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.TOPIC:
Questions & Answers
VBBS 6.12 Documentation -- F-1
╔════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
║ APPENDIX F QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ║
╚════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
New SysOp's frequently have many questions about VBBS and
getting it set up properly; these are usually handled in the var-
ious support subs. There are, however, questions that keep crop-
ping up again and again as new SysOp's come online and into Vir-
tualNET. The following is a continuing compilation of the most-
asked questions about VBBS, taken from the file MOSTASKD.DOC on
the author's "Virtual Technologies" BBS; other material has been
added as needed.
═══════════════
Q: VBBS seems to be reinitializing the modem every 5 minutes.
A: VBBS checks to see if it needs to dial out for network trans-
fers every so often. The interval is defined under the MAIN
Configuration screen of VCONFIG. The default is 300, which
is 5 minutes. You may wish to adjust this option to better
suit your needs.
═══════════════
Q: I've added new networked subs, but they don't seem to be get-
ting out, or anything coming in.
A: Make sure you run "Compile Network Info" from the DATABASE
Configuration screen in VCONFIG every time you make changes
to the way your subs are networked.
═══════════════
Q: I have trouble getting VBBS to answer the phone; The modem
picks up for 2 seconds, and then hangs back up before a con-
nection can be made.
A: Make sure S0=0 and E0 are part of your VBBS modem init string.
Q: I have trouble getting VBBS to answer the phone; The modem
picks up, but when the connection is made, and the modem
passes the result back to VBBS, VBBS hangs up.
A: This problem tends to be more frequent with some of the newer,
low-cost V32/V32bis modems, but it can be easily fixed through
proper configuration of the modem.
Some of the newer, low-cost V.32/V.32bis modems have different
ways of returning result codes. The key is telling the modem
to report the correct format which is compatible with VBBS.
VBBS 6.12 Documentation -- F-2
For example, one of the modems I have here can be told to re-
port the connect results 3 different ways:
1) CONNECT <DTE Rate>
In this format, VBBS connects OK, but the modem reports
the wrong baud rate back to the computer. The DTE rate is
the rate at which the computer talks to the modem, and in
most cases, this never varies.
2) Super Extended Result Codes
This format isn't compatible with anything. In this for-
mat, 3 or 4 separate lines are displayed, in a format like:
CARRIER <DCE Rate>
CONNECT <DTE Rate>
PROTOCOL <Error control>
3) CONNECT <DCE Rate>
This is the one we want. The DCE rate is the speed of the
modem-to-modem connection, which is what we want. When
this format is used, VBBS will work just fine.
To configure my modem to use the correct format (#3), I send it
ATW2. The proper command for your modem may vary. Check the
modem manual.
═══════════════
Q: I've added new topic areas, but they don't show up when I
try to list them from the BBS.
A: Line 2 of every FB file (Function Block) controls what topics
(database groups) are enabled at the current FB prompt.
For example, line 2 of the default START.FB that comes with
VBBS looks like:
A
It enables topic A only. If you added message-base topics
B, C, and D, your line 2 should look like:
ABCD
Line 2 of the default FILES.FB that comes with VBBS looks like:
F
VBBS 6.12 Documentation--F-3
It enables topic F only. If you added more file-base topics,
for example G, H, and I, your line 2 should look like:
FGHI
═══════════════
Q: When I try to display a network listing, it doesn't print
anything.
A: Each network interface utility (VNET, VWW4, VUUCP, VFIDO) is
responsible for generating network listings for its type of
network. Normally, generation of these lists is automatic,
whenever a new BBSLIST or NODELIST is received. However, new
installations may need to "jump-start" their network listings
as follows:
VNET: Use the command
VNET /A NETWORKID=#
VWW4: Delete file BBSDATA.IDX in your WWIVnet DATA directory
and use the command
VWW4 B NETWORKID=#
VUUCP: Not applicable.
VFIDO: Use the command
VFIDO /A NETWORKID=# (normally 4)
"#" in the above examples refers to the networks ID #, as
given in the NETWORKS.LST network masterlist file.
═══════════════
Q: The call-back verifier refuses to verify.
A: The file that MUST be set up in order for the callback veri-
fier to work is called ALLOWED.CBV, and it should be located
in the VBBS \DATA directory.
The format for the file is ASCII, one entry per line, as fol-
lows:
XXX-YYY Z
where XXX is the area code, YYY is the prefix, Z is a "speci-
fier" that tells the CBV how to dial this area code-prefix com-
bination.
VBBS 6.12 Documentation -- F-4
Specifier Type of Call How Dialed
───────── ──────────── ──────────
+ Local YYY-????
- LD within Area Code 1-YYY-????
$ LD outside Area Code 1-XXX-YYY-????
/ Local outside Area Code XXX-YYY-????
RESTRICT.CBV specifies the list of RESTRICTED phone numbers that
may not be dialed; it is not essential that this file be set up,
but if you're going to use the CBV, you NEED to set it up. The
individual SysOp's who use the CBV are responsible for any char-
ges incurred by its use.
═══════════════
Q: I want to make a neat tagline for my BBS. How do I do it?
A: First of all, keep in mind the limits on system taglines in
VirtualNET:
1) Maximum of 3 lines
2) Maximum of 300 bytes
3) Heart-code ANSI colors ONLY
Go into an ANSI drawing program (like TheDraw) and draw the
tagline you want; block-save it in ASCII format. Then, en-
ter VBBS and use the [E]dit Any File option from the SysOp
Menu to bring the tagline file into the FSE. There, you can
use the [Ctrl-P] color-change feature to add color to the
tagline. Once you're satisfied with it, save the file.
Because the FSE saves the heart-codes for ANY color changes
you make inside it -- even experimental color changes -- you
should bring the tagline back into the DOS 5.0 editor or some
other text editor, where the heart-codes will become visible.
Delete any unnecessary color-change codes. Save the file
again.
To check to see if the tagline meets the byte limit, use the
trusty DIR command:
dir <tagfilename>
If the size of the file is greater than 300 bytes, you need
to edit it down some.