=CONNECT 9600;13 MDM19200=CONNECT 19200;-1 MENU=ANSI;1 A user needs a clearance level of 1 or higher for (A)NSI Color. MENU=BUZZBACK;9 A user needs a clearance level of 9 or higher to request a (B)uzz Back. Selecting this option will instruct MEGAHOST to call the user back at the number placed in the configuration file. MENU=CHANGEDIR;1 A user needs a clearance level of 1 or higher to (C)hange Directory (i.e. subdirectory). MENU=DOWNLOAD;1 A user needs a clearance level of 1 or higher to (D)ownload a File. MENU=ECHODOOR;1 A user needs a clearance level of 1 or higher to be able to invoke 3rd party echo mail facility. MEGAHOST Copyright (c) 1994 - by Don Mankin 37 MEGAHOST User Guide MENU=FILEDESC;1 A user needs a clearance level of 1 or higher to get (F)ileDescriptions. Selecting this option displays the file created by uploads or the & command. MENU=HELP;1 A user needs a clearance level of 1 or higher to get (H)elp with MEGAHOST, i.e. to view HELP.?01. This should be low if you are running an open system and let new users have access. MENU=LOGDRIVE;1 A user needs a clearance level of 1 or higher to (L)og New Drive (for instance to change from drive C: to drive D: or E:). MENU=KNOWNCALLER;0 A user needs a security level of 0 or higher to enter the (K)nown Caller module. MENU=MSGTOSYSOP;0 A user needs a security level of 0 or higher to leave a (M)essage to SysOp. MENU=OPERATOR;1 A user needs a clearance level of 1 or higher to attempt an (O)perator Chat. The caller will get a "not available" message if the request is outside the hours specified by the keyword HOURS=. MENU=PROGRAMDIR;1 A user needs a clearance level of 1 or higher to see the (P)rogram Directory option. This specifies whether he can get a listing of the filenames and sizes of the subdirectory or drive where he is located. MENU=QUESTIONNAIRE;1 Given a security level of 1 or more, MEGAHOST will read the file QUESTION.IN, display a line of it, allow the caller to respond, read another line, etc, until the end of the file is reached. The caller's responses are then written out to a file QUESTION.OUT. This is a very simple questionnaire procedure and no field type checking of any kind is done. The file QUESTION.?01 file, if available, is displayed before the questionnaire begins. MEGAHOST Copyright (c) 1994 - by Don Mankin 38 MEGAHOST User Guide MENU=READLOG;9 A user needs a clearance level of 9 or higher to read the log containing private messages to the SysOp and caller statistics. MENU=SEARCH;1 A user needs a clearance level of 1 or higher to (S)earch for Files. Protected files and directories are not listed during the search. The logged drive, and all drives listed in the DIRECTORY= entries are searched. MENU=TRAPDOOR;9 A user needs a clearance level of 9 or higher to use the trapdoor facility. See TDSTRING= and TRAPDOOR=. MENU=UPLOAD;0 A user needs a clearance level of 0 or higher to (U)pload a File. A request to upload will be denied if space is not available. MENU=VIEWBULL;0 A user needs a clearance level of 0 or higher to view the bulletins. MENU=ZIPPYDIRSCAN;0 A user needs a clearance level of 0 or higher to be able to search for text within .BBS files. MODEMDELAY=5 This integer value constitutes a pause inserted between characters when AT command strings are sent to the modem. Most modems should work well with this set to 1. If your system is not answering calls or the modem does not reset then increase this number until it works. Some modems require a count of 10 or better. This will slow down the recycle time between calls however. MSGRECS=50 This number sets the maximum number of messages available to the Message Database System. Once this number is reached, messages must be deleted before new ones are added. You can increase this number if you run out of room. You may not reduce the size of the database any smaller than the highest message number. You can, however, delete all MAILFIL.* files and start over if necessary. MEGAHOST Copyright (c) 1994 - by Don Mankin 39 MEGAHOST User Guide NAPLPSDELAY=1 This integer value constitutes a pause inserted between characters when MEGAHOST sends graphics / text switching control sequences to the NAPLPS terminal program. NETTYPE=NET This indicates the kind of multi-user environment in which MEGAHOST is to operate. If it is a single-user mode, ENTER NETTYPE=NONET. If MEGAHOST operates as a multi-user BBS under DESQVIEW, VINES, MSNET or NOVELL, substitute the name of that environment for NET. NB: If NETTYPE=MSNET or DESQVIEW, the DOS program Share must be loaded. NEWPVTMSG=N If Y, new callers are allowed to enter private messages to the SysOp. If the new caller's security is less than that specified by MENU=ENTERMSG but NEWPVTMSG=Y then that caller may not leave public or private messages to anyone other than the SYSOP=. NEWUSERSECURITY=0 Sets the clearance level for new users. NEWUSERTIMELIMIT=0 Sets the time limit for new users. NODE=n Set this to the node number for which this MEGAHOST.Cnf is to be used. If MEGAHOST is to operate as a single-user BBS, NODE=1. If MEGAHOST is to operate as a multi-user BBS, there must be a MEGAHOST.CNF for each node, and n= the number of that node. So, if this MEGAHOST.CNF is for node 3, NODE=3. Each MEGAHOST.CNF file must contain a unique node number. NOTIMERS=10 Callers with a security level of 10 or above will NOT be logged off when they have been on the system longer than NEWUSERTIMELIMIT or when they have waited longer than KBDTIMER seconds between keystrokes. If MATCHLEVEL=Y, the syntax would be like: NOTIMERS=0,5,8,100 (Notice that the security levels are separated with commas). MEGAHOST Copyright (c) 1994 - by Don Mankin 40 MEGAHOST User Guide OFFHOOK=N Setting to Y takes your modem off hook when in local mode. This encourages your callers to believe your system is in use, and not off line. OPTION=(S)pecial Stuff;S;SPECIAL;5 The OPTION keyword allows the SysOp to ADD or OVERRIDE main menu choices. In the above example, '(S)pecial Stuff' will be displayed as a menu option when UDF menus are NOT in effect, S is the key that calls the batch file, SPECIAL.BAT is the batch file invoked, and '5' is the security level required. Be advised that if you enter an existing MEGAHOST option, the existing option will be overridden by the one you provided. You will not be able to get the overridden option back, ie, you cannot reassign it to another key. Therefore, the (G)oodbye menu option cannot be overridden. In this example, the default menu option (S)earch for file, is no longer available. The semi-colon (;) key is not possible to reassign because of the .CNF semi-colon delimiter. You may have up to 35 OPTION entries. PORT=1 Selects serial port 1. If you are using serial port 2, this number should be 2. I have attempted to support ports 3(1000/3E8, irq4) and 4 (2E8/744, irq3); try either at your own risk, as I have no way of testing it. PRINTER=N Changed to Y, this directs tracking output and comments to the printer. (To direct it to disk, use LOGFILE=Y.) PROTECT= If MATCHLEVEL=Y then you may assign multiple security levels to a protect item. The security levels in the PROTECT statement would be separated with commas as in: PROTECT=C:\GAMES;0,5,8,100 See MATCHLEVEL= for more information. Only 50 PROTECT entries are allowed. Here are some examples as to how they can be used: PROTECT=A;9 A user cannot select drive A: without a clearance level of 9 or higher. (Note that there is no colon following the drive letter.) MEGAHOST Copyright (c) 1994 - by Don Mankin 41 MEGAHOST User Guide PROTECT=*.CFG;9 No file with the extension .CFG can be downloaded without aclearance level of 9 or above. (Batch file transfer will disable this protection.) PROTECT=C:\GAMES;3 A user could not select directory C:\GAMES without a security level of 3 or above. PROTOCOL=SEND;Ymodem;dsz port %PORT% speed %BAUD% sb -k %FILENAME% PROTOCOL=RECEIVE;Ymodem;dsz port %PORT% speed %BAUD% rb MEGAHOST includes ASCII, Xmodem and Xmodem-1K, Xmodem-1KG,.Ymodem, Ymodem-G, and Zmodem file transfer protocols. Other file transfer protocols are available from various BBSs. MEGAHOST allows for SysOp configuration of any of these external protocols up to a total of ten SEND/RECEIVE sets. MEGAHOST's implementation of these protocols require them to be batch protocols. No prompt is given for received files. The PROTOCOL=SEND/RECEIVE indicates which menu, the upload or the download, will display and execute the protocol. The next item between the semicolons indicate how the item will be displayed on the menu. Finally, the command line as it will be sent to the external file transfer program. %PORT% will be replaced by your port number, %BAUD% will be replaced by the connected baud rate, %UART% will be replaced with the UARTS DTE speed, and %FILENAME% will be replaced by the filename(s). The above configuration calls DSZ requesting a Ymodem Batch file transfer. The sample MEGAHOST.CNF configuration file includes configurations for Zmodem, Ymodem-G, PCKermit, SEAlink, Lynx, and MegaLink. Be sure to set a path to the directory containing these files PRIOR to running MEGAHOST. The programs required for these protocols are not bundled with MEGAHOST but may be obtained from most boards. QUIET=N Setting this switch to Y prevents the beep sent to the SysOp upon a caller's connection. READMSG=0 If the callers security level is not at least the value given here, he / she will not be able to enter the Message System at all, even to read mail. The Message System menu option wll not be displayed on the main menu. MEGAHOST Copyright (c) 1994 - by Don Mankin 42 MEGAHOST User Guide RESETSTRING=ATZ This string is sent to the modem during initialization and after each call. For Everex 24 MNP modems, RESETSTRING=ATZ0. RETRIES=2 If set to 2, the caller may attempt 2 tries each at the First & Last Name: and Password: prompts before he or she is logged off. You may set this to 1, 3, 4, etc. See USERLOCK=. REVMSGFILE=N Normally MEGAHOST appends a new data to the bottom of the data file. This requires reading all the old data before getting to the new ones at the bottom. The technique is simple and requires little disk space. If REVMSGFILE=Y, on the other hand, MEGAHOST creates a temporary file: the new data are sent to it first, and the old data file are appended to the end of it. If this process is successful, the old data file is erased and the temporary file given its name. Descriptions for the upload and download .BBS files are handled in this manner. This method takes a little longer to update files. RINGBACK=N Changed to Y, this allows you to use MEGAHOST on your dedicated voice or FAX line. To trigger MEGAHOST, a second call must be received between 10 and 60 seconds after a first call. (The first call would not be answered; the would-be MEGAHOST user would hang up once he hears the ringing tone.) Ringback requires that the MEGAHOST system call again within 60 seconds before it will answer the phone. If you have an answering recorder on the same line, make sure it is set up to answer on the 3rd or 4th ring. This will enable you to call in from a remote, call MEGAHOST once, hang up, and call right back. Also see BUZZBACK and CALLBACK. RINGPIN=N MEGAHOST normally detects an incoming ring via a '2' or 'RING' from the modem. IF RINGPIN=Y, it will not get its ring indication from the modem, but directly from the serial card. Enabling this option will require pin 22 be available on the RS-232C cable. MEGAHOST Copyright (c) 1994 - by Don Mankin 43 MEGAHOST User Guide SAVESCRN=Y If set to Y the 'WAITING FOR CALL' screen will move on the screen at various intervals to avoid screen burn-in. SEPARATORS=N Set this to Y if you want line separators placed into the .BBS files. This requires additional time online for your callers to view (P)rogram Descriptions, but makes the display more readable. SHOWSWAPMSG=Y If set to N then, even if EXECSWAP=Y, the "Swapping MEGAHOST Out" message will not be displayed. This message might complicate the display. If SWAPTOEMS=Y then the swapping is so fast that the user need not be informed that the swap has occurred. SKIPFILECHECK=N Set to Y, this tells MEGAHOST not to check for new files at all. SKIPMAILCHECK=N If set to Y, this tells MEGAHOST not to check for mail at all. NB: If you set both ASKMAILCHECK and SKIPMAILCHECK TO Y, MEGAHOST will not load and will show you an error message. START=C:\PUBLIC Directory where MEGAHOST will start from. This allows you to invoke the program from one directory, and start callers off in another. For example, you may not allow users to have access to the directory or drive that contains the MEGAHOST program files. You might put these in \MEGAHOST but have the START line change to \PUBLIC once the program has started up. Another option would be to boot from drive C: but have the START line switch to drive D: (START=D:\). SWAPTOEMS=Y If set to N, EMS is not utilized during an ExecSwap. Only disk will be used. This is provided in the rare case of EMS incompatability. See EXECSWAP= for more details. MEGAHOST Copyright (c) 1994 - by Don Mankin 44 MEGAHOST User Guide SYSOP=DON MANKIN Replace DON MANKIN with your own name. The SysOp has certain privileges over any other user. TDSTRING=Jump to DOS This determines how the Trap Door option appears in the menu. For instance, if the external program you wish to run is the editor EDLIN, you could set TDSTRING=Editor. SeeTRAPDOOR=. TEMPDIR=C:\MEGAHOST This directory is where the MAXISWAP.$$$ file will be saved if EXECSWAP=Y and there is insufficient EMS or SWAPTOEMS=N. TRAPDOOR=DOS Shell;9;Command Line Interpreter If MATCHLEVEL=Y, you may assign multiple security levels to a trapdoor menu item. Security levels in the TRAPDOOR statement would be separated with commas as in: TRAPDOOR=DOS Shell;0,5,8,100;Command Line Interpreter See MATCHLEVEL= for more information. You may have up to nine TRAPDOOR= entries. In the example, DOS Shell would be the menu item, 9 would be the security level for that item, and Command Line Interpreter would be the description of the item. Selecting a 1 from the (+)-Trap Door menu would execute TRAPDOOA.BAT, selecting a 2 would execute TRAPDOOB.BAT, etc. through TRAPDOOI.BAT. If there are no TRAPDOOR= entries, then selecting (+) from the menu would automatically execute TRAPDOOR.BAT (if there is one), and no menu would be presented. MEGAHOST passes the following command line parameters: %0 = name of program called (.bat, .exe, .com) %1 = port number %2 = baud rate %3 = first name %4 = last name %5 = security level %6 = ANSI (Y or N) %7 = directory MEGAHOST was to started from %8 = CARRIER or LOCAL %9 = NODE NUMBER MEGAHOST Copyright (c) 1994 - by Don Mankin 45 MEGAHOST User Guide UPLOAD=C:\PUBLIC\UPLD Drive and directory where you want uploaded files to go. If this directory does not exist prior to running MEGAHOST you will get a Bad UPLD Parameter in *.CNF File error message. UPLOADINPLACE=100 A caller given this security level would be allowed to upload to the currently logged in drive:\directory rather than be forced to upload to the directory specified by UPLOAD=. If MATCHLEVEL=Y, the entry could be: UPLOADINPLACE=0,5,8,100. Notice that allowed security levels are separated with commas. USEPS2=N If set to Y, MEGAHOST sets port addresses and IRQ to PS2 defaults. USERLOCK=N If set to Y, MEGAHOST tracks unsuccessful logon attempts. If a user makes twice the number of unsuccessful logon attempts set by RETRIES=, MEGAHOST flags the callers database entry, and further logon attempts will be denied. The SysOp's name is not displayed at the main menu, nor are messages left to SysOp translated to the name set by SYSOP= for security reasons. USERLOCK should only be used where security is most important; a cracker could lock out a legitimate user. It is therefore not suitable for normal BBS operations. USERMENU=USERMNU1;0 See the discussion of User-defined menus under section 5.4.2, above. XONXOFF=Y MEGAHOST, by default, supports Xon (ctl-s) Xoff (ctl-q) for character pausing. This can be disabled by setting XONXOFF equal to N. Enabling Xon/Xoff flow control in MEGAHOST may confuse callers not familiar with its usage. If Xon/Xoff is enabled, and some line noise sends a CTL-S (19 decimal), the caller's terminal will freeze until a CTL-Q (17 decimal) is received from the caller. If the caller is unaware of this technique, he or she will eventually hang up and complain of BBS troubles. MEGAHOST Copyright (c) 1994 - by Don Mankin 46 MEGAHOST User Guide 5.4.4 CDROMDIR.CNF Settings With the introduction of MEGAHOST Release 2.30, the configuration keyword CDFILEDESC= goes away. The functionality provided by CDFILEDESC is replaced by adding the file CDROMDIR.CNF to the directory pointed to by DATAPATH, unlike the MEGAHOST.CNF file which must exist in the same directory as MEGAHOST.EXE. The CDROMDIR.CNF will contain entries as in the following example: R:\GAMES\ACTION R:\GAMES\ACTION\FILES.BBS R:\GAMES\ARCADE R:\GAMES\ARCADE\FILES.BBS This file maps the physical directory R:\GAMES\ACTION to the file FILES.BBS in the R:\GAMES\ACTION directory. When MegaHost is requested do do a (F)ile Description or (Z)ippy File Scan, the appropriate text file will be displayed. For more information about how MegaHost normally handles file descriptions, see (&)-Add Prog Desc. below. Please note that if you wish the (F)ile Descriptions, (Z)ippy Dir Scan, and the (C)hange Directory menu options to reference the CDROM directories, you must have a matching DIRECTORY= entry for each CDROMDIR entry. MEGAHOST Copyright (c) 1994 - by Don Mankin 47 MEGAHOST User Guide VI. OPERATING MEGAHOST 6.1 Startup Once you have configured the program, move to the subdirectory in which you installed MEGAHOST, and call it up. MEGAHOST first shows you a copyright / registration screen as it reads the configuration file, then, it waits for a caller, you see the wait for caller screen. 6.2 Local Mode To use the program in local mode, press ESC any time you see the 'Waiting for Call' screen. You will then need to answer the 'First & Last Name:' and 'Password:' prompts just as if you had called from somewhere else (a remote system). 6.3 Bulletins After logon, MEGAHOST checks if the caller has specified a graphics protocol. If so, MEGAHOST first checks for the appropriate bulletin menu file. For instance, if NAPLPS was selected, MEGAHOST looks for the file BULLETIN.P00 and attempts to display it. If the file is not available, MEGAHOST looks for the bulletin menu file BULLETIN.G00 and attempts to display it. If the caller did not specify ANSI or if this file is not found, BULLETIN.T00 is sought and, if found, displayed. If the caller then presses 3 for the third bulletin, MEGAHOST looks for the file BULLETIN.P03, (BULLETIN.G03, or BULLETIN.T03). Four sets of bulletin files may be kept: files named with extensions starting with P, 1, G and T respectively. In each case, if the ANSI file is not found, the non-ANSI file is sought. MEGAHOST Copyright (c) 1994 - by Don Mankin 48 MEGAHOST User Guide Bulletin BIG ANSI ASCII number Graphics Color mode [menu] bulletin.100 bulletin.g00 bulletin.t00 1 bulletin.101 bulletin.g01 bulletin.t01 [et cetera] 99 bulletin.199 bulletin.g99 bulletin.t99 Any unique 2 characters after the .B, P, G or .T works. For instance, BULLETIN.TAA, BULLETIN.TA1, etc. are both valid. This can increase your bulletin count well past 99. 6.4 The Directory/Status Lines Over the main menu, at the upper left of the screen, the caller sees something like: CALLER NAME Node-1 (Saturday) 08/01/1992 10:33 38400 {50} +U THE SWAMP U+ -------------------------------------- SYStem OPerator - Sy sOp THE DIRECTORY: 00:04-56 The first line is the caller's name, the node on which he is calling (Node-1) the day of the week and the date, time, CONNECT rate, and the caller's security level in {curly brackets}. The next line is the name of the BBS, as it was entered after BBSNAME= in MEGAHOST.CNF., under which is the name of the SysOp, which was entered in MEGAHOST.CNF after SYSOP=. Finally, on the last line comes the name or alias for the current directory (see DIRECTORY=, below), the number of minutes used, and the number of minutes left to the caller. MEGAHOST Copyright (c) 1994 - by Don Mankin 49 MEGAHOST User Guide 6.5 Using MEGAHOST: The Menus These menu options can be made available to a caller. You use MEGAHOST.CNF to set the security level of each -- and, if you wish, to disable some completely. 6.5.1 The Main Menu (A)NSI Color -- on/off This command, when enabled, will allow color on those systems properly configured. There are three requirements for this. The caller's communication parameters must be set to 8 bits, no parity, and must support ANSI color: Boyan, Qmodem, Procomm, and Pibterm are three that do; some require that ANSI.SYS be installed on the caller's system. Finally, of course, the caller must have a color monitor. (B)uzz Back This command instructs MEGAHOST to buzz the caller back at the number in the configuration file. The SysOp will be billed for any long distance charges. (C)hange Directory This command allows the caller to move within the hard (or other) drive, using DOS rules for doing so, or by a SysOp-provided menu. (D)ownload File Upon entering D from the menu, caller may download (receive) a file. ASCII, Xmodem, Xmodem-1K, Ymodem, Ymodem-G, and Zmodem protocols are supported. The caller may NOT enter a directory or drive specifier here, but instead must have specified the appropriate path beforehand. The system will prompt for the filename, look for the file, and if it finds it then prompt for the protocol: External File Transfer Protocols: 1 -- ASCII. This is for the ASCII protocol. This should ONLY be used for text files, not for compiled programs, source code, or compressed or archived files (.ARC, .ZIP, .LZH, etc.) where error correction is necessary. You should also not use this protocol to MEGAHOST Copyright (c) 1994 - by Don Mankin 50 MEGAHOST User Guide upload documents to a file directory. Error-correcting protocols (e.g., XMODEM) are safer and more reliable. MEGAHOST requires character and line pacing on ASCII uploads of messages and auto log-ons. Users of Procomm should type ALT S, 6, and change the following: Pace Character = 62 Character Pacing = 50 Line Pacing = 5 Users of Boyan should use Message Upload rather than ASCII protocol when uploading messages. Message Upload senses the pacing character and indicates its selection on the upload screen. 2 -- XMODEM. The plainest error-correcting protocol, useful for downloading to old computers or those running antiquated communications software. Blocks are 128 bytes long. 3 -- XMODEM-1K. This protocol is used more frequently at baud rates of 2400 or higher, or over fairly clean telephone lines. As blocks are 1024 bytes long, less time is spent error checking. Ymodem allows faster file transfer when used under packet switched networks such as PC Pursuit. The following protocols are available at no cost from the Support BBS: 4 -- XMODEM-1KG. Same as above but with no error correction code. This is used when callers are certain that their modems are capable of doing their own error correction. This protocol has the fastest throuput but also has the highest risk 5 -- YMODEM. Batch protocol containing 1k packets. 6-- YMODEM-G. Same as Xmodem-1KG above but allows batch downloads. 7-- ZMODEM. One of the most popular file transfer protocols today, it combines the strengths of the protocols listed above, and then adds optimized packet lengths, file recovery, and more. 8 -- KERMIT. A 7 bit file transfer protocol popular on many of the big computer systems. MEGAHOST Copyright (c) 1994 - by Don Mankin 51 MEGAHOST User Guide External File Transfer Protocols: The SysOp may, at his/her option, enable a number of external file transfer protocols. These programs are available for download from most BBS systems. See PROTOCOL= for information on how to integrate them into MEGAHOST. Unless KERMIT is selected, when someone calls in at 7 data bits, even parity, MEGAHOST switches to 8 data bits, no parity before file transfer, and after the transfer returns to 7 data bits, even parity. (E)cho Mail This option is likely to be disabled. It invokes a 3rd party echo mail module. (F)ile Descriptions If the caller is in a directory containing a .BBS file of file descriptions, this option displays that file. A .BBS file is one either created by the system, or by the SysOp giving descriptions of files available for download. The caller can stop the display of filenames, and return to the menu, by typing S. (G)oodbye Logoff Self explanatory; logs the caller off. (H)elp with MHOST Displays one of the help text files edited by the SysOp. (K)nown Caller Log Enters the Known Caller module. See Known Caller System Options. (L)og New Drive Changes the default logged drive. Your average BBS type caller is unlikely to have enough security to access this option. (M)essage System Enters the Message Database System. See Message Database System Options. (O)perator Chat Selecting this option enables both the caller and the SysOp to chat real-time via their keyboards. To exit chat mode, either party simply presses ESC. MEGAHOST Copyright (c) 1994 - by Don Mankin 52 MEGAHOST User Guide (P)rogram Directory This option will list the various files and directories on the system. The file size will follow the directory entry. Size is rounded to the nearest 'K' (1024 bytes). Directories will be enclosed in [] brackets. [DBASE] would be a valid directory. (Q)uestionnaire Prompts callers with a series of questions, and collects answers for SysOp. (S)earch for File Search within the directory for the filename specified and gives the path if found. DOS wild cards can be used. Protected files and/or directories are not displayed. (U)pload File The caller sends a file to the host system and is asked to describe it. Entering a / as the first character in the description places a * next to the filename and then only the SysOp can display it via the (P)rogram Descripts command. Removing the asterisk makes it displayable to all. End the description with a blank line when done. (V)iew Bulletins Brings up a menu of bulletins. The caller can read the bulletin by entering its number, redisplay the menu by entering M, or exit the bulletin function by pressing the Enter key. You can stop the scrolling of a bulletin and return to the menu by pressing S. (Z)ippy Dir Scan Enables one to search all of the .BBS files for a particular filename or file description. (+)-Trap DOOR(s) Access to external programs provided by the SysOp, including access to DOS. The TRAPDOOR menu entry is written by the SysOp; and may say something other than "TRAP Door(s)". See TDSTRING=. (*)-Read Log File Allows a caller with the proper security level to see what other users have done while on the system and what files they have uploaded or downloaded. MEGAHOST Copyright (c) 1994 - by Don Mankin 53 MEGAHOST User Guide (&)-Add Prog Desc. (SysOp Only) This allows you to add file descriptions to the .BBS file in the current directory. If the file does not exist, it is created. MEGAHOST asks for the filename to add. It then finds the size of the file, asks for a description, and adds this to the .BBS file. The .BBS file would be DIRNAME.BBS where DIRNAME would be the name of the directory you are in. For instance, in the directory C:\MAXI\UPLD, the .BBS name would be UPLD.BBS. If you are in the root directory, the name would be FILES.BBS. Operating Under Networks: When network support is requested, upload file descriptions are sent to the file UPLOADSn.BBS instead of DIRNAME.BBS. These files must be merged with the DIRNAME.BBS files by the SysOp. 6.5.2 Known Caller System Options Pressing (K)nown Caller Log at the Main Menu Displays the Known Caller Log menu: (A)dd Caller (SysOp Only) Allows SysOp to add a caller entry into the caller database. (C)ompress Database (SysOp Only) The record slot for each caller marked for deletion is recovered by the system in order to reuse that record. Prior to (C)ompress, (D)eleted caller records are still recoverable by the system, and may be (U)ndeleted. After (C)ompress, the record slot is released, and that caller record may not be (U)ndeleted. (D)elete by Record (SysOp Only) Allows the SysOp to delete records by entering the record number. The record number for a caller entry is obtained by setting DEBUG=Y. The record numbers will then be added to the header when the caller entry is displayed. This function could be useful when attempting to restore a damaged caller database. MEGAHOST Copyright (c) 1994 - by Don Mankin 54 MEGAHOST User Guide (E)dit Caller Info A caller may edit personal information here. The SysOp may edit records based on last name, security level, or deleted status. When a caller, not the SysOp, presses (E)dit Caller Info, he or she is presented with unfilled lines from that caller's personal record, to which that caller may write information. As each line is presented, the caller may press Enter, to leave information unchanged, or the caller may put new information in that record space. When the SysOp selects a user file for editing, this is what is shown: First & Last Name : Mortimer Snerd Business :Entertainer Address :1226 Limpopo Drive City :Vent-de-Ventre State :Illisouri Zip Code :65220 Country :U.S.A. Home Phone :286-9909 Work Phone :928-6909 Data Phone :920-8699 Password :Grobnik Security Level :1 Allowed Min Per Day : 30 Used Minutes Today : 2 Nbr of Uploads :10 Nbr of Downloads: 20 Nbr of Logons :5 User Flag :0 Bad Attempts :2 Xfr Protocol :0 Last Msg Read :147 (D)elete, (E)dit, <N>ext (P)rint, (S)top, (U)ndelete: A deleted record may be undeleted until the database is compressed. Selecting (E)dit displays the blank record, line by line. The SysOp may enter something, which alters the record entry, or hit Enter, which leaves the entry as it was. The User Flag, and Xfer Protocol spaces are not yet made use of by MEGAHOST. MEGAHOST Copyright (c) 1994 - by Don Mankin 55 MEGAHOST User Guide If the SysOp selects (P)rint, and LPT=0, the record is appended to CALLERSn.PRN (n=the node in which the SysOp issues the (P)rint command). (I)nquire Personal Displays personal information about caller. Shows name, business, city, state, and if allowed, the callers address and phone numbers. The SysOp may traverse the caller database and edit records from here. See (E)dit caller info. When printing to a file (LPT=0) from the edit screen, the record is appended to the file CALLERSn.PRN (n=node in which the SysOp issues the (P)rint command). (G)oodbye Logoff{tc \l 4 "(G)oodbye Logoff"} Asks you if you really want to log off. If you say no, you will find yourself out of the Message System. (L)ist Callers List callers sorted by: last name, state, number of uploads, number of downloads, number of logons, and the most recently called. (S)end to Printer (SysOp Only) Prints ALL caller records to the printer. If LPT=0 then the caller database is saved to the file CALLERS.LST. (P)ause Toggle With (P)ause ON the callers screen will pause after every Caller database entry, or screen of entries depending upon which menu option has been selected. Q)uit to Main Returns caller to main menu. (R)ebuild Database (SysOp Only) Enables the SysOp to rebuild all of the index files. This function could be useful when attempting to restore damaged database indexes. (X)pert Mode Toggles between a full menu and an abbreviated list. MEGAHOST Copyright (c) 1994 - by Don Mankin 56 MEGAHOST User Guide 6.5.3 Message Database System Options Pressing (M)essage System at the Main Menu displays the Message System menu: (B)ackward Read Asks caller for starting a message number. If ENTER is pressed MEGAHOST will start with the last message. The message database is then traversed backwards. (C)ompress Database (SysOp Only) The record for each message marked for deletion is recovered for reuse by the system. Prior to (C)ompress, (D)eleted message records are reserved, and may be (U)ndeleted. After (C)ompress, the record is released, and messages may no longer be (U)ndeleted. (D)elete by Record (SysOp Only) Lets the SysOp delete records by entering the record number. The message's record number is added to the message header seen if DEBUG=Y. This can be useful when trying to restore a damaged message database. (E)nter Message Lets a caller enter a public or private message in the message database. The caller must also select a conference to which to post the message, if there is more than one conference. A message is ended by pressing Enter twice. To leave a blank line between paragraphs of a message, press the spacebar once at the line to be left blank, and then Enter. If the caller presses Enter twice, ending the message, this menu of choices appears: (A)bort, (C)ontinue, (D)elete, (E)dit, (F)ilter, (I)nsert, (L)ist, or (S)ave If (A)bort is pressed, the message is not entered to the database, and the caller returns to the Messages Database System Menu. (C)ontinue presents the last line of the message with the cursor at the point at which the caller may continue the message. (F)ilter lists the message without upper ASCII (ASCII "graphics") characters, while (L)ist sets out the message as entered. (I)nsert lets the caller insert a MEGAHOST Copyright (c) 1994 - by Don Mankin 57 MEGAHOST User Guide line, and (D)elete lets the caller delete lines. (S)ave saves the message to the database. Pressing (E) in this edit menu lets the caller substitute one string with another. (F)orward Read Asks caller for starting a message number. If Enter is pressed MEGAHOST will start with the first message. The message database is then traversed forwards. (G)oodbye Logoff Asks you if you really want to log off. If you say no, you find yourself at the main menu. (I)ndividual Message Prompts the caller for a message number and displays the message if found. (L)ist to Printer (SysOp Only) Prints all messages (all conferences, private or otherwise) to the printer. If LPT=0, the messages are saved to MESSAGESn.LST (n=node in which the (L)ist command was issued). (M)essage Area A conference selection other than ALL limits viewing of messages to the chosen conference. (N)ew Messages If the caller is recognized by the system (he has an entry in the caller database) then (N)ew Messages will start forward displaying messages left since the last time he was on. If not, (N)ew Messages will start forward displaying messages one month prior to the current date. (P)ause Toggle With (P)ause ON the caller can (A)nswer, (D)elete, and (E)dit messages depending upon the callers security. These choices are given after each message is displayed. To capture messages very quickly, (P)ause should be toggled OFF. This mode is read-only; there is no provision for the above choices. (Q)uit to Main Returns caller to main menu. MEGAHOST Copyright (c) 1994 - by Don Mankin 58 MEGAHOST User Guide (R)ebuild Database (SysOp Only) Enables the SysOp to rebuild all of the index files. This function could be useful when attempting to restore damaged database indexes. (S)earch Messages Allows caller to search the To, From, and Subject fields of the message database. Wildcards are NOT permitted. (X)pert Mode Toggles between a full menu and an abbreviated list. (Y)our Mail Displays messages either From you or To you starting with the first message. Note on Reading Messages If a caller presses any of the message reading commands, and is shown a message, under that message is a menu of options. If the caller is the SysOp, the options are: (A)nswer, (D)elete, (E)dit, <N>ext (P)rint, (S)top, (T)oggle Pvt, (U)ndelete: Notice that the SysOp may treat any message as if it were written by or to the SysOp. The SysOp may answer, delete, edit or change it from private to public or vice versa. If the SysOp presses (P), the message text is sent to MESSAGEn.PRN. If the caller is not the SysOp, the caller sees these options under any message written to or by that caller: (A)nswer, (D)elete, (E)dit, <N>ext, (S)top: When a caller reads a message not from that caller, or to ALL, the menu is limited to (A)nswer, <N>ext, (S)top: When a caller presses (E)dit, the following occurs: First, the caller is given a chance to change the Subject:, Received:, and Must it be Private? lines of MEGAHOST Copyright (c) 1994 - by Don Mankin 59 MEGAHOST User Guide the message header. The caller leaves a line as it was by pressing Enter without typing anything. Next, the caller is asked for the conference to which that message should be posted. Finally, the caller sees the message again, and under it, the same options available to a person who had just finished entering a message (pressed Enter twice). All the commands are the same as they are after the entry of the message, except that they relate to the edited version of that message. If the caller presses (A)bort, the editing session is aborted and the message remains as it was before (E)dit was pressed. See (E)nter Message for more on the editing commands. 6.6 Closing MEGAHOST Down To quit, press ESC at the Waiting for Call screen, then press Enter at the First & Last Name: prompt. This brings you back to the DOS prompt. This can only be done from local mode (while at the keyboard). 6.7 Function Keys These functions are available from the Waiting for Call screen and the Main Menu. Changes produced by function keys remain in effect only until MEGAHOST closes down. 6.7.1 F-Key Alone F1 Press F1 once to see a listing of how the system is configured and what the security levels are for the menu items. Pressed F1 while seeing that listing to toggle Debug mode. In Debug Mode, MEGAHOST displays ANSI screens during local logon, logoff, reports various errors to the log, and displays the record numbers of messages. F2 Sets Ringback status toggle F3 Toggles log (turns user log on or off) F4 Toggles printer (turns printer log on or off) F5 Toggles closed system (makes Closed or Open system) F6 Sets Off Hook Toggle F7 Toggles color on and off MEGAHOST Copyright (c) 1994 - by Don Mankin 60 MEGAHOST User Guide F8 Initial baud rate toggle F9 Security -1 Each press of F9 drops by one the security level of an on-line caller. F10Security +1 Each press of F10 raises by one the security level of the user on-line, to give that user have temporary access to functions not otherwise available to him. 6.7.2 SHIFT + Function Key SF1Toggles XONXOFF state SF2Toggles MATCHLEVEL state SF3Toggles BIOS state SF4Toggles DIRECT state SF5Toggles EXECSWAP state SF6Toggles ALLOW300 state SF7Toggles BATCHLOG state SF8Toggles CALLBACK state SF9Toggles USERLOCK state SF0If set to TRUE then Operator HOURS are bypassed and SysOp is available 6.7.3 CTRL + Function Key CF1Toggles SAVESCRN state CF2Toggles RINGPIN state CF3Briefly drops DTR to disconnect the caller 6.8 Keypad Keys Up arrow Increases callers time allowed during the current call Down Arrow Decreases the callers time allowed during the current call MEGAHOST Copyright (c) 1994 - by Don Mankin 61 MEGAHOST User Guide Right Arrow Increases the callers Security Level during the current call by 1 CTL Right Arrow Increases the callers Security Level during the current call by 20 Left Arrow Decreases the callers Security Level during the current call by 1 CTL Left Arrow Decreases the callers Security Level during the current call by 20 Home Toggles SysOp available status Ctl End Disconnects caller 6.9 Tilde Key The tilde key ~ can be pressed by the SysOp from almost anywhere to invoke the Operator Chat function. For instance, if MEGAHOST is prompting for the Subject field when leaving a message, and the SysOp presses the tilde ~ key locally, Operator Chat will be invoked. After escaping from Operator Chat, MEGAHOST will still be expecting the Subject field to be filled in. Because Operator Chat can now be invoked from almost anywhere now, it is up to the SysOp to remember what function he or she interrupted. Please note that because the tilde ~ key now has special meaning, it is not possible to enter it when leaving a message or answering a MEGAHOST prompt. (shucks!) MEGAHOST Copyright (c) 1994 - by Don Mankin 62 MEGAHOST User Guide VII. FOR THE ADVANCED AND THE CURIOUS 7.1 More on INITSTRING The examples of INITSTRING below use V1. This sets the modems to verbal result codes. While V0 can also be used, for numeric result codes, V1 maintains software compatibility with other communications programs. If you have difficulty with one mode, try switching to the other. The same applies to the E1 (echo) command. Your modem may respond better in E1 state as opposed to E0, or visa versa. Any INITSTRING sent to a Hayes modem MUST be 40 characters or less. If the string contains a command not recognized by the modem, the entire string is ignored, and MEGAHOST will not operate correctly. Some clone 2400 baud modems are compatible either with the Hayes 1200 (and should use the Hayes 1200 INITSTRING) or with the Hayes 2400 compatible (and should use the Hayes 2400 INITSTRING). If you are not certain which to use, experiment. Hayes 1200 baud modems: INITSTRING=ATE0M0Q0V1X1S0=0S1=0 This is the initialization string sent to the modem. It breaks down as follows: AT Attention M0 Speaker off X1 Extended result code Q0 Send result codes E0 Echo off S1=0 Count 0 rings S0=0 Do not auto answer V1 verbal result codes Hayes 2400 baud modems: INITSTRING=AT&D2V1Q0E0S0=0&C1&T5L3B1M1 MEGAHOST Copyright (c) 1994 - by Don Mankin 63 MEGAHOST User Guide This is the initialization string sent to the modem. It breaks down as follows: AT Attention Q0 Result codes enabled &J0 Single-line connection B1 Select Bell 212A &D2 Follow DTR E0 Characters not echoed &T5 RDL disabled M1 Modem on until carrier V1 Verbal result codes S0=0 Disable auto answer L3 High speaker volume &C1 Detect carrier (not forced on) Racal Vadic 1200/2400/9600 modems: INITSTRING=AT&C1&D2E0M0Q0V1X4S0=0S1=0 Multi-Tech 2400 baud modems: INITSTRING=ATE0M0Q0V1X1S0=0S1=0&Q1 This string is the same as that for the Hayes 1200 with the exception of the &Q1, which instructs the Multi- Tech to emulate the Hayes 1200 modem. US Robotics Courier HST 9600: INITSTRING=ATE0M0Q0V1X1S0=0S1=0&B0&H0&I0&N0 This modem uses the same INITSTRING as the Hayes 1200, plus: &B0 DTE rate follows connection rate &H0 Flow control disabled &I0 Flow control disabled &N0 Normal link operations The result code expected from the modem is 13 for a 9600 baud connect. Everex Evercom 24 modems: INITSTRING=ATE0Q0V1X4L3S7=60 Everex 24 MNP modems: INITSTRING=ATE0M0X4\N3\Q0\V0\X1\G0\C1%C1S0=0 Some Everex modems require the contents of registers S3 & S4 to be reversed, i.e. S3=10 S4=13. 7.2 Running DOS (or a program) from a remote TRAPDOOR.BAT or TRAPDOO?.BAT (where ? is a letter, A ...Z), is executed from MEGAHOST. A path MUST BE SET to point to TRAPDOOR.BAT if the call is to be successful. A sample TRAPDOOR.BAT is provided with this package; as written, it enables WATCHDOG, a public MEGAHOST Copyright (c) 1994 - by Don Mankin 64 MEGAHOST User Guide domain program that monitors carrier detect at DOS level. MEGAHOST sends TRAPDOOR.BAT a parameter to inform it which port is selected, so it may run the proper version of WATCHDOG. You might do well to use this file as is. You could change the line with COMMAND to the name of the program of your choice; this would not allow DOS access, but would execute the program and then return to MEGAHOST. Keep in mind that very many programs write directly to the screen, or intercept the keyboard directly. These programs will not operate correctly under the DOS shell, and may hang up the system. If you have called in DOS then type EXIT at the DOS command line to return to MEGAHOST. There is a fine shareware program, available on the MEGAHOST Support BBS, and other BBSs, called Doorway. That program lets you operate your computer by remote, as if you were there. You can do many things from a remote position with Doorway which you cannot do by a simple drop-to-DOS using CTTY. MEGAHOST passes the following command line parameters: %0 = name of program called (batch, exe, com) %1 = port number %2 = baud rate %3 = the caller's first name %4 = the caller's last name %5 = the caller's security level %6 = whether the caller selected ANSI after log on (Y or N) %7 = the directory MEGAHOST was to start from %8 = is CARRIER if the call is from a remote computer, or LOCAL %9 = the number of the node The following TRAPDOOR.BAT file is an example of using Doorway from a DOS shell. echo off cls if .%8. == .LOCAL. goto local c:\rundir\doorway COM%1: /VD^U /OT /GON /M32767 /AON /BMS /S* /CDOS goto end :local c:\rundir\doorway local /OT /GON /M32767 /AON /BMS /S* /CDOS :end MEGAHOST Copyright (c) 1994 - by Don Mankin 65 MEGAHOST User Guide The following TRAPDOOR.BAT file is an example of using Doorway to call in an external program. Rundir would be the directory MEGAHOST was invoked from, and Startdir would be the directory specified by START=. @echo off cd\doors if .%8. == .LOCAL. goto local if .%6. == .N. goto nonansi c:\rundir\doorway com%1: /VD^U /AON /OT /S* /GON /M30 /kV255 /PC:\doors\users.exe %1 %2 %3 %4 %5 %6 %7 %8 %9 goto end :nonansi c:\rundir\doorway com%1: /VD^U /AON /OT /S* /GOFF /M30 /kV255 /PC:\doors\users.exe %1 %2 %3 %4 %5 %6 %7 %8 %9 goto end :local c:\rundir\doorway LOCAL /T:^C /O:T /S:* /G:ON /M32767 /PC:\doors\users.exe %1 %2 %3 %4 %5 %6 %7 %8 %9 :end cd\startdir 7.3 Premature Exits (and exiting remotely) It may happen that your MEGAHOST BBS exits prematurely. For example, the computer may reboot because of a power outage. One way to avoid this problem is to use a batch file (call it MEGA.BAT), an alternative autoexec.bat file and, if your normal config.sys does not load ANSI.SYS, an alternative config.sys file. The last line of the alternative autoexec.bat file (call it AUTOEXEC.MEG) would be MEGA M. The alternative config.sys file would load ANSI.SYS. These files would sit in the root directory of the boot disk. @ECHO OFF REM THIS IS MEGA.BAT IF "%1"==""GOTO MENU IF "%1"=="B" GOTO BBS IF "%1"=="M" GOTO MEGAHOST IF "%1"=="R" GOTO RETURN GOTO MENU :BBS REM THIS ASSUMES A DIFFERENT CONFIGURATION FOR MEGAHOST, FROM WHAT REM YOU HAVE FOR YOUR NORMAL, WORKDAY SETUP. BE SURE THAT THE LAST MEGAHOST Copyright (c) 1994 - by Don Mankin 66 MEGAHOST User Guide REM LINE IN AUTOEXEC.MEG IS MEGA M SO THAT A REBOOT TAKES YOU BACK TO REM MEGAHOST REM ECHO *** WARNING *** ECHO You are about to alter your autoexec.bat and config.sys ECHO after which you will call up your MEGAHOST BBS. If you ECHO want to stop now, press Control-C, otherwise, pause IF EXIST C:\AUTOEXEC.REG GOTO MEGAHOST REN C:\AUTOEXEC.BAT AUTOEXEC.REG REN C:\AUTOEXEC.MEG AUTOEXEC.BAT REN C:\CONFIG.SYS CONFIG.REG REN C:\CONFIG.MEG CONFIG.SYS :MEGAHOST REM THIS ASSUMES REM 1) YOU OPERATE UNDER DESQVIEW, OR REM 2) YOU DON'T OPERATE UNDER DESQVIEW AND DON'T REM HAVE ANSI LOADED BY WAY OF YOUR CONFIG.SYS, AND REM 3) YOU HAVE DVANSI.COM. THERE ARE OTHER COMMAND-LINE REM -LOADABLE ANSI PROGRAMS AVAILABLE ON BBSs, SUCH AS ANSI.COM. REM DVANSI MEGAHOST MEGA M :RETURN ECHO ********************************** ECHO THIS RETURNS YOUR COMPUTER TO ECHO ITS NORMAL, WORKDAY CONDITION ECHO ********************************** IF EXIST C:\AUTOEXEC.MEG GOTO END REN C:\AUTOEXEC.BAT AUTOEXEC.MEG REN C:\CONFIG.SYS CONFIG.MEG REN C:\AUTOEXEC.REG AUTOEXEC.BAT REN C:\CONFIG.REG CONFIG.SYS GOTO END :MENU ECHO ************************************************ * ECHO * This Batch File Manages the MEGAHOST BBS * ECHO * * ECHO * Syntax: MEGA [P] * ECHO * Where [P] is one of these parameters: * MEGAHOST Copyright (c) 1994 - by Don Mankin 67 MEGAHOST User Guide ECHO * * ECHO * ? Brings up this menu * ECHO * B To reconfigure the computer and * ECHO * call up your MEGAHOST BBS * ECHO * M To call up MEGAHOST without change * ECHO * in the computer's setup * ECHO * R To Reverse reconfiguration of the * ECHO * of the computer and Return to its * ECHO * regular, workday configuration * ECHO * * ECHO ************************************************ * :END GET W This is how the batch file works. When you call MEGA alone or with anything but upper case B,M or R, you see a list of parameters and the file exits. If you call MEGA B, and if there is no AUTOEXEC.REG in the root directory, config.sys and autoexec.bat are renamed and substitute files are appropriately renamed. If there is an AUTOEXEC.REG, in the root directory, DVANSI (you can substitute any other command-line started ANSI system program) is called and MEGAHOST is started. Note that, if ANSI.SYS is already loaded, DVANSI won't load. If there is a power outage, or for some other reason the host computer reboots or MEGAHOST closes down without your having told it to, MEGA Bat is called up again -- either by the batch file itself or by the newly named autoexec.bat. Since the command is MEGA M, the file skips all the renaming steps, which are unnecessary now. If you are in DesqView or some other multi-tasking environment, you could call MEGA M. That command causes MEGA.BAT to jump right to the part which calls DVANSI and MEGAHOST, altering no files along the way. How would you get out of this loop? Simple! You should have a way to Drop to DOS from inside MEGAHOST. MEGAHOST Copyright (c) 1994 - by Don Mankin 68 MEGAHOST User Guide Drop to DOS and issue the command, MEGA R. That command puts things the way they were before MEGAHOST was called up and warm boots the computer. MEGAHOST Copyright (c) 1994 - by Don Mankin 69 MEGAHOST User Guide VIII. COMPATIBILITY PROBLEMS 8.1 Downward compatibility of future versions Strict compatibility between different versions of MEGAHOST is attempted, but not guaranteed. See Appendix A for instructions on converting MINIHOST files to MAXIHOST and MAXIHOST files to MEGAHOST. 8.2 Memory resident program problems MEGAHOST does not function correctly when certain memory resident (TSR) programs are loaded. DOSEDIT, a DOS editor, does strange things at times, especially after a Jump to DOS. Those spiffy clock programs interfere with binary file transfers. If you are having problems, remove all resident programs from memory and see if this helps. TSRs should be invoked from a DOS shell TRAPDOOR only with caution! MEGAHOST Copyright (c) 1994 - by Don Mankin 70 MEGAHOST User Guide IX. TESTIMONIALS: PC World MAY 1991 says: MAXIHOST, a versatile shareware BBS that almost anyone can use. MAXIHOST's ample security features and easy setup make it ideal and a MAXIHOST BBS is easy to maintain as it is to set up. Micro Cornucopia NOV-DEC 1989 says: MINIHOST has amazing low maintenance requirements, is very flexible, and after years of reliable use Mankin's little BBS is a gem of a system. American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education Vol 53, Summer 89 says: Because of the extensive documentation, I have never a need to call for help and a file shareware BBS which every college of pharmacy should try. Personal Computer Communications, The bible of the on- line World, by Alfred Glossbrenner (of the New York Times) says: For new users we recommend Don Mankin's MINIHOST. Simple to setup and use and for anyone willing to tap an office or home computer from a distant location. MEGAHOST Copyright (c) 1994 - by Don Mankin 71 MEGAHOST User Guide APPENDIX A: MINIHOST / MAXIHOST / MEGAHOST CONVERSIONS A.1 MiniHost to MaxiHost Conversion Delete MINIHOST.00? Rename MINIHOST.* MAXIHOST.* Rename *.B?? to .T?? Rename MINIHOST.?00 to WELCOME.?01 Rename MINIHOST.?01 to NEWUSER.?01 Finally, add a unique identifier in front of each conference entry: CONFERENCE=1;GENERAL;0;Miscellaneous Topics CONFERENCE=2;PROBLEMS;0;Problem Resolution CONFERENCE=3;BETA_TEST;5;Beta Test Versions A.2 MaxiHost to MegaHost Conversion The programs necessary for this conversion must be obtained from the MEGAHOST Support BBS. These files are: USRS2ASC.EXE ASC2USRS.EXE MAIL2ASC.EXE ASC2MAIL.EXE CNF2ASC.EXE CVTBBS.EXE MEGAAPI1.EXE (if you used MHAPI.EXE). If yours is a multi- user system, rename MEGAAPI1.EXE, MEGAAPIn.exe, where n is the number of the node in which that program will operate). Backup all MAXIHOST files, then copy MAXIHOST.CNF to MEGAHOST.CNF and add these entries to MEGAHOST.CNF file, with the appropriate completions: ACFILES ASKANSI ASKBIG ASKFILECHECK ASKMAILCHECK ASKNAPLPS AUTOINDUCTION MEGAHOST Copyright (c) 1994 - by Don Mankin 72 MEGAHOST User Guide CMDLINE ENTRMSG CTSCHECK LOGONALIAS MENU=ECHODOOR MENU=ZIPPYDIRSCAN NEWUSERSECURITY NEWUSERTIMELIMIT SKIPFILECHECK SKIPMAILCHECK Delete these entries from MEGAHOST.CNF MENU=ENTRMSG MENU=INDUCTION MENU=YOURMAIL. MSGLINES TIMELIMIT USER Copy the necessary conversion programs and the new MEGAHOST.EXE file to the same directory as the one with your original MAXIHOST.EXE file in it. You should already have a path set to this directory. Change directory to the one with MAILFIL.DAT in it. Run MAIL2ASC.EXE, to create MESSAGES.LST. You may then kill the MAXIMAIL.* files as they are no longer used. Run USRS2ASC.EXE to create CALLERS.LST. You may then kill the MAXIUSRS.* files as they are no longer used. Now that the two *.LST ASCII files are created, run ASC2MAIL. It creates MAILFIL.DAT and MAILFIL.IX. These are your new message files. Run ASC2USRS. It creates USRSFIL.DAT and USRSFIL.IX. These are your new callers log files. If currently using MHAPI, change references to MHAPI to MEGAAPIn (n=node) in all batch files operating for that node. Obtain a new MEGAAPI1.EXE and, for each node, rename it MEGAAPIn.EXE, where n=the number of the node. Finally, at the DOS command line enter MEGAAPIn INIT for each node. Run MEGAHOST. Make sure that the printer is set to FILE. You can do this by pressing F5 from the configuration screen. From the message system, press (L)ist to Printer. This will rewrite MESSAGES.LST with MEGAHOST's updated syntax. Keep this file, repeating this process from time to time. MEGAHOST Copyright (c) 1994 - by Don Mankin 73 MEGAHOST User Guide From the (K)nown Caller module, press (S)end to Printer. Make sure that printer is set to FILE. This will rewrite CALLERS.LST with MEGAHOST's updated syntax. Keep this file, repeating this process from time to time. If you need to restore the databases, use ASC2MAIL.EXE and ASC2USRS.EXE. If you delete the MAILFIL.* and USRSFIL.* files they will be recreated. If you don't kill them, the records read in will replace the originals. PASSWORD.MH and INDUCT.MH are no longer used. MEGAAPI functions include one to create .PRN files that can be used to read the callers information. You will need to call the Support BBS to obtain a MEGAHOST registration number. A.3 MegaHost 1.3 to MegaHost 2.0 Conversion CONFIGURATION - SINGLE USER Enter NETTYPE=NONET in your .CNF file Enter NODE=1 in your .CNF file Rename MEGA_API.EXE to MEGAAPI1.EXE Do a MEGAAPI1 INIT Delete MEGA_API.DAT Change your batch files that reference MEGA_API to MEGAAPI1 Rename BATCHLOG.DAT to BATCHLG1.DAT Rename MEGAHOST.LOG to MEGAHST1.LOG Rename QUESTION.IN to QUEST1.IN Rename QUESTION.OUT to QUEST1.OUT CONFIGURATION - MULTI USER First, an explanation is in order. You CANNOT run two instances of MH, i.e., you cannot invoke the MH executables twice. You must create two separate sub directories and copy the executables there. The files I have in each directory include BATCHOFF.BAT, BATCHON.BAT, EVENT.BAT, TRAPDOOA.BAT, TRAPDOOB.BAT, TRAPDOOC.BAT, TRAPDOOD.BAT, MEGAHOST.EXE, MEGAHOST.CNF, MEGAHOST Copyright (c) 1994 - by Don Mankin 74 MEGAHOST User Guide MEGAAPI2.EXE, and MEGAAPI2.DAT. Make sure you have a path to this directory, and a path to the directory with all of your external file transfer protocols (and Doorway). Each .CNF file must be modified as follows: Set DATAPATH= to the sub directory where all of your shared files will exist. This directory should have your MAILFIL.* and USRSFIL.* files, and all of your menus, bulletins, etc. This is important. Any/All ANSI/ASCII files MUST MUST MUST have their file attributes set to READ/ONLY. This is done using 'attrib +r filename.ext'. I have the following files set read-only: BULLETIN.*, CHNGMNU1.*, DOORMNU1.*, GOODBYE.*, HELP.*, MAILMNU1.*, MAILMNU2.*, MAINMNU3.*, NEWUSER.*, USERMNU1.*, USERMNU1.*, and WELCOME.* Enter NETTYPE=[DESQVIEW | MSNET | VINES | NOVELL] in your .CNF file. If NETTYPE=MSNET or DESQVIEW then SHARE MUST BE LOADED! Enter NODE=[1-9] in your .CNF file - must be unique for each .CNF! Rename MEGA_API.EXE to MEGAAPIn.EXE where n is the above NODE= number Do a MEGAAPIn INIT where n is the above NODE= number Delete MEGA_API.DAT Change your batch files that reference MEGA_API to MEGAAPIn where n is the above NODE= number Rename BATCHLOG.DAT to BATCHLGn.DAT where n is the above NODE= number Rename MEGAHOST.LOG to MEGAHSTn.LOG where n is the above NODE= number Rename QUESTION.IN to QUESTn.IN where n is the above NODE= number Rename QUESTION.OUT to QUESTn.OUT where n is the above NODE= number MEGAHOST Copyright (c) 1994 - by Don Mankin 75 MEGAHOST User Guide APPENDIX B: BIG TERMINAL BIG TERMINAL Blue Instant Graphics! On-line Interpreter Copyright 1991-92 by Larry Mears All rights reserved Version 1.02 Shareware BBS (205) 722-0900 (Genie) L.MEARS 11027 Crestfield Dr. Huntsville, Alabama 35803 USA Blue Instant Graphics (BIG) Terminal presents a new concept in on-line graphics! Now see true on-line graphics. If you are tired of the blocky ANSI graphics that most BBSs offer, then you will be pleasantly surprised by the super fast high resolution graphics this new terminal emulation unleashes! Registering allows for advanced graphic and sound features such as on-line Adlib (tm) support, special sound effects, and bitblit operations. BIG does graphics by way of an attention command sequence, similar to a Hayes modem, and interprets one letter commands and values up to 9999. It also does ANSI graphics in their standard form. BIG also exists as Instant Graphics!(IG) in the Atari ST on-line world. BIG was written after IG and is not fully compatible with IG but very similar. You should be able to get IG scripts off Atari BBSs and alter them slightly to work. It would be advisable to get the IG doc, look for IG216.ARC. So, what's so great about BIG graphics? Well it means lines, circles, ovals, rectangles, fill patterns, system fonts, you can have BIG colored text any where on the screen. BIG with a little help from the users out there could open a new door for telecommunications. This terminal would allow better game programs to be written for BBS doors. Another use is bar and pie charts. A good idea would be to have a on-line comic strip. There are many possibilities. MEGAHOST Copyright (c) 1994 - by Don Mankin 76 MEGAHOST User Guide APPENDIX C: NAPLPS Terminal Microstar Software Ltd. 100-34 Colonnade Rd. North Nepean, Ontario, CANADA K2E-7J6 VOICE (613) 727-5696 BBS (613) 727-5272 Personality+III(R) is a communication package that interprets either the VT100 ((c)DEC) control syntax in a textual display, or the North American Presentation Layer Protocol Syntax (NAPLPS) in a graphical display. NAPLPS is a government standard (ANSI-X3.110-1983/CSA- T500-1983) for the encoding of alpha-numeric, alpha- mosaic, alpha-geometric and alpha photographic constructs. This syntax is based on the international standards ISO-2022 and ISO-2375. NAPLPS is a resolution independent and device independent syntax and Personality+III uses the proprietary Microstar Virtual Device Interface (MVDI(R)) to display data encoded in this syntax. MVDI is implemented on IBM-PC ((c)IBM) compatible, Macintosh ((c)Apple) and AppleIIGS ((c)Apple) personal computers, and custom manufacturers' terminals. For more information regarding the programmer's C language toolkit and distribution license for MVDI please indicate your needs when you register your copy of the software. The software can be programmed with modem control sequences to dial a service and communicate asynchronously. Many host services are being changed in the U.S. and Canada to support switching between a textual presentation and graphical presentation and are using NAPLPS as the graphics syntax. A selection of device dependent screen drivers is included with the program. The user must choose the language of the user interface and the screen driver that corresponds to the graphics card in the computer. The host can control the video display mode by sending one of two particular ISO-2375 registered control sequences down the asynchronous communication line. When the software detects the sequences, the mode will change before the next datum is parsed. This allows a MEGAHOST Copyright (c) 1994 - by Don Mankin 77 MEGAHOST User Guide service to mix both text pages and NAPLPS graphic pages in a single session. The three byte hexadecimal sequence 0x1b, 0x25, 0x41 (in ASCII: ESC, '%', 'A') will switch the presentation to the NAPLPS graphics mode. The three byte sequence 0x1b, 0x25, 0x40 (in ASCII: ESC, '%', '@') will switch the presentation to the text mode. This program will interpret the ASCII character set 'high-bit' characters following the international standard ISO-8859/1, also called Latin-1. This character set is different than the code pages found on standard personal computers, and does not include line drawing characters. Some Bulletin Boards expect the use of code pages, hence there may be accented characters appearing on the screen when line drawing characters are used. This program is configured with built-in support of Latin-1 characters on screens with either 14-dot high (EGA standard) or 16-dot high (VGA standard) characters. Some laptop and other personal computers do not follow either of these standards in their default modes. Some of these computers do, however, provide a hot-key combination on the keyboard that configure their text screen to be one of these standards. When the program detects that the dot height of characters in text mode is neither 14 nor 16, it will not use the built-in support, however, it will still interpret Latin-1 characters and will assume that the current code page loaded in the video character set generator is Code Page 850 (PC Multi- lingual Code Page). Refer to the operation of your personal computer or operating system for instructions on configuring the code page of your video character set generator to Code Page 850. MEGAHOST Copyright (c) 1994 - by Don Mankin 78 MEGAHOST User Guide APPENDIX D: RIPscript ------------------------------------------ RIPscrip Graphics Protocol Specification "Remote Imaging Protocol" Copyright (c) 1992-1994 TeleGrafix Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved Revision 1.53.00 May 12th, 1994 ------------------------------------------ ============================================================ == INTRODUCTION == ============================================================ As system operators of many bulletin board systems, we've often wished for some form of Graphical User Interface for our boards. Like most Sysops, we've come across many solutions. But they all seemed to fall short in one way or another: inadequate for THIS system, incomplete, difficult to implement, too complex, or lacking in graphics development tools. In short, we became frustrated. So, we decided to write our own Graphical Script Language. RIPscrip stands for "Remote Imaging Protocol Script" language. This graphical language is our answer to the graphics needs of the BBS community and has serious tools for implementation and practical use. For more information on RIPaint, RIPterm or RIPscrip development tools, contact: MEGAHOST Copyright (c) 1994 - by Don Mankin 79 MEGAHOST User Guide TeleGrafix Communications, Inc. 16458 Bolsa Chica #15 Huntington Beach, CA 92649 VOICE: (714) 379-2131 FAX : (714) 379-2132 DATA : (714) 379-2133 (ArenaBBS: The Major BBS...32 lines) ============================================================ == USE OF RIPscrip LANGUAGE == ============================================================ The RIPscrip language is made publicly available and is freely licensed by TeleGrafix Communications, Inc. By freely licensed, we mean that the language can be used in the creation of other products. It does not mean that RIPscrip is public domain. TeleGrafix maintains the copyright of the RIPscrip language. RIPscrip, RIPaint, RIPdraw, and RIPterm are trademarks of TeleGrafix Communications, Inc. If you make a product that uses RIPscrip, you must state in your program's "About Box" and documentation that this product uses RIPscrip and the trademark statement. You may not use RIPterm, RIPaint, RIPdraw, or RIPterm in the name of your product. If you have any questions regarding these issues, contact TeleGrafix Communications, Inc. at 714/379- 2131. ============================================================ == DEFINITION == ============================================================ RIPscrip is a text based Script language for displaying online graphics. The script language conforms to 7-bit ASCII, avoiding the use of Extended ASCII characters. This allows transmission over X.25 networks and other carriers that do not support full 8-bit binary transfers easily. RIPscrip allows RIPscrip graphical statements to be mixed with printable ASCII text and [de facto standard] ANSI/VT-100 directives. RIPscrip MEGAHOST Copyright (c) 1994 - by Don Mankin 80 MEGAHOST User Guide can dynamically determine what is graphics and what is text and display them appropriately in separate windows (a graphics window and a text window). And if you must have your own proprietary commands, RIPscrip has room for that too. ============================================================ == HOW DOES RIPscrip WORK? == ============================================================ RIPscrip uses a flexible, and very efficient script language for its graphical statements. Its efficiency stems from its compactness and developmental planning. It is entirely Object Oriented instead of Raster Oriented for efficient transmission of data and powerful editing capabilities (using RIPaint for example). The language is open ended enough so that literally trillions of different graphics commands can be implemented as needed. RIPscrip is not a proprietary protocol standard and is open to suggestion from the rest of the world. Earlier Graphical Script Languages (Avatar and Skypix among others), utilize special command characters to indicate which graphics command is to be executed. This precludes their use on systems that are limited to ASCII printable text. Traditional script languages use English words to accomplish things (eg, "BOX 0,0 100,50"). This kind of thing is incredibly bulky, especially when you consider that pictures are usually not simple things, but comprised of hundreds or thousands of individual graphical operations (eg, line, circles, fills, text, etc.). With this in mind, a human-readable script language was completely inappropriate for the relatively limited bandwidth of conventional modems. So, one of our main strategies for this language was to make it as efficient as possible without going completely binary. This allows the immediate installation of the protocol onto any ASCII text-based host system -- because the language consists entirely of ASCII printable characters. We justify the unreadability of the language by pointing out the limitations of today's modems and phone lines --the language must be compact. MEGAHOST Copyright (c) 1994 - by Don Mankin 81 MEGAHOST User Guide APPENDIX E: MegaFIDO MegaFIDO allows you to connect your BBS to other BBS's and information centers in the very popular FidoNet store-and-forward mail network. You can exchange messages and files with over 15,000 BBS's around the world. Your users will enjoy communicating with people in the United States and other countries. Reduce your long distance bill by communicating with software and hardware vendors who stay in touch with customers on FidoNet. FidoNet offers you and your users over 400 topical echomail conferences which are shared by more than 15,000 BBS's world wide. Share mail with people in Europe, North America, Oceania, America Latina, Africa and Asia. A Shareware version of the product is available from the MegaHost support BBS. For more infomation, contact Crystal Vision, Inc. 15260 Minosa Trail Dumfries, VA. 22026 703-680-4733 MEGAHOST Copyright (c) 1994 - by Don Mankin 82