home
***
CD-ROM
|
disk
|
FTP
|
other
***
search
/
BBS Toolkit
/
BBS Toolkit.iso
/
programs
/
dci300d.zip
/
NEW300.DOC
< prev
Wrap
Text File
|
1991-08-26
|
39KB
|
1,015 lines
DCI BBS Software v.3.00 What's New DOC
08/21/1991
Copyright 1991
Nordevald Software
All Rights Reserved.
The following features are either new to DCI version 3.00 or have been
substantially changed.
- Waiting Screen changes
The option to toggle Registration Callback is no longer available
from the Waiting Screen.
The Recent Callers list can be displayed by pressing R.
W)here Messages from Waiting Screen now also indicatest the number
of new messages the sysop has in each base.
- Command line switches abbreviated
The following command line switches can be abbreviated:
/COLOR or /C
/DELAY# or /D#
/MONO or /M
/NOCHECK or /NOC
/NOEMS or /NOE
/NOPRINT or /NOP
/ONLINE# or /O#
/SNOW or /S
/TIMER or /T
/VERIFY or /V
- Command line switch to disable PrintScreen key
Command line switch /NOPRINT or /NOP will disable the PrintScreen key.
- Option to enable/disable PrintScreen key
SYS:BOARD M)ore has new option to disable/enable PrintScreen key.
- Status Line changes:
If you are using Direct Video and would like to place a running
clock on the status line, run DCI with the /T switch.
As yet, the clock locks up Tandy's. If you have any problems,
remove the /T from your command line.
The F1 key will now also display the User Record Note and, if the
user has paged the sysop, the Chat Reason.
- Sysop Macros
Keystroke macros. Create file MACRO.DCI in DCI directory. Enter one
macro per line (maximum 255 characters). The macros are assumed to be
numbered sequentially (i.e., the first macro in the file becomes macro
#1). Lines in MACRO.DCI beginning with a semicolon (;) may contain
comments. Comment lines are not counted in the numbering of the
macros. ASCII 15 and ASCII 175 will be interpreted as carriage
returns. To execute a macro, enter Alt-M at almost any prompt and
then enter the number of the macro to execute at the prompt.
- Editing of input fields
Many input fields can now be editted using cursor keys, HOME and END,
^Y (delete all), ^QY (delete from cursor to end), and ^R (redraw).
If the first key pressed is an alphanumeric key, the entire field will
be cleared of text. If the first key is <ENTER> all the text will be
saved.
Available when online locally and to remote users that have the ANSI
editor selected.
- Include files
The sysop may include files in messages that are not located in the
Include Directory. The fullpath name must be included in the filename
designation (%%path\filename%%).
- Modem handling changes
To connect to DCI via null modem, press N at the Waiting Screen and
follow the prompts (entering baud rate and comm port information).
Practical Peripherals MNP connections are now recognized.
When you take the board down, you now have the option of also taking
the modem offhook (so that any callers will get a busy signal).
Option to set Rings Until Answer so that Caller ID may function
properly on the BBS line. (Default: 0)
- Chat command Alt-B to beep user's return
When you're chatting with someone and they say they'll be right back,
press Alt-B. You don't have to stare at the screen waiting, DCI will
beep you the first time they hit a key.
- Activity Log Changes
Last Call Date noted in Activity Log
Board Up and Normal Board Down not noted in Act Log when /Online
SYS:CONF options to enable/disable many log notations.
SYSOP COMMANDS
- The MSG section has been divided into two parts:
MSG : [ H)eader, C)opy, M)ove, D)el rec''d email, F)ile, P)urge ]:
BASE: [ A)dd, L)ist, M)odify, R)emove ]:
SYS:BOARD has become SYS:SYSTEM.
- SYS:SYSTEM changes
Rebuild P)rimary and H)andle Indexes on the Menu has now been replaced
by R)ebuild Indexes. Rebuild the indexes if the L)ist Users display
is corrupted or not alphabetized. Previous reminders to rebuild the
indexes when deleting users have now been replaced by an automatic
rebuilding if users are deleted.
Option to disable/enable PrintScreen key
Event Commands:
S)wap Option to rearrange event records
C)opy Option to C)opy an event record when Adding a new
event or modifying an event with a status of
Deleted. This allows you to set up several events
that have several duplicate record fields without
having to type everything in multiple times.
Delete Rec'd Email Internal Event
To Leave # number of messages in email when deleting received
mail as an event, enter L# as the parameter for the event. For
instance, if there are 500 messages in email and you would like
to delete the received messages in the first 400, the parameter
would be L100 (Leave the last 100).
- SYS:BASE Changes
When adding a new base, the base settings will be displayed before the
base is actually added and give the base creator the option to Abort
the procedure entirely.
New base fields:
Ignorable whether or not users can ignore the base
Default : YES
Limits : Base numbers greater than 2.
Only sysop can change setting.
Movable whether or not users can move the base location
on their customized base list
Default : YES
Limits : Base numbers greater than 2.
Only sysop can change setting.
Show Recd Date whether or not to display the date that the
message was received by the addressee.
Default : NO
Limits : Only available for bases using the
Standard, Debate, & Letter message
formats.
Show Recd Time whether or not to display the time that the
message was received by the addressee.
Default : NO
Limits : Only available for bases using the
Standard, Debate, & Letter message
formats when Show Recd Date is set to
YES.
Creation Date the date the base was created, also displayed in
the base description from the Base List menu.
Default : n/a
Limits : none
DOS Path the location of the .HDR and .MSG files for the
base
Default : path of current base
Limits : Only sysop and cosysop can change
setting.
Allow Replies if replies are not allowed, the user will only be
able to add a message from the base prompt.
Default : Yes
Limits : Only Gaming, Narrative, Dialogue, and
Action bases. Replies to Private
messages in Gaming format bases are
allowed regardless of the setting.
Invisible options:
# change base number
Default : first available undefined base
Limits : Available only when a new base is
created by the sysop.
* change local visibility of private base
Default : message and edit screens blanked
Limits : Not available for email base, only
sysop can change setting.
- SYS:CONF changes
Board Info new options:
Disable F5 (SYSREAD) key
If disabled, pressing F5 on the local keyboard will have no
effect.
Disable F6 (PRIVATE) key
If disabled, pressing F6 on the local keyboard will have no
effect.
Private Board Logon
This is an 8 character (or less) string of text that must be
entered before the logon screen will appear when a user
calls. There is NO prompt for this string and characters
entered by the caller will not be echoed. Use this only if
you want to severely restrict access to your board.
If this field is empty ("<NONE>" appears as the setting),
the logon screen will appear normally when a caller
connects.
Default : <NONE> ( i.e., empty string )
Private Base Display
If set to YES, any private bases that have local visibility
set to YES will display on the local screen.
If set to NO, all private base message and edit screens will
be blanked ( DEFAULT ).
Pressing Alt-Q ( "Quick, hide that screen!" ) will toggle
this setting.
Execute LOGOFF.BAT
If you would like to run a program every time a user logs
off, set this to YES and create a file named LOGOFF.BAT in
the Main DCI directory to call the program(s). The most
obvious use for this is to call a quote program so that each
user receives a new quote.
After a user hangs up, the system will take the modem
offhook, execute LOGOFF.BAT, put the modem back on hook, and
wait for the next caller.
Default: NO
Activity Log Settings
Whether or not the following information is recorded in the
Activity Log:
1. Invalid logons
2. Msg read & scan info
3. Prompt & editor beeps
4. Info section entries
5. Ignore base/user search
6. Chat information
7. File section entry/exit
8. File section misc.
9. File section sysop info
10. Door entry/exit
11. Door misc.
12. Next event info
13. Misc. main menu info
14. All sysop logins
15. Only remote sysop logins
Chat Settings
SysOp Chat Page same as it ever was
Chat Page Off Override security level necessary to sound
the sysop page when it's turned off
Chat Interrupts whether or not chat pages can be
answered or chats initiated from
the local keyboard
Always Log Chats log chats by default?
Board Configuration new options:
Allow Overtime Usage
if no events are due and the SysNext key has not been
pressed, this setting determines whehter users reading
messages will be logged off as soon as they run out of
time or allowed to continue until they return to a base
prompt.
Allow Recent Call List
whether or not users can view the list of Recent
Callers from the Utility Menu
Allow User Search
whether or not users can use the User Search from the
Utility Menu
Mass Mail Security Level
security level necessary to use Mass Mail
Mass Mail Limit
number of copies of a message which may be mass mailed
at once (does not apply to sysops and cosysops)
New User & Callback new options:
Dialing Prefix
any prefix necessary for the board modem to dial out.
(DEFAULT: None)
Dialing Suffix
any suffix necessary for the board modem to dial out.
(DEFAULT: None)
Callback at Every Login
if set to YES, all users will be call-back verified at
EVERY login before allowed access to the system. Only
users with the Extra Option Force Callback set to NO
will not be called back. (DEFAULT: No)
LD Callback at Login
if Callback at Every Login is set to YES, this option
allows callback of long distance numbers. In this
instance, the board will be paying the long distance
charges of the user's session online. (DEFAULT: No)
Transfer Section new options:
Upload Integrity Check if set to YES will execute ICHECK.BAT
Upload Virus Check if set to YES will execute VCHECK.BAT
Upload Files (extensions) Allowed
If you wish to allow the upload of files with no extension, you
must add ". " ( a period followed by a space ) to the files
allowed setting in SYS: CONF Transfer Section. You must add this
_before_ another extension, i.e.:
Good : . .ZIP
Nope : .ZIP .
See File Section Changes below for more information.
- SYS:FILE changes
Optional textfile defines additional files to pull up with SYS:FILE
Create a textfile named DEFFILE.DCI in the DCI directory. It can
contain up to 10 filenames (including full pathnames) that you
can pull up from the SYS: FILES menu to view, edit, purge, and
search by entering the number of the file (i.e., the first file
listed in DEFFILE.DCI can be accessed by pressing "1", the last
file by entering "10").
Edit, Search, & View prompts, "S" will bring up DEFFILE.DCI.
At "M)ore, N)ext, F)ull screens, A)bort:" and "M)ore, N)ext, A)bort:"
prompts, "C" will indicate Nonstop/Continuous display mode. This will
remain active until the SYS:FILE area is exited.
- SYS:MSG new options
Change Message H)eader new options:
Change message Rec'd Date and Time
C)opy
Messages may now be moved ( original message is deleted ) or
copied to another base.
This change was also made at the Read/Scan prompts:
C)opy msg, E)dit msg, H)eader, M)ove msg, Modify U)ser
F)ile to Disk new options:
Use abbreviated or full message headers
Optional threading
Optional filename
L)ist bases new listings:
#2 : # Base Name M I D T R Directory
M = movable
I = ignorable
D = rec'd date displayed
T = rec'd time displayed
R = replies allowed
Directory = DOS dir where base's .HDR & .MSG files are stored
#3 : # Base Name Created By
Lists creation date and creator
P)urge
Run DCIPURGE. P)urge will prompt you to enter the command line
to be sent to DCIPurge. You may list one base or several
(#,#,#), including a range of bases (#-#). You may also combine
these (e.g., #,#,# #-#).
- SYS:USER new options
User Stats
UL/DL Display
U. UL/DL : U:<f>/<k> D:<f>/<k> F:<f>/<k>
U - uploads
D - downloads
F - free downloads
<f> - number of files
<k> - number of kilobytes
Available base change prompt:
[ Base # or #;# to change, U, R, S, ? ]:
# - change base #
#;# - change bases # through #
? - Display command help
0 - Exit
U - Display User's Custom Base List
R - Reset User's Custom Base List to System Default
S - Display System Base List
Jot a Note
A 40 character note may be entered into each user record.
USER Search can be used to search for strings of text in
this field.
Extra Options:
Extra 5 Minutes When Overtime
same as it ever was (DEFAULT: Yes)
Force User Info Update
same as it ever was (DEFAULT: No)
Always Force Callback
user cannot access board without successful callback
validation at EVERY logon. (DEFAULT: No)
Force Random Callback
user will be subjected to random callback verification
in order to gain access to the system. (DEFAULT: No)
Set Time to 0 After Next Call
user's time will be set to 0 AFTER the next logon
preventing user from logging on again. (DEFAULT: No)
Messages auto-validated
user's messages will be validated when entered. If set
to NO, the user's messages will have to be manually
validated by the sysop, cosysop, or base creator.
(Default : Yes)
Search User new options:
Free downloads
Selecting Uploads, Downloads, or Free downloads will now also
prompt you to select Files or Kilobytes transferred.
[P]rompt, F)ull display, L)ist, A)bort:
Type of display when a user is found whose info matches the
search criteria.
P)rompt the user's name will be displayed followed by
(Y/N/A) where Y displays the user stats
screen, N goes to the next user, and A aborts
the entire process.
F)ull display the user's stats are displayed
L)ist a list of primary handles of all matching
users
- New User Registration changes:
Not entering input 3 times at any of the "Enter Handle", "First Name",
et cetera, prompts will abort the registration procedure.
New users who select the ANSI editor will now be prompted to select
their editor screen colors. (DEFAULT: 511)
If the board's file section is open, the new user will also be
prompted to select a protocol. (DEFAULT: X)
The terms prompt has been changed to "Continue with registration
(y/n)?".
Date of Birth input will accept all input at Month prompt.
(Also see SYS: CONF)
- Callback Changes
To place local calls to another area code that must be dialed as
###-###-####, enter the area code at the beginning of the GOODAREA.LOG
as M### ( area code 813 would be entered as M813 ).
Message Base Changes
- Increased Number of Bases
DCI will now allow 250 message bases rather than 100.
- Where Msg Display option
Can now be either Verbose (with base name and number of new messages
to the user) or Brief (base number only) by Setting F)ull Where Msg in
C)onfig.
- Message Editor changes
When mass mail is available ( SYS: CONF settings and a private message
is being posted ), the Mass Mail option will be available to the user.
In both editors, users will be alerted when their time remaining is 5
minutes or less. When they have run out of time, they will be given
the option of aborting or saving the message.
- Base Descriptions
Now available by pressing ^. The command is automatically added to
all user's Main Options.
- Message display format #15:
Letter -- To <user> [text] From <poster>
the text has indented left and right margins
- MessagePrompt * toggles between S)can and R)ead
Pressing * at the message prompt will toggle between reading and
scanning (e.g., if you're in S)can mode, it will switch to R)ead
mode).
- Option at Range Prompt to toggle threading
At the "Message #" prompt, adding a T will toggle your threading
setting temporarily (until you change it from a message prompt or
return to the base prompt).
- Option at Range Prompt to read just one message
At the "Message #" prompt, entering a number followed by a period
(e.g., #.) will display message number # and return to base prompt.
- Counter for Msgs Remaining when threading
When threading is on, a number will appear to the right of "Message
#<n> of <total>" in the message header. This number indicates the
number of messages remaining in the current message read.
- Unvalidated Messages
Mod User Extra Options now includes a setting for the validation
status of messages that the user posts. The default is Auto-validated.
If you set this to NO, any posts the user makes in bases other than
email will only be displayed to the poster, base creator, cosysop, and
sysop. When reading messages, the base creator, cosysop, and sysop
will be prompted before the read prompt on unvalidated messages and
may toggle the message to validated at that point.
When scanning, a notice will appear that the message is not validated.
After R)eading the message, the validation prompt will appear.
The validation status of a message can also be toggled from C)hange
Msg.
- Brief Listing Message Status
Following the message number is a letter indicating message status:
N - Not Received
R - Received (the default for messages to ALL USERS)
P - Protected
D - Deleted (will only display if the F5-Sysread is active)
U - Unvalidated
- Base List Customization
Users may now rearrange the order of bases as they see them by using
the Customize Base List option from the Utility Menu or the C)ustomize
option from the Base List prompt. The former is recommended as it
contains help information and many more options.
If a user swaps Base #3, The Third Base, and Base #4, The Fourth Base,
his base list will show:
3. The Fourth Base 4. The Third Base
He may now jump to 3 to get to The Fourth Base.
When Zipping, if there are new messages in both bases, the user will
first zip to The Fourth Base and then The Third Base. The same order
applies to using the <ENTER>, +, and - commands from the base prompt.
The customization is saved to the user's account and in no way changes
message pointers, base access, or access to doors and file areas. The
sysop modifies these as before, though has the option of also viewing
the user's customized base list and reseting it to the default system
base list.
Bases marked as immovable cannot be rearranged on a user's base list,
nor can bases 1 & 2. All new bases are automatically set as movable
and this setting can only be changed by the sysop. A user also cannot
swap an existing base with a non-defined one.
- Ignore Base Utility
Also available from the B)ase List prompt.
File Section changes
- Option to Save Download Queue
If a user has selected files for a batch download and selects A)bort
at the Transfer Prompt, he will have the option of clearing the batch
queue. If the queue is not cleared when the user selects E)xit from
the File Menu, he will be cautioned that the queue will be cleared if
he exits and given the option to return to the file section.
- File Counts
The number of times a file has been downloaded will now be displayed
in listings after the file date.
- Your Stats new line:
Free Downloads : <#> K in <#> files
- FileInfo Credit
When selecting Credit from the FileInfo menu, you will now have the
opportunity to either credit or remove credit from the uploader's
account.
- FileInfo Search
If you select Visible, Not Visible, or Not Credited as the search
field, you will now be able to toggle these options from the prompt
line rather than listing all the matching files' criteria.
If you select Visible, an "H" will appear on the prompt line so that
you can toggle the file to Not Visible ( Hidden ).
If you select Not Visible, a "U" will appear on the prompt line so you
can toggle the file to Visible ( Unhidden ).
If you select Not Credited, a "C" will appear on the prompt line so
that you can credit the uploader's account.
- Upload Virus and Integrity Checking
If the SYS: CONF, Transfer Section, Upload Virus Check is set to YES,
the board will run VCHECK.BAT after a file is uploaded.
If the SYS: CONF, Transfer Section, Upload Integrity Check is set to
YES, the board will run ICHECK.BAT after a file is uploaded.
You may use any appropraite DOS utility you choose to accomplish these
checks. However, the utility must accept the filename on the command
line and must return a zero exit code if the file passes the check and
a non-zero exit code if it fails.
Sample batch files are included. These batch files should be located
in the main DCI directory. View the batch files for details.
DCI will execute the batch files as <BATCHFILE> <path/filename>
<comport>. Pass the file name to the utility program using the %1
parameter. The comport can be passed as %2 (see ICHECK.BAT for an
example of this).
- Creating and Modifying Directories
When creating a directory you will have the opportunity to modify the
settings or abort the creation before the record is saved.
New DirInfo fields
Modifying Directory # press # to change dir number
Created date the directory was created
Description 5 line description of the directory
Security Level security level necessary for access
Default: 0
CD ROM Drive tells DCI not to write to this
directory
- Download info
As files are selected for download the filename appears along with the
size of the file and the number of (estimated) minutes the transfer
will take. If more than one file is selected, the total size and time
are also displayed.
Note: The time information at the beginning of the prompts now lists
[ <time remaining> / <time remaining after transfer> ] where the
latter value includes credit for time-free downloads.
- File Descriptions and Designated Recipients
All files will now have 3 lines of description except files uploaded
as Private to Directory #0 with a Designated Recipient.
To implement this change, uploaders will now be prompted to indicate
if a file to be uploaded is Open, Private, To Sysop, or an Include
Message _before_ entering the file description.
If a file is indicated as Private, the uploader will be asked if he
wishes to restrict download of the file to one specific user. If so,
he will be prompted to enter the user's name. He will then be
prompted to enter up to 2 lines of description.
Only the designated recipient and the uploader of such a file may
download it after selecting P)rivate download and entering the correct
filename and password. The message 'Sorry, access to <filename> has
been denied.' will display if any of these criteria are not met, and
the notation 'Rstrd Dl att : <protocol> <filename>' will appear in
the Activity Log, indicating a failed attempt at downloading a
restricted file.
On the Sysop side of things, FileInfo will now allow you to change the
Restricted and Received status of such a file as well as the
designated recipient. The following search fields have also been
added:
Restricted download (both received and not received)
Restricted download rec'd
Restricted download not rec'd
Designated recipient
When listing files in Directory #0, an "R" indicates a Restricted file
that has been Received and an "!" indicates a Restricted file that has
not been received. The Designated Recipient will also be listed
preceded by "DR ==>".
When a file marked as Restricted is moved to another directory, it is
toggled to Not Restricted and the Designated Recipient's name is
removed.
Display files
When including another file within a display file, previously the
included file had to be located in the DCI directory. Now the file
may also be located in the \MNU directory or a subdirectory of it.
Make sure to include the full path name in this case.
//M displays "Press any key" only if the user has menus turned on --
for use in Base Display Files instead of //W
//S clears the screen Note: this is not necessary at the beginning
of message base display files as the system clears the screen by
default.
//SL<low security level>;<high security level>
DEFAULTS: Low Security Level = 0, High Security Level = 255
Display the following text to users who have security levels
equal to or greater than the Low Security Level and equal to
or less than the High Security Level. Remains in effect until
either the end of the file or another //SL#;# code.
Use with extreme caution in REGISTER.MNU. Registering users have a
default access level equal to a verified registered user until the
point of callback.
Door Interface files
The CALLINFO.BBS file format has been updated. If a door modifies the
user's information by changing the data in the CALLINFO.BBS file,
Nordevald Software's CALLUSER utility will update the user's record
upon return to the BBS. See CALLUSER.DOC for complete information.
Group Accounts
Not really accounts -- but groups of users listed in a text file.
When entering a private message, you may send mass mail (copies of the
message) to every user who is listed in a text file by entering @
followed by the name of the file at the TO: prompt. For instance, if
the file is named GROUP1.GRP, enter @GROUP1.GRP. When you save the
message, copies will be sent to all valid user names in the file.
If you wish to include the CC List in the text of your message, you
may do so by including the file (%%GROUP1.GRP).
Similarly, the Designated Receiver of a private file may also be a
group. Enter @<filename> as the Receiver. Anyone listed in the file
may download it.
When specifying a group file as the TO: of a message or the designated
receiver of a file, DCI will look for a file in the DCI directory if
it does not contain a pathname. If you include the file in the
message of the text, you will have to include the pathname unless the
file is in the \INCLUDE directory of the file section.
Nesting Information Section Menus
To create a sub-menu, modify an entry. At the Title Prompt enter
$<title>. The $ tells DCI that this is a submenu title. You will
then be prompted to enter the filename. <filename>.DCI will contain
the setup for the files contained in <filename>.MNU. Make sure you
indicate a unique filename.
Door Section Changes
- Doors can now be set as ANSI only, Local only, and Remote only.
If a door is set to ANSI only, only users with ANSI selected will be
able to access the door.
If a door is set to Local only, only users on locally will be able to
access the door. This is particularly useful for sysop doors that
call programs that do not work over the modem.
If a door is set to Remote only, only users online remotely will be
able to access the door. This will probably be used rarely, though
most often with sysop doors that call batch files using CTTY
redirection to work over the modem.
- Nesting Door Section Menus
To create a sub-menu, modify an entry and set the parmstype to 100.
The filename will indicate the data file for the records in the new
door menu. As with a regular door entry, access to the menu can be
controlled by security level, participation, and message base access.
IN THE FUTURE
We had hoped to include FIDONET message importing and exporting with
this release. Rather than hold everything else up, we're releasing
v.3.00 and will add this feature as soon as possible.
Work will also begin on the multinode version of DCI which probably
will not be available until after the New Year.
PRICE
Registered Sysop Upgrade $35.00
New Sysop Registration 90.00
CONTACT
Authorized DCI Distribution Boards:
Nordevald Software 813/961-0788 FLTAM 1200-9600 HST
Bird Lake BBS 813/265-3256 FLTAM 1200-2400
The Longbow BBS 813/265-8441 FLTAM 1200-9600 v.32
OMNIBUS BBS 619/464-6271 CASDI 1200-9600 v.32
DCI BBS Software is also available on BIX (author id: m.love) in
the BBS Conference Listings and on GENIE (author id: M.LOVE3) in
the BBS RT Listings.