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qstart.txt
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1993-07-22
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//
The front-end interface for QuickBBS ST and related utilities
TABLE OF CONTENTS
=================
1. General..............................3
2. Installation.........................4
3. Operation............................6
4. Terminal.............................8
A. Error Levels........................10
1 - GENERAL
===========
QuickStart is the part of QuickBBS ST which handles all modem
initialisation, answering the phone and looking for a caller. It also
provides a shell for the QuickBBS utilities and a terminal with dial
directory, VT-52 and Ansi graphics, uploading and downloading. It is, in
fact, a sort of mailer without the FidoNet capabilities. You'll be able
to see the status of your BBS at a glance with QuickStart installed.
For The-Box and Binkley sysops: because QuickStart knows nothing about
FidoNet, it can only be used when Quick is running as a stand-alone
package, but if you like you can run QuickStart during non-mailing
hours, and use it as a terminal/shell of course. If QuickStart detects a
FidoNet mailer at the other end, it will drop the carrier.
The QuickStart program consists of two main files: QSTART.PRG and
QSTART.OVL. QSTART.PRG is only a tiny little program which loads
QUICKBBS.PRG and QSTART.OVL in turn, depending on error levels. An
example:
1) QSTART.PRG is loaded.
2) QSTART.PRG loads QSTART.OVL
3) QSTART.OVL waits for a caller etc.
4) A 1200 bps call is received
5) QSTART.OVL exits with errorlevel 12 (for 1200 bps)
6) QSTART.PRG detects the errorlevel and starts up QUICKBBS.PRG at
1200 bps.
7) QuickBBS logs on the user etc.
8) User logs off, QuickBBS exits with errorlevel 0
9) QSTART.PRG detects the errorlevel and goes back to step 2.
This way the maximum of memory is available for QUICKBBS.PRG, and you
won't need a batch file. If you want DO want to run QuickStart using a
command line interpreter and batch file you can rename QSTART.OVL to
QSTART.PRG and do the errorlevel checking yourself. A list of
errorlevels can be found in Appendix A.
At present the extended events in QuickStart and QuickBBS are not fully
supported, so the event window will be empty.
2 - INSTALLATION
================
Installing QuickStart is easy. Just place QSTART.PRG and QSTART.OVL in
the same directory as QUICKBBS.PRG. QuickStart assumes that you have
QConfig, UserEdit and such in the same directory too.
Now, start up QConfig (v1.20 or newer), and select option 6:
Term Init Str..... ATZ|~ATS0=0M1X3| (1)
Dial String....... ATDT (2)
Default TimeOut... 30 seconds (3)
Default Pause..... 10 seconds (4)
No Connect 1...... NO CARRIER (5)
No Connect 2...... BUSY
No Connect 3...... NO DIALTONE
Zmodem AutoDl..... Yes (6)
Log Level......... 1 (7)
(1) This is the command which is sent to the modem when the terminal
mode is entered. See the main QuickBBS ST documentation for special
characters.
(2) This is the command which makes your modem dial out. It will be
followed by the number to dial and a carriage return.
(3) This is the 'default' maximum time between dialing a number and
establishing a connection. If this time is exceeded, QuickStart
will toggle DTR to make the modem hang up.
(4) When dialing a number QuickStart will wait before trying to redial.
The default pause can be specified here. Enter 0 for no pause.
(5) When one of these strings is received from the modem, QuickStart
will assume the dialing failed.
(6) QuickStart has a feature called Zmodem Auto Download. When switched
on the first few bytes of a Zmodem packet header will trigger the
Zmodem download driver. The toggle in QConfig is the 'default'
status when the terminal is started.
(7) The Log Level controls the amount of information QuickStart (NOT
QuickBBS!) puts in the log file. Each logged line starts with one
of the following characters:
~ (not important)
+ (good)
- (not so good)
? (strange situation encountered)
! (hard error!)
Depending on the log level, these lines will be written to the log
file SYSTEM.LOG. The log levels are:
0 will log ALL lines
1 will log lines starting with !, ?, -, +
2 will log lines starting with !, ?, -
3 will log lines starting with !
Log level 0 will require a lot of disk space, level 3 hardly any.
This will NOT affect the logging which QuickBBS does.
Of course the other options in QConfig should be filled in before you
attempt to run QuickStart or QuickBBS. Refer to the QuickBBS
documentation.
A file called WAITKEYS.BBS (located in the CONF\ directory) can be
created to assign values to the function keys. This file has the same
format as any other 'function key file':
1:C:\COMMS\FLASH\FLASH.PRG
2:D:\EDIT\TEMPUS.PRG D:\QBBS\SYSTEM.LOG
In the above example, pressing f1 while in unattended mode (not in the
terminal) will load FLASH.PRG in the given directory. Parameters can
also be passed, like in line 2.
A second function key file called TERMKEYS.BBS is also used, and defines
the function keys used in the terminal mode.
When a caller is connected he/she will see the lines...
+ QuickStart v1.00, Copyright 1989 by J. Webb, DeltaVision Systems.
+ Press <Escape> to start the BBS...
After the user has pressed the Escape key QuickBBS is loaded. If a
FidoNet compatible mailer is detected on the other side, the carrier is
dropped.
Next QuickStart looks for and sends the file BANNER.ASC in the textfile
directory. There are NO control codes recognised by QuickStart. If this
file doesn't exist:
+ Starting the BBS now! Just a sec...
will be sent instead.
3 - OPERATION
=============
When you run QSTART.PRG you will see that the main screen (unattended
mode) is divided into four main areas:
The top-left box is called the activity window and contains the
last few log lines. Depending on your log level, some of these
lines will also be placed in the log file.
The top-right box is called the status window. This contains the
current status of QuickStart, the number of calls (rings), the
number of actually connected users, the number of messages left to
YOU and the number of times you were paged. The current time is
also displayed.
The bottom-left box is the last user window. Once you've had a call
it will display the last few users on your system, together with
the time of connection and log-off, and whether that user left mail
for you or tried to page you.
The bottom-right box will contain information concerning the
current and next events, but is at present left blank because the
extended events are not yet implemented.
The top line of the screen contains a little menu. The highlighted or
coloured characters represent the key which you should press to access
that option. They are:
Local Starts QUICKBBS.PRG in local mode.
Terminal Enters the terminal.
Users Starts up USEREDIT.PRG for editting users.
Config Starts up QCONFIG.PRG for editting the configuration.
After completion QuickStart will ask whether it should
re-read the configuration file.
Boards Starts up MCONFIG.PRG for editting the configuration of
your message boards.
Events Starts up ECONFIG.PRG for changing the event setup. After
completion QuickStart will ask whether it should re-read
the event file.
Menus Starts up MENUEDIT.PRG for editting your menu files.
Dos Starts up the command line interpreter specified in
QConfig. Function keys in CONF\DOSKEYS.BBS are loaded
first.
Quit Quit to GEM (or to whatever started QuickStart).
The keys displayed are not the only keys which can be used to access the
options. Alt-J, for instance, also shells to DOS.
Before starting any of the utilities, executing function key programs or
quitting to Gem, the reset string will be sent to the modem. After
return to unattended mode the modem is initialised again. When entering
terminal mode the terminal init string is sent instead of the reset
string.
Some other keys are available in unattended mode too:
- The HELP key displays a list of all available keys,
- The four items (calls, connects, messages and yells) can be
reset to zero by pressing Clr/Home,
- The P key will toggle printer logging on and off. This key will
also toggle the printing in QuickBBS, as it is saved in the
SYSINFO.BBS file. Likewise, pressing Alt-P in QuickBBS will
toggle the printer logging in both QuickStart and QuickBBS.
- The I key can be used to manually initialise the modem.
While in unattended mode the screen saver is active. It will blank the
screen after the time stated in QConfig. Move the mouse or press a key
(e.g. space or shift) to get the screen back. As soon as any activity is
detected (a caller or an event) the screen is restored too.
While QuickStart is waiting for something to happen it will initialise
the modem every 5 minutes 'just for fun'.
4 - TERMINAL MODE
=================
By pressing the T key in unattended mode the terminal is started. The
terminal init string is sent to the modem first.
The terminal is a fairly simple, but nevertheless handy one. It features
VT-52 and Ansi graphics modes, built-in PC font, dial directory with
redial, upload and download with Xmodem, Xmodem 1K, Windowed Xmodem,
Ymodem and Zmodem, filename recognition and more...
At the bottom of the screen you'll see the status bar. From left to
right it contains:
- The current baudrate,
- CD (Carrier Detect) or NC (No Carrier),
- STf (ST Font) or PCf (PC Font),
- VT-52 or Ansi graphics,
- The Zmodem AutoDL status,
- A message section.
The available keys in the terminal mode are...
UNDO Returns to unattended mode,
HELP Shows a list of available keys,
Alt-R Receive file(s), (1)
Alt-S Send file(s), (1)
Alt-B Change Baudrate,
Alt-D Dial directory, (2)
Alt-C Clear screen,
Alt-J Jump to DOS, (3)
Alt-H Hangup (drop DTR),
Alt-F Toggle ST or PC fonts, (4)
Alt-G Toggle VT-52 or Ansi graphics, (5)
Alt-U Log the 'other end' into the BBS, (6)
Alt-V View file, (7)
Alt-Z Toggle Zmodem AutoDL.
(1) A menu with available download/upload protocols will be displayed.
When receiving using a non-batch protocol, QuickStart will attempt
to guess the filename. After completion of the transfer a beep will
sound. There are different beeps for completed and aborted
transfers.
(2) Alt-D calls up the dial directory. Each entry in this directory can
be selected using the cursor keys. The entries contain, from left
to right:
- BBS name,
- Phone number,
- Baudrate,
- Timeout,
- Default protocol,
- Graphics mode,
- Font,
- Zmodem AutoDL or Normal.
The number of redials can be set by pressing R. The pause, the time
between redial attempts, can be set with the P key. Pressing S will
save any changes you've made to the dial directory, which can be
accomplished with E. This will bring up an edit screen.
Press Escape to abort dialing or Enter to dial the highlighted
number. If you dial a number the settings of that BBS are made
active (font, graphics mode etc).
(3) Alt-J works like the Dos option in unattended mode, and calls the
command line interpreter specified in QConfig. Note: it doesn't
HAVE to be a CLI, you could put NeoDesk or something in here if you
want.
(4) The PC font will not show when Turbo-ST v1.4 or older is installed.
(5) Ansi in QuickStart is about the same as what is supported by
QuickBBS ST itself. It is far from perfect, but provides the basic
components for controlling the screen. It should NOT be used with
full screen editors like QuickEd, otherwise you probably won't be
able to get out... Refer to QANSI.DOC for supported Ansi escape
sequences.
(6) Say you are in the terminal mode when a user calls in. You answer
the phone manually and find out that you'd like the user to log
into the BBS. Instead of making him/her call back, establish
connection (if it was a voice call) with ATA or whatever makes
your modem answer the phone, press Alt-B to set the baudrate, and
then Alt-U. This will log the user into the BBS. When the user logs
off QuickStart will enter unattended mode, not terminal mode.
(7) The view-file option will display the selected file using the
current graphics mode and font.
APPENDIX A - ERRORLEVELS
========================
When QuickStart (QSTART.OVL) exits the following errorlevels are passed
back to the calling program:
0 - Go Offline,
1 - Start BBS in Local Mode,
2 - System Error,
3 - Start BBS for 300 bps user,
12 - Start BBS for 1200 bps user,
24 - Start BBS for 2400 bps user.
Any other errorlevels should be treated as program errors.