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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.