OS/2 Shareware BBS: 2 BBS/02-BBS.zip/o9democ.zip/HELPIC.UTL

Text File | 1994-09-28 | 6KB | 164 lines

                          BULLETRON CHAT HELP

CHAT MODES:

There are two modes of chat, the regular (public) "Chat" mode, and the
"private" mode of chat.  In public chat, the system waits for you to
finish a line (press ENTER) before showing you any chat messsages from
other users.  In private chat, you see what the other person is typing
as he types it.


WINDOWS OF OPPORTUNITY:

To prevent the interruption of file downloads and message reading,
messages that you broadcast to other users, or send to individual users
are only displayed them at certain times.  When a user is not in chat,
the system displays broadcasts when:

1)  the main command prompt is about to be sent;

2)  immediately after pressing ENTER at main system prompt, just before
    the main menu is sent.

3)  when reading messages, immediately after reading a message, just
    before the next message is sent.

When a user IS in chat, the system displays broadcasts when:

1)  in private chat mode, immediately after pressing ENTER just before
    the next private prompt (P:) is sent.

2)  in public chat mode, immediately after pressing ENTER and before
    entering any other character.

The system also generates a message and sends it to you when:

1)  You enter private chat with an account who is already in private
    chat waiting for you.

2)  You attempt to enter private chat with an account who is not on
    line.

3)  You enter private chat with an account who has not yet entered
    private chat with you.


Bulletron provides the following commands for controlling chat:

   "/ANNOUNCE <text>"

Displays <text> next to your account information in the Who's Online
listing.  This is displayed to other users at logon or by using the
"/WHO" command ("WO" if you are not in chat).

   "/BRING ACCT <text>"

Use this command to call another user into a private chat with you.
When the other user reaches a "window of opportunity", the system will
display your personal description to him and ask him whether or not he
wants to enter private chat with you.  If the user has selected a
matchmaker sub-board, then he will also be given the option of viewing
your questionnaire responses before entering private chat.  This is a
very effective way of introducing yourself to new users who are not yet
familiar with the chat commands.

   "/CALL ACCT <text>"

This command allows you to call a user into chat.  The system generates
a message, appends <text> to it, and sends it to the account you specify
when that account reaches a receiving "window."  Only that account will
see your "/CALL" message.  You can send a /CALL message to a user
anywhere on the BBS, (even if he is in "private" with another user), but
he must arrive at a "window" before he will see it.  You may also use
"/CALL ALL <text>" to send the "/CALL" message to all users currently
online, (unless blocked by "/NOCHAT").

    "/EXIT"

Exits chat and returns you to the sub-board that you had selected before
you went into chat.  This is the usual way to leave chat.

   "/GROUP LN1 LN2"

This command allows you to be in public chat with only users on specific
phone lines.  LN1, LN2 etc.  are the line numbers of the users you wish
to include in your GROUP in public chat.  All lines within a group will
receive only messages from other lines in that group and all messages
entered from a line within a group are sent only to other lines in that
group.  No other users will see a group's messages.

   "/HELP"

Displays this help message.

   "/INVISI"

This command will exit you from chat and make you invisible to other
users.  Only the system operator will know that you are online.

   "/L Chnl#"

This command allows you to select a public chat "channel", where Chnl#
is the number of the channel (0-9).  There are ten public chat channels
available, so it is possible to have multiple, public chats, each
contained on it's own channel.  You are placed in channel 0 by default
upon entering chat.

   "/MATCH ACCT"

This command displays the match questionnaire responses as entered by
account ACCT for the questionnaire on the subboard from which you
entered chat.  This command will only function if a questionnaire exists
on that subboard.

   "/NOCHAT"

Exits chat and blocks all call messages sent from other users and any
system generated messages.  It also puts in your status line for the
remainder of your session:  "TOO BUSY TO CHAT" so that other users will
know that you have blocked all calls.

    "/PRIVATE ACCT <text>"

If you are in public chat with another user and wish to go private with
him or her, then you can both execute this command to switch to private
mode.  Unlike "/BRING", above, this command does not take time to
display your description or matchmaker responses, so it will get the two
of you into private chat much quicker.  However, if the other user is
not familiar with chat commands, he may not know to use "/PRIVATE" and
will sit there wondering where you went.

If you enter /PRIVATE with an account and attempt to type a message
before the user enters private with you the system will generate a
message that the user is not receiving.  You can be in private chat with
only one user at a time.  Each time you enter /PRIVATE ACCT the new
account will override the previously selected account.

   "/SYSOP"

This command may be used to call the system operator into chat.  The
system will generate a message to the operator if he is online or will
ring his bell if he is not logged on at the time.

   "/TO ACCT <text>"

Transmits <text> to account ACCT.  The message will be seen by the
account you specify when that account reaches a receiving "window".
Only the account specified will receive the message.  This command may
be used to send a private message to another user in public chat.

   "/UNPRIVATE"

Cancels the "Private" mode and returns you to regular chat.

    "/WHO"

Displays who is on the system.  This is the same as "WO" from the main
command prompt.


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