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The TriBBS (R) Bulletin Board System Version 10.0 Copyright (c) 1991-1996 By TriSoft COPYRIGHT NOTICE ---------------- TriBBS is a copyrighted program being distributed under the shareware concept. As such, you may operate a TriBBS Bulletin Board System for a period of 30 days without registering the software. After the 30 day evaluation period, you must register your copy of TriBBS or you will be in violation of United States and International copyright laws. As a shareware program, TriBBS may be freely distributed through a BBS, through a computer network like Internet and FidoNet, on floppy disks, and on CDs or other optical media. It is a violation of the TriBBS license agreement to modify the EXE files in anyway. TRIBBS KEY FILES AND/OR REGISTRATION CODES MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED WITHOUT THE EXPRESS WRITTEN PERMISSION OF TRISOFT. SHAREWARE LIMITATIONS --------------------- Until TriBBS is registered, it is limited to using five message conferences, five file areas, and five doors. These limitations do not hamper the would-be TriBBS sysop's ability to fully evaluate the software; yet, it does encourage registration by sysops who are truly interested in running TriBBS. WARRANTY -------- TriBBS is distributed without warranty. In no event will TriSoft be liable to you for damages, including any loss of profits, lost savings, or other incidental or consequential damages arising out of your use of or inability to use the program, even if TriSoft or an authorized representative has been advised of the possibility of such damages. TriSoft will not be liable for any such claim by any other party. TRADEMARKS ---------- TriBBS is a registered trademark of TriSoft. RIPscrip is a trademark of TeleGrafix Communications, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ---------------- TriBBS uses the excellent SPAWNO routines by Ralf Brown to minimize memory use while shelling to DOS and running other programs. TriBBS supports the RIPscrip graphics protocol, which is a creation of TeleGrafix Communications, Inc. TriBBS Bulletin Board System i TABLE OF CONTENTS ----------------- INTRODUCTION.........................................................1 REQUIREMENTS.........................................................3 INSTALLATION.........................................................5 Automatic Installation .............................................5 Manual Installation ................................................8 The Menu Configuration Files ......................................10 The Help Display Screens ..........................................11 The Default Language File .........................................11 Modifying BOARD.BAT ...............................................11 Getting TriBBS to Run on Boot Up ..................................12 Your First Log On .................................................13 THE TRIBBS MANAGER..................................................19 TriMan Odds and Ends ..............................................19 THE WAITING FOR CALLER SCREEN.......................................21 The Waiting for Caller Screen Menu ................................21 Drop to DOS .......................................................21 Configure Node ....................................................21 Edit Conferences ..................................................22 Edit Users ........................................................22 Edit Events .......................................................22 Configure System ..................................................22 Edit File Areas ...................................................22 View Callers Log ..................................................22 Pack User File ....................................................22 Exit TriBBS .......................................................22 Pack Message Base .................................................23 The Modem Status Window ...........................................23 The Statistics Display ............................................23 Screen Blanking ...................................................23 Status Line .......................................................23 DISPLAY SCREENS.....................................................25 @-Variables .......................................................25 Log On and Goodbye Screens ........................................28 Security Specific Log On Screens ..................................29 User Specific Log On Screens ......................................29 New User Screen ...................................................29 Bulletin Menu and Bulletins .......................................29 Main Menu .........................................................29 Message Menu ......................................................30 File Menu .........................................................30 Upload Screens ....................................................30 Download Screens ..................................................30 Door Menu .........................................................31 Door Bulletin Menu and Door Bulletins .............................31 TriBBS Bulletin Board System ii Questionnaire Menu ................................................31 Sysop Menu ........................................................31 List of Conferences ...............................................31 List of File Areas ................................................32 Chat Screens ......................................................32 Log On Related Screens ............................................32 Comment Screen ....................................................33 <F8> Logoff Screen ................................................33 Full-Screen Editor Help Screen ....................................33 TeleChat Help Screen ..............................................33 File/Byte Ratio Screens ...........................................33 Subscription Screens ..............................................34 Unwanted Files Screen .............................................34 Language Menu Screen ..............................................34 External Chat Screens .............................................34 RIPscrip Borders For ANSI and ASCII Screens .......................34 Making Your Own Display Screens ...................................35 SETTING UP A DOOR...................................................37 Enabling The Door Menu ............................................37 Setting Up TestDoor ...............................................37 Advice About Doors ................................................39 Support For Doors .................................................40 EXTENDED MENU COMMANDS..............................................41 CREATING A QUESTIONNAIRE............................................43 MULTILANGUAGE SUPPORT...............................................45 SPECIAL BATCH FILES.................................................47 ATTACH.BAT ........................................................47 BETWEEN.BAT .......................................................47 CHAT.BAT ..........................................................47 DOWNLOAD.BAT ......................................................47 EDITOR.BAT ........................................................48 FASTLOG.BAT .......................................................48 GOODBYE.BAT .......................................................48 LOGON.BAT .........................................................48 NDLOGON.BAT .......................................................48 NEWUSER.BAT .......................................................48 PAGE.BAT ..........................................................49 SECn.BAT ..........................................................49 UPLOAD.BAT ........................................................49 FILE LISTS..........................................................51 FileMan ...........................................................51 MakeIdx ...........................................................52 Master ............................................................53 AscToBin ..........................................................53 List Converter ....................................................54 Running List Converter ............................................54 TriBBS Bulletin Board System iii Notes About List Converter ........................................54 User-Defined Templates ............................................54 Offline File Areas ................................................54 Putting Requested Files Online ....................................55 EXTERNAL PROTOCOLS..................................................58 Send Batch Files ..................................................58 Receive Batch Files ...............................................59 FILE RATIOS.........................................................60 File/Byte Ratios (Security Level Stays the Same) ..................60 File/Byte Ratios (Adjusting Security Levels) ......................60 Free Downloads ....................................................61 SUBSCRIPTION SYSTEM.................................................62 RUNNING TRIBBS WITH A FRONTEND OR AS A DOOR.........................64 Error Correcting Connections ......................................65 Limiting Time .....................................................65 Forced Hang Up ....................................................65 ODDS AND ENDS.......................................................66 Multidisc CD-ROM Drives ...........................................66 DSZLOG Logging ....................................................66 Quick Logon .......................................................67 File Flagging .....................................................68 Packing the Message Base ..........................................68 The TriBBS Protocol Driver: TTPROT.EXE ............................69 Multitasker Awareness .............................................69 Archive Testing ...................................................69 Fossil Driver Support .............................................69 MULTINODES..........................................................72 Doors and Multinodes ..............................................73 Some Helpful Hints ................................................73 Multinode Chatting ................................................74 HIGH-SPEED MODEMS...................................................77 SUPPORT.............................................................79 REGISTRATION........................................................81 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS..........................................83 TriBBS Bulletin Board System iv TriBBS Bulletin Board System 1 INTRODUCTION ------------ TriBBS is one of the most successful shareware Bulletin Board Systems around. Although TriBBS is a shareware program, it comes equipped with many powerful features. Some of which aren't found in much more expensive commercial programs. Multinode Support - Although TriBBS 10.0 is an excellent single line bulletin board system, it fully supports multinode operation. Unlike many other bulletin board systems, you do not have to pay extra for a multinode system. So when your board is ready to expand, TriBBS will easily grow along with you at no additional cost. Multinode Chat - On multinode boards, TriBBS supports both node to node chatting and group chats. RIPscrip Graphics Support - TriBBS supports RIPscrip graphics. RIPscrip graphics is the defacto standard for graphics terminal emulation and by supporting RIPscrip graphics, TriBBS stays on the leading edge of BBS software. TriBBS/Pro optionally supports fulltime local RIPscrip graphics. Zmodem - TriBBS was one of the first bulletin board systems to offer Zmodem built right in. There are still many bulletin board systems that require you to add an external protocol driver to add Zmodem to you board. Full Screen Editor - In addition to an excellent line editor, TriBBS features a complete full screen editor to make message entry as easy as possible. Alias Support - TriBBS optionally supports the use of aliases in message conferences and file areas. Net Mail - TriBBS's message base structure provides extensive support for net mail conferences. Netmail converters are available for Fido<->TriBBS, PCRelay<->TriBBS, Postlink<->TriBBS, and QWK<->TriBBS. Although these converters are an optional part of TriBBS and not included in the TriBBS archive, they a readily available for download on any TriBBS support board. Doors - TriBBS can internally generate the door data files to run most PCBoard, GAP (DOOR.SYS), Spitfire, WildCat, and RBBS doors. By supporting these five major standards, TriBBS can run pretty much any door program. By generating the door data files internally, TriBBS relieves the sysop from setting up a collection of door data file conversion utilities. Archive Testing - TriBBS allows you to optionally test all uploaded archives, EXEs, and COMs to see if they were TriBBS Bulletin Board System 2 uploaded without error and scan them for viruses. File Area Indexing - TriBBS allows you to optionally index large file areas, including CD-ROM file areas, for quick location and retrieval of files on large file-oriented systems. Extensive CD-ROM Support - TriBBS provides what is probably the best support for CD-ROMs of any BBS software. TriBBS supports multiple directories for each file area. Thus, similar file directories on multiple ROMs and the hard drives can be consolidated into a single file area. TriBBS also provides multinode support for CD-ROM drives that allow multiple CDs to be read with only one read/write head. TriBBS/Pro provides support for offline file areas. Fast Text Searching Through File Lists - TriBBS has perhaps the fastest text searching through file lists of any BBS software. Your callers will appreciate this feature because they won't have to wait for the BBS software to crawl through the file lists searching for matches. One of TriBBS's chief design goals is ease of installation and maintenance. Some of the above listed features, such as Zmodem and internal generation of door data files, have already pointed out some of the reasons why TriBBS is so easy to use. Other TriBBS features include generation of security level specific menu screens on the fly and the ability to run an almost unlimited number of sliding and nonsliding events. Overall, you should find TriBBS to be one of the easiest bulletin board systems to set up and maintain. TriBBS Bulletin Board System 3 REQUIREMENTS ------------ TriBBS requires an IBM PC or compatible computer with 640K of memory, a modem, and a hard disk drive. Although TriBBS doesn't use 640K of memory itself, such programs as external protocol drivers, compression utilities, etc. all have their own RAM requirements; therefore, the more memory the BBS has to run in the better. TriBBS Bulletin Board System 4 TriBBS Bulletin Board System 5 INSTALLATION ------------ The first step in using any computer program is to install it. You probably acquired your copy of TriBBS from a BBS or online service and have obviously uncompressed the file archive. There are two methods for installing TriBBS: automatic installation through the included INSTALL.EXE program or manual installation where you will be required to do most of the work yourself. The method you chose is obviously up to you, but most users will find automatic installation to be the best method for setting up a new TriBBS board. Automatic Installation ---------------------- Automatic installation is started by running the INSTALL.EXE program. This is done by entering the following at the DOS prompt: INSTALL INSTALL starts by displaying a list of directories it intends to create. The following diagram illustrates the directories that INSTALL creates by default. +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ |C:\ | | | | | +---TRIBBS - Holds a few key data files, batch files to run | | | doors, batch files to run events, batch files to | | | run external protocol drivers, and more. | | | | | +---BATCH - Optionally, holds the batch files for doors, | | | events, etc. | | | | | +---ICONS - Holds any RIPscrip icons. | | | | | +---MWORK - Holds the user data files, the message | | | conferences, questionnaires, answers to | | | questionnaires, the callers log, and a number | | | of other important data files. | | | | | +---NWORK - Holds the menu configuration files, event data | | | files, and temporary callers log. | | | | | +---DISPLAY - Holds display screens: log on screens, goodbye | | | screen, bulletins, door bulletins, custom menu | | | screens, etc. | | | | | +---TRANSFER - Used by TriBBS to hold temporary files during | | | file transfers. | | | | | +---TTTEMP - Used by TriBBS to hold transient files and | TriBBS Bulletin Board System 6 | data. | +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ You can change the main BBS directory by pressing the <F10> key and entering the new main BBS directory's name. The installation process will continue as soon as you press <ENTER>. The installation program continues by creating the eight above mentioned directories and copying a number of files to the directories. At this point the installation program will halt and wait for you to enter the BBS name (default: Unnamed BBS), the sysop's name (default: Joe Sysop), the com port (default: 1), and your modem's maximum baud rate (default: 2400). Once you have edited these to appropriate values, you must press <F10> to continue. The automatic installation process should now be complete and your directories should look like the ones presented in the following diagram. +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ |C:\ | | | | | +---TRIBBS - BBS.EXE - This is the main TriBBS program | | | file. | | | - TRIBBS.DOC - This manual. | | | - REGISTER.DOC - Use this form to register your | | | BBS. | | | - TTPROT.EXE - This is the TriBBS protocol | | | driver. | | | - FTTPROT.EXE - This is the fossil driver | | | version of the TriBBS protocol | | | driver. | | | - FILEMAN.EXE - This is the TriBBS file area | | | manager. | | | - FMAN32.EXE - This is a 32-bit version of | | | FileMan. You must have a 386 | | | or better to run this program. | | | - FILEMAN.HLP - This is the help file for | | | FILEMAN.EXE and FMAN32.EXE | | | - TRIPACK.EXE - This is the TriBBS message base | | | packer. | | | - TRIMAN.EXE - This is the TriBBS manager. It | | | allows you to configure your | | | BBS. | | | - TRIMAN.HLP - This is the help file for | | | TRIMAN.EXE. | | | - MAKEIDX.EXE - This is the file area index | | | file generator. (This program | | | is not used by all systems.) | | | - ASCTOBIN.EXE - This program is used to convert | TriBBS Bulletin Board System 7 | | text file listings to the binary| | | format that TriBBS uses. (This | | | program is not used by all | | | systems.) | | | - FL51TO10.EXE - This program will convert TriBBS| | | 5.1x file lists to the TriBBS | | | 10.0 file list format. | | | - NEWLANGS.EXE - This program will convert | | | pre-10.0 language files to the | | | 10.0 format. | | | - LISTCVT.EXE - This program is used to convert | | | non-TriBBS file lists to the | | | TriBBS file list format. This is| | | TriBBS/Pro program only. | | | - LISTCVT.HLP - This is the help file for | | | LISTCVT.EXE. | | | - MASTER.EXE - This program is used to generate| | | a master file index. (This | | | program is not used by all | | | systems and is a TriBBS/Pro | | | program only.) | | | - REQUEST.EXE - This program is used to put | | | offline files online. This is a| | | TriBBS/Pro program only. | | | - TEMPLATE.TXT - Template file for ListCvt. | | | - TESTDOOR.EXE - This is a sample door program. | | | - EGAVGA.BGI - Graphics driver. | | | - BOLD.CHR - Graphics font file. | | | - EURO.CHR - Graphics font file. | | | - GOTH.CHR - Graphics font file. | | | - LCOM.CHR - Graphics font file. | | | - LITT.CHR - Graphics font file. | | | - SANS.CHR - Graphics font file. | | | - SCRI.CHR - Graphics font file. | | | - SIMP.CHR - Graphics font file. | | | - TRIP.CHR - Graphics font file. | | | - TSCR.CHR - Graphics font file. | | | - TRIRIP.FNT - Graphics font file. | | | - BOARD.BAT - This is the batch file that is | | | used to start the BBS running. | | | - SYSDAT1.DAT - This is the key system data | | | file. | | | - SYSDAT2.DAT - This file is used to point all | | | nodes to the proper drive and | | | directories. | | | - NODE.DAT - This file holds the node | | | specific information. | | | | | +---BATCH | | | | | +---ICONS | | | | TriBBS Bulletin Board System 8 | +---MWORK - LANGUAGE.001 - This file contains all of | | | text prompts that the caller | | | sees while he is online. | | | | | +---NWORK - MAIN.MNU - This is the main menu | | | configuration file. | | | - FILES.MNU - This is the file menu | | | configuration file. | | | - MESSAGE.MNU - This is the message menu | | | configuration file. | | | - SYSOP.MNU - This is the sysop menu | | | configuration file. | | | | | +---DISPLAY - TCHAT.BBS - This is the Telechat help | | | screen. | | | - FSCREEN.BBS - This is the full-screen editor's| | | help screen. | | | | | +---TRANSFER | | | | | | | | +---TTTEMP | | | +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ You should now jump ahead to the section entitled "Getting TriBBS to Run on Boot Up". IMPORTANT: INSTALL.EXE is only designed for installing new TriBBS systems and should not be used for installing additional nodes on a multinode system or upgrading from a previous version of TriBBS. Manual Installation ------------------- The first step in the manual installation process is to create a TRIBBS subdirectory on your hard disk. If your hard disk is your C: drive, you could do this by entering the following at the DOS command prompt: MD C:\TRIBBS Next you should copy all of the files that were included in the TriBBS archive to this new subdirectory. This can be accomplished with the following command: COPY *.* \TRIBBS Now you can delete the TriBBS archive files in your current directory by entering the following command: DEL *.* TriBBS Bulletin Board System 9 IMPORTANT: Be sure there aren't any other non-TriBBS files in your current directory before you enter the above command. If you don't check for other files, you will lose them. If there are other non- TriBBS files in your current directory, you will have to delete the TriBBS files one at a time. The next step is to change to the newly created TRIBBS directory. This can be done with the following command: CD \TRIBBS Now you must initialize your TriBBS system by running the file BBS.EXE. To do this, you simply enter the following at the DOS prompt: BBS IMPORTANT: If your modem uses another port other than COM1, you must start TriBBS with the following command: BBS /Cport Where "port" is the number of your modem's serial port. For example, a TriBBS system that will be using a modem hooked up to COM2 would need to be initialized with the following command: BBS /C2 A local-only node can be created by specifying a port number of 0 as follows: BBS /C0 By creating a local-only node, the TriBBS node doesn't require a modem. This can be very useful for setting up a node for the sysop to perform daily maintenance on. You should note that some doors may not be useable with a local-only node. IMPORTANT: If your modem can't support at least 2400 baud, you must start TriBBS with the following command: BBS /Bbaud Where "baud" is your modem's highest baud rate. For example, a TriBBS system that will be using a 1200 baud modem would need to be initialized with the following command: BBS /B1200 You can of course combine the /C and /B command line switches. For example, a system with a 300 baud (YUCK!!!) modem hooked up to COM3 would use one of the following commands: TriBBS Bulletin Board System 10 BBS /C3 /B300 or BBS /B300 /C3 If everything went ok, you should now see TriBBS's Waiting for Caller screen. This screen presents you with 12 menu options. At this time, you should use the arrow keys to move to the "Exit TriBBS" push button. Once the "Exit TriBBS" push button is highlighted, simply press <ENTER> (For the rest of this manual, a keyboard key is indicated by surrounding it with <>.) and you will be returned to the DOS prompt. By running TriBBS in this fashion, TriBBS has created two system data files (SYSDAT1.DAT and SYSDAT2.DAT), a node data file (NODE.DAT), and five subdirectories off your main TriBBS directory. The directories that TriBBS created should look like the following: +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ |C:\ | | | | | +---TRIBBS - Holds a few key data files, batch files to run | | | doors, batch files to run events, batch files to | | | run external protocol drivers, and more. | | | | | +---BATCH - Optionally, holds the batch files for doors, | | | events, etc. | | | | | +---ICONS - Holds any RIPscrip icons. | | | | | +---MWORK - Holds the user data files, the message | | | conferences, questionnaires, answers to | | | questionnaires, the callers log, and a number | | | of other important data files. | | | | | +---NWORK - Holds the menu configuration files, event data | | | files, and temporary callers log. | | | | | +---DISPLAY - Holds display screens: log on screens, goodbye | | | screen, bulletins, door bulletins, custom menu | | | screens, etc. | | | | | +---TRANSFER - Used by TriBBS to hold temporary files during | | | file transfers. | | | | | +---TTTEMP - Used by TriBBS to hold transient files and | | data. | +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ The Menu Configuration Files ---------------------------- TriBBS uses a series of menu configuration files to generate menu displays on the fly. If you do a directory listing of your main TriBBS directory, you will note that TriBBS came with a number of TriBBS Bulletin Board System 11 files with the extension of MNU. These are the menu configuration files and must be placed in your NWORK subdirectory for TriBBS to function properly. Moving these files to the NWORK subdirectory and deleting them from the main TriBBS directory can be accomplished with the following two commands: COPY *.MNU NWORK DEL *.MNU The Help Display Screens ------------------------ Included in the TriBBS archive are a couple of help screens which must be moved into your DISPLAY subdirectory. Moving these files to the DISPLAY subdirectory and deleting them from the main TriBBS directory can be accomplished with the following two commands: COPY *.BBS DISPLAY DEL *.BBS The Default Language File ------------------------- Included in the TriBBS archive is the default language file, LANGUAGE.001. You need to copy this file into your MWORK directory as follows: COPY LANGUAGE.001 MWORK DEL LANGUAGE.001 Modifying BOARD.BAT ------------------- The next step in getting a minimal TriBBS system up and running is to make any necessary modifications to a batch file called BOARD.BAT. Although TriBBS will run by simply executing BBS.EXE at the DOS prompt, it will not be able to run events and doors without being executed by BOARD.BAT. Consequently, you should always start up your BBS by entering the following at the DOS prompt: BOARD As we said though, BOARD.BAT may need to be modified. The following is a listing of BOARD.BAT: TriBBS Bulletin Board System 12 +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ |echo off | |cd \tribbs | |if exist door.bat del door.bat | |if exist event.bat del event.bat | |if exist endbbs del endbbs | |bbs | |if exist door.bat door | |if exist event.bat event | |if exist endbbs goto end | |board | |:end | +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ Note how the second line of BOARD.BAT changes the current directory to the TriBBS's main directory. If your TriBBS setup uses a different directory other than "\TRIBBS", you will have to use a text editor to make the appropriate change. Getting TriBBS to Run on Boot Up -------------------------------- You will want your TriBBS system to automatically start up whenever your computer reboots. This can be accomplished by performing two simple modifications to your AUTOEXEC.BAT file. First of all, you should modify or create a SET PATH or PATH command to include your main TriBBS directory. At the end of your AUTOEXEC.BAT file, you should put the command BOARD. That way DOS will automatically run TriBBS each time the computer is rebooted. The following is a sample AUTOEXEC.BAT file before it has been modified to automatically start up TriBBS: +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ |@ECHO OFF | |PROMPT $p$g | |PATH C:\DOS;C:\WINDOWS;C:\QEMM;C:\ZIP | +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ The following is the same AUTOEXEC.BAT file after the appropriate changes have been made to it for TriBBS: +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ |@ECHO OFF | |PROMPT $p$g | |PATH C:\TRIBBS;C:\DOS;C:\WINDOWS;C:\QEMM;C:\ZIP | |BOARD | +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ Note how the PATH command in line three was modified and how BOARD was added to the end of the batch file. IMPORTANT: Starting with version 2.1, TriBBS uses TTPROT.EXE to TriBBS Bulletin Board System 13 perform file transfers. TTPROT is included with TriBBS and must be placed in either your main TriBBS directory or a directory that is in your DOS PATH statement. If everything has been done properly, TriBBS should start up automatically after a reboot. So let's give it a try and press RESET. After a few seconds, you should see the TriBBS Waiting for Caller screen. If you don't, you should go back and check both BOARD.BAT and AUTOEXEC.BAT for errors. It will probably be something really simple. Your First Log On ----------------- You can now finally log on as a new user. Simply enter BOARD at the DOS prompt to restart TriBBS. After the Waiting for Caller screen appears and the modem has been initialized, move to the "Local Logon" push button and select it by pressing <ENTER>. This option will log you on to the BBS and takes the phone off the hook. The screen should now clear and the following will be displayed: +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ |CONNECT LOCAL / 12-27-95 (10:40) | | | |Welcome to Unnamed BBS - Node 1. | |A TriBBS (R) 10.0 Bulletin Board System | |Copyright (c) 1991-1996 By TriSoft | |Your Sysop is Joe Sysop. | |Test Drive Version! | | | | | |Do you want ANSI color graphics (Y/n)? | +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ This display simply displays that a local connection was made, the name of the board, Unnamed BBS, and node number; that it's a TriBBS 10.0 BBS; a copyright notice; the sysop's name, Joe Sysop; and it's a "Test Drive Version!" of the software. The board's name and the sysop's name can be changed quite simply. We'll discuss how it's done in the next section. As for a registration number, you'll have to register your board to get rid of "Test Drive Version!". Important: Until TriBBS is registered, you are limited to five messages conferences, five file areas, and five doors. You will also note that TriBBS is prompting you as to whether or not you want ANSI color graphics or not. If you have a color monitor, you will probably want to respond affirmatively by pressing either <Y> or the <ENTER> key. If you don't have a color monitor or just simply do not want a color display, respond "No" by pressing <N>. Note how the prompt has the "Y" capitalized. This indicates that TriBBS will consider pressing <ENTER> as the same as pressing <Y>. So whenever TriBBS Bulletin Board System 14 you see a similar TriBBS prompt, you will know that pressing <ENTER> will perform the same action as pressing the capitalized key. After selecting the appropriate color choice, TriBBS will prompt you to enter your name as follows: +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ |Enter your FIRST and LAST name: | +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ Simply type your name and press <ENTER>. Because this is your first log on, TriBBS will display the following: +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ |Enter your FIRST and LAST name: Mark Goodwin | |Searching user records for Mark Goodwin. | |<G>oodbye, <R>eenter name, or <N>ew User? | +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ Because you are a "new user", you should press <N>. If you weren't a new user, you could either "reenter name" by pressing <R> or say "goodbye" by pressing <G>. TriBBS will now prompt you for a password as follows: +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ |Enter your password (1 to 15 chars.): | +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ Simply type in a password and press <ENTER>. IMPORTANT: Be sure that you use a unique password for your system. If somebody finds out what your password is, it is possible for them to make extensive modifications to your BBS. So be careful with your password. TriBBS will now ask you to re-enter your password as follows: +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ |Please select a password (1 to 15 chars.): ....... | |Please reenter the password: | +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ Simply re-enter your password. The main reason for allowing you to reenter a password is because a remote user may get hit with line noise and not realize that his desired password wasn't entered properly. After entering your password correctly, TriBBS will prompt you for the first line of your street address as follows: TriBBS Bulletin Board System 15 +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ |Enter your street address (line 1): | +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ After entering the first line of your street address, TriBBS will give you the opportunity to change it as follows: +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ |Enter your street address (line 1): 366 14th St | |Is 366 14th St correct (Y,n)? | +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ TriBBS continues by asking for the second line of your street address as follows: +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ |Enter your street address (line 2): | +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ After entering the second line of your street address, TriBBS will give you the opportunity to change it as follows: +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ |Enter your street address (line 2): PO Box 0 | |Is Po Box 0 correct (Y,n)? | +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ TriBBS continues by asking for your city as follows: +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ |Enter your City: | +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ After entering your city, TriBBS will give you the opportunity to change it as follows: +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ |Enter your City: Bangor | |Is Bangor correct (Y,n)? | +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ TriBBS continues by asking for your state as follows: +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ |Enter your state: | +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ After entering your state, TriBBS will give you the opportunity to change it as follows: TriBBS Bulletin Board System 16 +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ |Enter your state: Me | |Is Me correct (Y,n)? | +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ TriBBS continues by asking for your zip code as follows: +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ |Enter your zip code: | +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ After entering your zip code, TriBBS will give you the opportunity to change it as follows: +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ |Enter your zip code: 04401 | |Is 04401 correct (Y,n)? | +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ TriBBS continues by asking for your country as follows: +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ |Enter your country (ENTER for USA): | +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ After entering your country, TriBBS will give you the opportunity to change it as follows: +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ |Enter your country (ENTER for USA): | |Is Usa correct (Y,n)? | +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ TriBBS continues by asking for your phone number as follows: +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ |Enter your phone number ###-###-####: | +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ After entering your phone number, TriBBS will give you the opportunity to change it as follows: +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ |Enter your phone number ###-###-####: 207-990-0565 | |Is 207-990-0565 correct (Y,n)? | +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ TriBBS continues by asking for your date of birth as follows: +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ |Enter your date of birth MM/DD/YY: | +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ TriBBS Bulletin Board System 17 After entering your date of birth, TriBBS will give you the opportunity to change it as follows: +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ |Enter your date of birth MM/DD/YY: 10/19/56 | |Is 10/19/56 correct (Y,n)? | +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ TriBBS continues by asking you to select a default protocol as follows: +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ |<A> Ascii | |<X> Xmodem | |<K> Xmodem-1K | |<Y> Ymodem | |<G> Ymodem-G | |<Z> Zmodem | |<N> No Default | | | |Please select a default protocol: | +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ Simply select the default file transfer protocol you would like to use when calling your board remotely. If you don't want to set a default protocol, press <N>. By selecting "No Default", TriBBS will prompt you to select a protocol before each file transfer. After selecting a default protocol, TriBBS will prompt you to select a default editor as follows: +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ |<L> Line Editor | |<F> Full Screen Editor | |<N> No Default | | | |Please select a default editor: | +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ Simply select the default editor you would like to use. By selecting "No Default", TriBBS will prompt you to select an editor before entering each message if you have ANSI graphics enabled. TriBBS will continue by displaying the board's main menu as follows: TriBBS Bulletin Board System 18 +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ |..Bulletin Menu <Y>..Your Personal Information | |<M>..Message Menu ..System Information | |<F>..File Menu ..List of Users | |<C>..Comment to Sysop <X>..Expert Mode | |<A>..Toggle ANSI Graphics ..Page Sysop | |<N>..Newsletter <G>..Goodbye | +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ For the most part, TriBBS's main menu is its gateway to other areas of interest. You will also see the following prompt: +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ |You have been on 9 minutes with 51 remaining. | |Enter Selection - [B M F C A N Y I U X P G ?]? | +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ At this point, you will want to log off your BBS by pressing <G>. Before logging off, TriBBS will give you a final chance to change your mind as follows: +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ |Are you sure you want to log off (Y/n)? | +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ TriBBS Bulletin Board System 19 THE TRIBBS MANAGER ------------------ The TriBBS Manager program, TriMan, is used to perform such actions as configuring the system, configuring the node, configuring message conferences, configuring file areas, editing users, configuring menus, packing the user file, packing the message base, and more. As a sysop, TriMan will be one of the most important tools you'll use in maintaining your BBS. To run TriMan, you must be in your nodes's main directory. Then at the DOS prompt enter TRIMAN. TriMan comes with an extensive amount of context sensitive help. You can press <F1> at anytime while running TriMan to consult the appropriate help screens. TriMan Odds and Ends -------------------- TriMan can be called with the following command line switches: +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ |Switch(es) Action | +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ |/SYSTEM Runs TriMan's system editor. | |/NODE Runs TriMan's node editor. | |/USERS Runs TriMan's user editor. | |/CONF Runs TriMan's message conference editor. | |/FILE Runs TriMan's file area editor. | |/EVENT Runs TriMan's event editor. | |/UPACK Runs TriMan's user file packer and asks | | before packing. | |/UPACK /BATCH Unconditionally runs TriMan's user file | | packer. | |/MPACK Runs TriPack via TriMan. | +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ IMPORTANT: You should be very careful using TriMan when somebody is online. About the only safe thing you can do while somebody is online is to edit the user file. You should not attempt to do any other configuration with TriMan while anybody is on your BBS. To do so, may lead to an irreversible corruption of your board's data files! TriBBS Bulletin Board System 20 TriBBS Bulletin Board System 21 THE WAITING FOR CALLER SCREEN ----------------------------- Other than being pretty colorful, TriBBS's Waiting for Caller screen allows the sysop to perform a great deal of board maintenance without even having to log on to the board. The Waiting for Caller screen performs these maintenance operations by calling TriMan. The Waiting for Caller screen is divided into four major parts. The Waiting for Caller Screen Menu ---------------------------------- The top portion of the screen is the Waiting for Caller menu and allows you to select one of the following 12 options: +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ |Drop to DOS | |Configure Node | |Edit Conferences | |Local Logon | |Edit Users | |Edit Events | |Configure System | |Edit File Areas | |View Callers Log | |Pack User File | |Exit TriBBS | |Pack Message Base | +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ As you already know from installing TriBBS, a menu option is selected by moving to the desired push button with the arrow keys and pressing <ENTER>. Each of these 12 menu options will now be explained one at a time. Drop to DOS ----------- The "Drop to DOS" menu option will temporarily shell out to DOS and allow you to enter DOS commands. You can return to TriBBS by simply entering EXIT at the DOS command prompt. You should note that TriBBS takes the phone off the hook when the "Drop to DOS" menu option is selected and will put it back on the hook when you return from DOS. This will give any callers a BUSY signal while you are shelled out to DOS. Configure Node --------------- The "Configure Node" menu option calls TriMan's node configuration editor. TriBBS Bulletin Board System 22 Edit Conferences ---------------- The "Edit Conferences" menu option calls TriMan's message conference editor. Edit Users ---------- The "Edit Users" menu option calls TriMan's user editor. Edit Events ----------- The "Edit Events" menu option calls TriMan's event editor. Configure System ---------------- The "Configure System" menu option calls TriMan's system configuration editor. Edit File Areas --------------- The "Edit File Areas" menu option calls TriMan's file area editor. View Callers Log ---------------- The "View Callers Log" menu option allows you to view your board's callers log. TriBBS maintains a log of a user's activity while a caller is logged on. This file is named CALLERS.LOG and is kept in node 1's MWORK directory. By selecting the "View Callers Log" menu option, TriBBS will prompt you for a date to start viewing the log from. You can simply press <ENTER> to view the log starting at the beginning of the current day. While you are viewing the callers log, TriBBS takes the phone off the hook. The phone will be placed back on the hook as soon as you return to the Waiting for Caller screen. Pack User File -------------- The "Pack User File" menu option calls TriMan's user file packer. Exit TriBBS ----------- The "Exit TriBBS" menu option exits you from TriBBS and returns you to the DOS command prompt. TriBBS Bulletin Board System 23 Pack Message Base ----------------- The "Pack Message Base" menu option calls TriMan to pack the message base. The Modem Status Window ----------------------- The middle portion of the Waiting for Caller screen is the modem status window. This window will display the current state of the modem: initialization information and ring detection. The Statistics Display ---------------------- The bottom portion of the Waiting for Caller screen displays a variety of information about your board: the total number of calls, the number of calls for the current day, the number of messages that have been posted during the current day, the number of uploads for the current day, the number of downloads for the current day, the node number, the number of busy nodes, the remaining time to the next event, and more. Screen Blanking --------------- After five minutes of inactivity, TriBBS will blank the screen and bounce a "TriBBS Ready For Caller" message around the screen. This is done to prevent your screen from being burned by the Waiting for Caller screen. The Waiting for Caller screen is redisplayed by pressing any key. Status Line ----------- At the very bottom on the Waiting for Caller screen, is the status line. On this line, TriBBS displays the board's registration number, if it's registered, a multitasker indicator, a music note if the page bell is on, and the current date and time. Additionally, TriBBS will use one of the following to indicate if a multitasker has been detected: +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ |Indicator Meaning | +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ |None No multitasker detected. | |DV DesqView detected. | |OS/2 OS/2 detected. | |WIN Windows detected. | +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ You should note that the node's page bell can be toggled on and off by TriBBS Bulletin Board System 24 simply pressing <F3>. IMPORTANT: Because the Waiting for Caller screen uses TriMan to perform many of its functions, you must run TriBBS with BOARD.BAT for most of the Waiting for Caller screen functions to work properly. TriBBS Bulletin Board System 25 DISPLAY SCREENS --------------- TriBBS allows you to use a number of optional display screens to customize your board. These screens can be either ANSI color screens or monochrome screens. TriBBS requires you to use an extension of RIP for RIPscrip graphics screens, ANS for ANSI color screens and BBS for monochrome screens. All display screens are stored in the DISPLAY subdirectory. If you have the node configured to use its own DISPLAY directory, TriBBS will look for the display screens there. Otherwise, TriBBS will look for the display screens in node 1's DISPLAY directory. If the caller has selected RIPscrip graphics or TriBBS has autodetected it, TriBBS will always search the DISPLAY subdirectory for RIP screens. If a RIP screen can't be found or the caller has selected ANSI color graphics or TriBBS has autodetected ANSI color, TriBBS will always search the DISPLAY subdirectory for ANS screens. If TriBBS can't find an ANS screen or the caller doesn't have RIPscrip graphics or ANSI color selected, TriBBS will search the DISPLAY subdirectory for an appropriate monochrome screen. If TriBBS can't find any of the three types of display screens, TriBBS will either display nothing if it's a simple display screen or TriBBS will generate and display a menu on the fly if an appropriate menu screen isn't found. @-Variables ----------- TriBBS supports the following @-variables in display screens to perform a wide variety of actions: +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ |@-variable Action Taken | +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ |@ALIAS@ Displays the caller's alias. | |@BAUDRATE@ Displays the caller's baud rate. | |@BBSSTARTDATE@ Displays the board's starting date. | |@BEEP@ Sends a BELL (07H). | |@BIRTHDATE@ Displays the caller's birthdate. | |@BOARDNAME@ Displays the board's name. | |@BREAKOFF@ Makes the screen unbreakable. | |@BREAKON@ Makes the screen breakable. | |@BYTERATIO@ Displays the caller's byte ratio. | |@BYTESDLTODAY@ Displays the number of bytes the caller has | | downloaded today. | |@CALLS@ Displays the caller's number of calls. | |@CALLSTODAY@ Displays the caller's number of calls for | | today. | |@CITY@ Displays the caller's city. | |@CITYANDSTATE@ Displays the caller's city and state. | |@CLS@ Clears the screen. | TriBBS Bulletin Board System 26 |@COUNTRY@ Displays the caller's country. | |@CR@ Displays a carriage return/line feed pair. | |@DAILYBYTELIMIT@ Displays the daily byte limit for the | | caller's security level. | |@DAILYFILELIMIT@ Displays the daily file limit for the | | caller's security level. | |@DEFAULTCOUNTRY@ Displays the default country as defined in | | current language file. | |@DOWNLOADS@ Displays the caller's number of downloads. | |@DOWNLOADSTODAY@ Displays the number of downloads for today. | |@FILERATIO@ Displays the caller's file ratio. | |@FILESDLTODAY@ Displays the number of files the caller has | | downloaded today. | |@FIRST@ Displays the caller's first name. | |@HANGUP@ Hangs up on the caller. | |@KDOWNLOADED@ Displays the number of K bytes the caller | | has downloaded. | |@KUPLOADED@ Displays the number of K bytes the caller | | has uploaded. | |@LASTDATEON@ Displays the caller's last date on. | |@LASTFILECHECK@ Displays the date of the caller's last new | | file check. | |@LASTTIMEON@ Displays the caller's last time on. | |@MESSAGES@ Displays the number of messages the caller | | has posted. | |@MESSAGESTODAY@ Displays the number of messages posted | | today. | |@MORE@ Displays a "more" prompt. | |@MOREOFF@ Disables the "more" prompt. | |@MOREON@ Enables the "more" prompt. | |@NODE@ Displays the node number. | |@OK@ Pauses the display screen and waits for the | | <ENTER> key to be pressed. You should note | | that no prompt is displayed. | |@ORIGINAL@ Displays the date of the caller's original | | log on. | |@PAUSE@ Prompts the caller the press a key. | |@PHONE@ Displays the caller's phone number. | |@PHONESTYLE@ Displays the string "###-###-####" if the US| | phone number style is enabled. | |@REGISTRATIONNUMBER@ Displays the board's registration number if | | the board is registered. Otherwise, it will| | display "Test Drive Version!" | |@SECBYTERATIO@ Displays the security level's byte ratio. | | If the caller's security level doesn't have | | a byte ratio, TriBBS will display "No | | Ratio!". | |@SECFILERATIO@ Displays the security level's file ratio. | | If the caller's security level doesn't have | | a file ratio, TriBBS will display "No | | Ratio!". | |@SECURITY@ Displays the caller's security level. | TriBBS Bulletin Board System 27 |@STATE@ Displays the caller's state. | |@STREETADDRESS1@ Displays the first line of the caller's | | street address. | |@STREETADDRESS2@ Displays the second line of the caller's | | street address. | |@SYSOPNAME@ Displays the sysop's name. | |@SYSTEMCALLS@ Displays the board's number of calls. | |@SYSTEMCALLSTODAY@ Displays the board's number of calls for | | today. | |@SYSTEMDATE@ Displays the date. | |@SYSTEMTIME@ Displays the time. | |@SUBSCRIPTIONDATE@ Displays the date the caller's | | subscription expires. | |@TIMELEFT@ Displays the number of minutes the caller | | has left for this call. | |@TIMEON@ Displays the number of minutes the caller | | has been on for this call. | |@TIMEREMAININGFORDAY@ Displays the amount of time the caller | | has remaining for the day. | |@TIMETHISCALL@ Displays the total number of minutes the | | caller has for this call. | |@TOTALCONFERENCES@ Displays the board's number of conferences. | |@TOTALFILEAREAS@ Displays the board's number of messages. | |@TOTALMESSAGES@ Displays the board's number of messages. | |@TOTALNODES@ Displays the board's number of nodes. | |@TOTALUSERS@ Displays the board's number of users. | |@UPLOADS@ Displays the caller's number of uploads. | |@UPLOADSTODAY@ Displays the number of uploads for today. | |@USER@ Displays the caller's full name. | |@VERSIONNUMBER@ Displays the TriBBS version number. | |@ZIPCODE@ Displays the caller's zip code. | +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ You should note that case is significant for the @-variables. TriBBS will simply ignore @hangup@ in a display screen, but will hangup the phone if it encounters @HANGUP@ in a display screen. @X Color Codes -------------- TriBBS also supports @X color codes. If the caller has ANSI enabled, TriBBS will convert the color code to an appropriate ANSI escape sequence. Otherwise, TriBBS will filter out the @X color code. Therefore, it is no longer necessary to have an ANS and a BBS version of a display screen. You can simply have a single BBS version that uses @X color codes to add color to the display screens for ANSI colors. @X color codes use the following format: TriBBS Bulletin Board System 28 +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ |@Xbf | | | |Where: | | | |b is the background color expressed as a hexadecimal | | digit (0 to F). | | | |f is the foreground color expressed as a hexadecimal | | digit (0 to F). | +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ The colors are represented as follows: +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ |Background Color Code Foreground Color Code | +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ |0 - Black 0 - Black | |1 - Blue 1 - Blue | |2 - Green 2 - Green | |3 - Cyan 3 - Cyan | |4 - Red 4 - Red | |5 - Magenta 5 - Magenta | |6 - Brown 6 - Brown | |7 - White 7 - White | |8 - Black Blink 8 - Dark Gray | |9 - Blue Blink 9 - Light Blue | |A - Green Blink A - Light Green | |B - Cyan Blink B - Light Cyan | |C - Red Blink C - Light Red | |D - Magenta Blink D - Light Magenta | |E - Brown Blink E - Yellow | |F - White Blink F - Bright White | +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ IMPORTANT: @-variables and @X color codes can be used in messages in local message conferences, but are ignored in networked conferences. Log On and Goodbye Screens -------------------------- TriBBS supports up to nine log on screens and one goodbye screen. The filename for a log on screen is LOGONn.RIP, LOGONn.ANS, or LOGONn.BBS. Where "n" is a number from 1 to 20. After a caller answers the ANSI color graphics prompt, TriBBS will display either LOGON1.RIP, LOGON1.ANS, or LOGON1.BBS. After the caller has entered his name and password, TriBBS will display the screens LOGON2 to LOGON19. At log off and before TriBBS disconnects the caller, TriBBS will display either GOODBYE.RIP, GOODBYE.ANS, or GOODBYE.BBS. TriBBS Bulletin Board System 29 Security Specific Log On Screens -------------------------------- TriBBS supports security specific log on screens. The filename for a security specific log on screen is either nSEC.RIP, nSEC.ANS, or nSEC.BBS. Where "n" is the security level for the log on screen. Security specific log on screens are displayed after TriBBS displays the normal log on screens. Newsletter Log On Screen ------------------------ TriBBS supports a newsletter log on screen. The filename for a newsletter log on screen is either BBSNEWS.RIP, BBSNEWS.ANS, or BBSNEWS.BBS. A newsletter log on screen is displayed to the caller after TriBBS displays any security specific log on screens. A newsletter log on screen is only displayed if it has been updated since the user's last call. User Specific Log On Screens ---------------------------- TriBBS supports user specific log on screens. The filename for a user specific log on screen is either n.RIP, n.ANS, or n.BBS. Where "n" is the caller's user number. User specific log on screens are displayed after TriBBS displays any newsletter log on screen. Once a user specific log on screen has been displayed to the appropriate caller, TriBBS automatically deletes the screen. User specific screens are unique in the fact that they are always stored in node 1's DISPLAY directory. New User Screen --------------- After a new user enters his name and indicates that he is a new user, TriBBS will display a special new user screen named either NEWUSER.RIP, NEWUSER.ANS, or NEWUSER.BBS. Bulletin Menu and Bulletins --------------------------- Normally, TriBBS will generate a Bulletin Menu on the fly; however, you may use a custom Bulletin Menu by naming the display files BULLETIN.RIP, BULLETIN.ANS, and BULLETIN.BBS. You can have from 1 to 99 bulletins by naming them as BULLETn.RIP, BULLETn.ANS, and BULLETn.BBS. Where "n" is a number from 1 to 99. Main Menu --------- Normally, TriBBS will generate a Main Menu for the caller's security TriBBS Bulletin Board System 30 level on the fly; however, you may use custom Main Menus by naming the display files MAINn.RIP, MAINn.ANS, and MAINn.BBS. Where "n" is the menu's security level. You may also have custom Main Menu display screens called MAINALL.RIP, MAINALL.ANS, and MAINALL.BBS. These custom screens will be displayed if none of your MAINn.RIP, MAINn.ANS, or MAINn.BBS screens match the caller's security level. Message Menu ------------ Normally, TriBBS will generate a Message Menu for the caller's security level on the fly; however, you may use custom Message Menus by naming the display files MESSn.RIP, MESSn.ANS, and MESSn.BBS. Where "n" is the menu's security level. You may also have custom Message Menu display screens called MESSALL.RIP, MESSALL.ANS, and MESSALL.BBS. These custom screens will be displayed if none of your MESSn.RIP, MESSn.ANS, or MESSn.BBS screens match the caller's security level. File Menu --------- Normally, TriBBS will generate a File Menu for the caller's security level on the fly; however, you may use custom File Menus by naming the display files FILEn.RIP, FILEn.ANS, and FILEn.BBS. Where "n" is the menu's security level. You may also have custom File Menu display screens called FILEALL.RIP, FILEALL.ANS, and FILEALL.BBS. These custom screens will be displayed if none of your FILEn.RIP, FILEn.ANS, or FILEn.BBS screens match the caller's security level. Upload Screens -------------- TriBBS supports an optional upload display screen. This display screen, if present, is displayed after the caller selects the File Menu's Upload option. The file names for the optional upload screens are UPn.RIP, UPn.ANS, and UPn.BBS. Where "n" is the display screen's security level. You may also have custom upload display screens named UPALL.RIP, UPALL.ANS, and UPALL.BBS. These custom screens will be displayed if none of your UPn.RIP, UPn.ANS, or UPn.BBS screens match the caller's security level. Download Screens ---------------- TriBBS supports an optional download display screen. This display screen, if present, is displayed after the caller selects the File Menu's Download option. The file names for the optional download screens are DOWNn.RIP, DOWNn.ANS, and DOWNn.BBS. Where "n" is the display screen's security level. You may also have custom download display screens named DOWNALL.RIP, DOWNALL.ANS, and DOWNALL.BBS. These custom screens will be displayed if none of your DOWNn.RIP, TriBBS Bulletin Board System 31 DOWNn.ANS, or DOWNn.BBS screens match the caller's security level. Door Menu --------- Normally, TriBBS will generate a Door Menu for the caller's security level on the fly; however, you may use custom Door Menus by naming the display files DOORn.RIP, DOORn.ANS, and DOORn.BBS. Where "n" is the menu's security level. You may also have a custom Door Menu display screens called DOORALL.RIP, DOORALL.ANS, and DOORALL.BBS. These custom screens will be displayed if none of your DOORn.RIP, DOORn.ANS, or DOORn.BBS screens match the caller's security level. Door Bulletin Menu and Door Bulletins ------------------------------------- Normally, TriBBS will generate a Door Bulletin Menu on the fly; however, you may use a custom Door Bulletin Menu by naming the display files DOORBULL.RIP, DOORBULL.ANS and DOORBULL.BBS. You can have from 1 to 99 door bulletins by naming them as DRBULLn.RIP, DRBULLn.ANS and DRBULLn.BBS. Where "n" is a number from 1 to 99. Questionnaire Menu ----------------- Normally, TriBBS will generate a Questionnaire Menu for the caller's security level on the fly; however, you may use a custom Questionnaire Menu by naming the display files QUESTn.RIP, QUESTn.ANS, and QUESTn.BBS. Where "n" is the menu's security level. You may also have custom Questionnaire Menu display screens called QUESTALL.RIP, QUESTALL.ANS, or QUESTALL.BBS. These custom screens will be displayed if none of your QUESTn.RIP, QUESTn.ANS, or QUESTn.BBS screens match the caller's security level. Sysop Menu ---------- Normally, TriBBS will generate a Sysop Menu for the caller's security level on the fly; however, you may use custom Sysop Menus by naming the display files SYSOPn.RIP, SYSOPn.ANS, and SYSOPn.BBS. Where "n" is the menu's security level. You may also have custom Sysop Menu display screens called SYSOPALL.RIP, SYSOPALL.ANS, and SYSOPALL.BBS. These custom screens will be displayed if none of your SYSOPn.RIP, SYSOPn.ANS, or SYSOPn.BBS screens match the caller's security level. List of Conferences ------------------- When changing conferences and the caller selects to choose from all conferences, TriBBS supports an optional custom list of conferences TriBBS Bulletin Board System 32 that will be displayed whenever a caller wants to change the message conference he is in. The file names for the custom conference listings are MSGn.RIP, MSGn.ANS, and MSGn.BBS. Where "n" is the display screen's security level. You may also have a custom list of conference names called MSGALL.RIP, MSGALL.ANS, and MSGALL.BBS. These custom screens will be displayed if none of your MSGn.RIP, MSGn.ANS, or MSGn.BBS display screens match the caller's security level. When changing conferences and the caller selects to choose the conference by network, TriBBS will optionally display a NETWORK.RIP, NETWORK.ANS, and NETWORK.BBS screens. If the NETWORK.RIP/NETWORK.ANS/NETWORK.BBS screens aren't available, TriBBS will display a list of available networks. After the caller selects the appropriate network, TriBBS will optionally display a NETn.RIP, NETn.ANS, and NETn.BBS (where "n" is 1 for the board's local conferences, 2 is the first network's conferences, etc.) to display a list of the available conferences in the network. If the NETn.RIP/NETn.ANS/NETn.BBS screens aren't available, TriBBS will display a list of the conferences that available in the selected network. List of File Areas ------------------ TriBBS supports an optional custom list of file areas that will be displayed whenever a caller wants to change the file area he is in. The file names for the custom file area listings are DIRSn.RIP, DIRSn.ANS, and DIRSn.BBS. Where "n" is the display screen's security level. You may also have a custom list of file areas called DIRSALL.RIP, DIRSALL.ANS, and DIRSALL.BBS These custom screens will be displayed if none of your DIRSn.RIP, DIRSn.ANS, or DIRSn.BBS display screens match the caller's security level. Chat Screens ------------ TriBBS supports four optional chat related display screens: SORRY.RIP/SORRY.ANS/SORRY.BBS will be displayed if the sysop isn't available for chat, USERCHAT.RIP/USERCHAT.ANS/USERCHAT.BBS will be displayed if the chat is initiated at the user's request, SYSCHAT.RIP/SYSCHAT.ANS/SYSCHAT.BBS will be displayed if the chat is initiated by the sysop, and NOTTHERE.RIP/NOTTHERE.ANS/NOTTHERE.BBS will be displayed if the caller requests a chat and the sysop doesn't answer. Log On Related Screens ---------------------- TriBBS supports ten optional log on related display screens: LOCKOUT.RIP/LOCKOUT.ANS/LOCKOUT.BBS will be displayed if the caller has been locked out, DELETED.RIP/DELETED.ANS/DELETED.BBS will be displayed if the caller's user record has been marked for deletion, TriBBS Bulletin Board System 33 TOOLOW.RIP/TOOLOW.ANS/TOOLOW.BBS will be displayed if the caller's security level is too low for the node, NONEW.RIP/NONEW.ANS/NONEW.BBS will be displayed if the new user's security level is less than the node's security level, TOOMANY.RIP/TOOMANY.ANS/TOOMANY.BBS will be displayed if the caller has exceeded his number of daily calls, PENDING.RIP/PENDING.ANS/PENDING.BBS will be displayed if the caller's time has been adjusted due to a pending event, FRONTEND.RIP/FRONTEND.ANS/FRONTEND.BBS will be displayed if the caller's time has been adjusted due to a frontend program, PASSWORD.RIP/PASSWORD.ANS/PASSWORD.BBS will be displayed for a new user just before his password is requested, and ALIAS.RIP/ALIAS.ANS/ALIAS.BBS will be displayed for a new user just before his alias is requested. Comment Screen -------------- Whenever a caller chooses to leave a comment for the sysop, TriBBS will display an optional COMMENT.RIP/COMMENT.ANS/COMMENT.BBS display screen. <F8> Logoff Screen ------------------ Whenever the sysop presses the <F8> key, TriBBS will display either NUKE.RIP, NUKE.ANS, or NUKE.BBS and log the caller off the system. Full-Screen Editor Help Screen ------------------------------ Whenever the caller selects the full-screen editor's help screen, TriBBS will display either FSCREEN.RIP, FSCREEN.ANS, or FSCREEN.BBS. You should note that a FSCREEN.BBS display screen is supplied in the TriBBS archive, but you can of course create your own full-screen editor help screens. TeleChat Help Screen -------------------- Whenever the caller selects the TeleChat menu's help function, TriBBS will display either TCHAT.RIP, TCHAT.ANS, or TCHAT.BBS. You should note that a TCHAT.BBS display screen is supplied in the TriBBS archive, but you can of course create your own TeleChat help screens. File/Byte Ratio Screens ----------------------- Whenever the caller's security level has been lowered by TriBBS's optional file/byte ratio checking, TriBBS will display the optional screens LOWER.RIP, LOWER.ANS, and LOWER.BBS. If the LOWER.RIP/LOWER.ANS/LOWER.BBS screens aren't available TriBBS will display an appropriate message. TriBBS Bulletin Board System 34 Whenever the caller's security level has been raised by TriBBS's optional file/byte ratio checking, TriBBS will display the optional screens RAISE.RIP, RAISE.ANS, and RAISE.BBS. If the RAISE.RIP/RAISE.ANS/RAISE.BBS screens aren't available TriBBS will display an appropriate message. Whenever the caller's file/byte ratio no longer permits him to download files, TriBBS will display the optional screens NODOWN.RIP, NODOWN.ANS, and NODOWN.BBS. If the NOWDOWN.RIP/NODOWN.ANS/NODOWN.BBS screens aren't available TriBBS will display an appropriate message. Subscription Screens -------------------- Whenever the caller's subscription has expired, TriBBS will display the optional screens EXPIRED.RIP, EXPIRED.ANS, and EXPIRED.BBS. If the EXPIRED.RIP/EXPIRED.ANS/EXPIRED.BBS screens aren't available, TriBBS will display an appropriate message. Unwanted Files Screen --------------------- Whenever a caller attempts to upload a file that matches an unwanted file name in DONTWANT.DAT, TriBBS will display the optional screens DONTWANT.RIP, DONTWANT.ANS, and DONTWANT.BBS. If the DONTWANT.RIP/DONTWANT.ANS/DONTWANT.BBS screens aren't available, TriBBS will display an appropriate message. Language Menu Screen -------------------- Whenever a caller selects the main menu's <L> Change Language option, TriBBS will display the optional screens LANGUAGE.RIP, LANGUAGE.ANS, and LANGUAGE.BBS. If the LANGUAGE.RIP/LANGUAGE.ANS/LANGUAGE.BBS screens aren't available, TriBBS will display an appropriate messages. External Chat Screens --------------------- Whenever TriBBS runs an external chat program via CHAT.BAT or PAGE.BAT, it will display the optional screens EXTCHAT.RIP, EXTCHAT.ANS, or EXTCHAT.BBS, if CHAT.BAT was called, or EXTPAGE.RIP, EXTPAGE.ANS, and EXTPAGE.BBS, if PAGE.BAT was called. RIPscrip Borders For ANSI and ASCII Screens ------------------------------------------- Whenever the caller has RIPscrip graphics enabled and TriBBS can't find a RIP version of a display screen, it will look for a file called POSTRIP.RIP. If a POSTRIP.RIP screen is found, TriBBS will display its contents before displaying the appropriate ANSI or ASCII version TriBBS Bulletin Board System 35 of the display screen. POSTRIP.RIP is mainly used for drawing a border around a text window for ANSI and ASCII display screens. This can really add the finishing touch to a board that offers RIP screens and menus, but doesn't want to have RIP versions of every display screen. Making Your Own Display Screens ------------------------------- To make your own custom display screens, you'll need a good ANSI screen editor. Perhaps one of the best is a shareware product called TheDraw (available for download on The Lobster Buoy). The best programs for creating RIPscrip graphics are RIPaint and RIPDraw. Both are commercial programs and can be purchased through TeleGrafix Communications, Inc., the creators of RIPscrip graphics. TriBBS Bulletin Board System 36 TriBBS Bulletin Board System 37 SETTING UP A DOOR ----------------- This section of the manual explains how a door is setup. It will take you step-by-step through the process of setting up a rather simple door called TestDoor. TestDoor picks a number from 1 to 100 and asks the caller to guess what the secret number is. Enabling The Door Menu ---------------------- The first step in setting up your board to run doors is to enable the main menu's Door Menu option. By default, this menu option is set to a security level of 999. Because this security level is so high, it effectively disables the door menu. To enable the door menu, you must first be in your main TriBBS directory. For the rest of this section, we will assume that your main TriBBS directory is C:\TRIBBS. To change to this directory, enter the following at the DOS prompt: CD \TRIBBS Now run TriMan, by entering the following command line at the DOS prompt: TRIMAN Next pull down the Menus menu, by pressing <ALT><M>. Press <M> from the Menus menu to select the Main Menu option. Press the <DOWN><ARROW> multiple times, until you are located in the main menu's Door Menu option's line. Press the <TAB> key multiple times until the Security Level field is highlighted. Enter "10" to change the security level to 10. Press <F10> to save the new main menu. Now we need to edit the door menu. Once again, pull down the Menus menu, by pressing <ALT><M>. Press <D> from the Menus menu to select the Door Menu option. Press <F2> to add a line to the door menu. Because TestDoor will be using TRIBBS.SYS, we can leave the Door Type field set to "T". Press <TAB> to move the highlighting to the Door Description field. In this field enter, "TestDoor". Press <TAB> once more to move the highlighting to the Door Batch File field. Enter TESTDOOR, for the name of the door's batch file. Finally, press <TAB> to move to the Security Level field and enter 10 to set the door's security level to 10, save the new door menu by pressing <F10>, and press <ALT><E> to exit from TriMan. Believe it or not, you have now configured TriBBS to run the door. However, we haven't setup the door yet. Setting Up TestDoor ------------------- TriBBS Bulletin Board System 38 We must first create a subdirectory for the door to reside in. Most people setup a DOORS subdirectory off of their main TriBBS directory and then setup another subdirectory off of the DOORS directory for each individual door. This can be accomplished by entering the following two commands at the DOS prompt: MD \TRIBBS\DOORS MD \TRIBBS\DOORS\TESTDOOR Next we must copy the file TESTDOOR.EXE into the newly created directory with the following DOS command: COPY TESTDOOR.EXE \TRIBBS\DOORS\TESTDOOR We now have to create a configuration file that TestDoor needs in order to run properly. We must first change to the TestDoor directory with the following DOS command: CD \TRIBBS\DOORS\TESTDOOR Now we can create the configuration file with a text editor such as DOS's EDIT editor. The configuration files should be named TESTDOOR.CFG and should look similar to the following: TRIBBS C:\TRIBBS The Lobster Buoy Mark Goodwin 38400 The following explains what each line in the TestDoor configuration file does: TRIBBS <- This tells TestDoor to use TRIBBS.SYS C:\TRIBBS <- This tells TestDoor where TRIBBS.SYS is located. Remember when we configured the door menu line for TestDoor, we configured it so that TriBBS will create the TRIBBS.SYS drop file for the door. When TriBBS creates a door drop file, it will always place the drop file in the node's main directory. The Lobster Buoy <- This tells TestDoor that the BBS's name is "The Lobster Buoy". Obviously, you will want to change this line to reflect the name of your board. Mark Goodwin <- This tells TestDoor that the sysop's name is "Mark Goodwin". Once again, you will want to change this line to hold your name. 38400 <- This tells TestDoor to lock the serial port at 38400. If you are locking your serial port at a different baud rate, enter TriBBS Bulletin Board System 39 the appropriate value in this line. If you are not locking your baud rate, you need to enter 0 in this line so that TestDoor will not attempt to maintain a locked serial port. Only one more step to go and TestDoor will be fully functional. The last step in the process is to create the batch file that TriBBS will use to run the door. To keep the board well organized, we will put this in the node's BATCH subdirectory. You can change to the BATCH subdirectory, but entering the following DOS command: CD \TRIBBS\BATCH With your text editor, create the following batch file called TESTDOOR.BAT (Remember, that's the name for the batch file name we specified in the door menu configuration line for TestDoor): CD \TRIBBS\DOORS\TESTDOOR TESTDOOR TESTDOOR.CFG CD \TRIBBS BOARD.BAT Here's an explanation of each line in the door's batch file: CD \TRIBBS\DOORS\TESTDOOR <- This line simply changes to the door's directory. TESTDOOR TESTDOOR.CFG <- This line runs the door. CD \TRIBBS <- This line changes back to the node's main directory. BOARD.BAT <- This line runs TriBBS again, by running BOARD.BAT. There you have it. TestDoor should now be fully functional. Simply log onto your BBS, select <D> at the main menu, select TestDoor from the doors menu, and have fun. If TestDoor doesn't work properly, you've probably made a typo or some other simple error along the way. Simply review each step in the setup procedure to insure that you performed each step correctly. Advice About Doors ------------------ TestDoor is about the simplest door to setup that you'll ever come across. Some doors will have a much more complex setup requirements. The key to setting up any door is to read and fully understand the documentation that comes with each door. The main differences you'll encounter are as follows: 1) Not all doors will allow you to use TRIBBS.SYS for a drop file. Most doors use DOOR.SYS, which is a pretty generic door drop file and is widely supported by most BBS software. Be sure that you specify the correct door drop file type in TriMan when TriBBS Bulletin Board System 40 adding the door to your door menu configuration. 2) Each door should have a uniquely named door batch file. Do not name your door batch file DOOR.BAT, because that's used internally by TriBBS to run all doors. 3) Pay particular attention to each door's configuration file requirements. The door's configuration requirements should be fully explained in the door's documentation file. 4) Determine from the door's docs what command line you'll need to use in the door's batch file to actually run the door. This varies from one door to the next so read the docs. Support For Doors ----------------- TriSoft will provide full support for how doors are setup with TriBBS in general. However, it is not our responsibility to support each and every door that is on the market. Basically, if you can setup TestDoor without any problems, then you should not contact TriSoft for support if you run into problems setting up another door. It is the door author's responsibility to provide you with support for setting up his doors. Do not fall for excuses like: "It must be the BBS software's fault so contact the BBS software author." Although many door authors provide excellent support for their software, there are many less reputable authors who like to pawn off support problems onto the BBS software author. In all fairness to the door author, please read the documentation fully before attempting to setup a door. If you run into problems, reread the docs. If you still are experiencing problems, then and only then contact the door author for support. It is not the door author's purpose in life to spoon feed sysops who are too lazy to read the documentation that comes with their programs. TriBBS Bulletin Board System 41 EXTENDED MENU COMMANDS ---------------------- TriBBS allows the sysop to easily extend the Main Menu, the Message Menu, the File Menu, and the Sysop Menu through the use of doors and batch files. The first step in extending a menu is to add the new command's hotkey character, description, and security level to the desired menu. For example, let's suppose you wanted to add TriMail to your Message Menu. The following is a sample Message Menu with TriMail added to it: +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ |C,C,Change Conference,10 | |E,E,Enter a Message,10 | |R,R,Read Messages,10 | |N,N,New Messages,10 | |Y,Y,Your Messages,10 | |S,S,Text Search Messages,10 | |Q,Q,Set Conference Queue,10 | |T,T,TriMail,10 | |M,M,Main Menu,0 | |X,X,Expert Mode,10 | |P,P,Page Sysop,0 | |G,G,Goodbye,0 | +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ As the above sample Message Menu shows, the new command's hardcoded and configurable hotkeys are "T", its description is "TriMail", and its security level is "10". You should note that a custom menu option's hardcoded hotkey can be any key expect one of the hardcoded hotkeys that TriBBS uses internally for the menu. The configurable hotkey can be any key that isn't being used by another command. The next step to get the custom menu command functioning is to create a batch file that TriBBS will call to carry out the command. The filename must be MAINh.BAT (where "h" is the hardcoded hotkey) for a custom Main Menu command, MESSh.BAT (where "h" is the hardcoded hotkey) for a custom Message Menu command, FILEh.BAT (where "h" is the hardcoded hotkey) for a custom File Menu command, or SYSh.BAT (where "h" is the hardcoded hotkey) for a custom Sysop Menu command. So for our example TriMail Message Menu command, the proper batch file name would be MESST.BAT and could be a batch file similar to the following: cd \doors\trimail trimail tmail1.cfg cd \tribbs board At this point, you may be wondering where TriMail will get the necessary door data files it needs to run. Before exiting from memory, TriBBS generates all of its possible door data files and then simply runs the proper batch file just like it would a door. However, TriBBS Bulletin Board System 42 you should note that it isn't strictly necessary to run a door as a custom menu command. You can make a command out of pretty much any program. The only limits are your imagination. TriBBS Bulletin Board System 43 CREATING A QUESTIONNAIRE ------------------------ TriBBS allows you to setup a questionnaire menu via TriMan to survey your callers. Your questionnaire files must have an extension of .QUE and must reside in node 1's MWORK directory. The responses to the questionnaires will be stored in node 1's MWORK directory using the file name specified for the questionnaire in TriMan and will have an extension of .ANS. The questionnaire file is a simple text file that you can create with any text editor. Be sure to name the file with the name you specify in the questionnaire configuration and use an extension of .QUE. Each line in the questionnaire file will be displayed as is unless the lines starts with one of the following characters: : Will display the line and prompt the user for input. Note that the caller must enter something in response to this prompt. ; Will display the line and prompt the user for input. Note that the caller can enter a blank line in response to this prompt. @ Will display the line and prompt the user to enter a date using the format MM-DD-YY. After the caller has entered the date, TriBBS will prompt the caller to see if it was entered correctly. # Will display the line and prompt the user to enter the phone number using the format ###-###-####. After the caller has entered the phone number, TriBBS will prompt the caller to see if it was entered correctly. ^security level Will set the caller's security level to the number specified after "^". ? Will prompt the user for a Yes/No response. If the caller responds with a "Yes", TriBBS will ignore the remaining questionnaire until TriBBS finds a "+" character. TriBBS will continue with the questionnaire until another "+" character is encountered. If the caller responds with a "No", TriBBS will ignore the remaining questionnaire until TriBBS finds a "-" character. TriBBS will continue with the questionnaire until another "-" character is encountered. Yes/No questions can be nested to ten levels deep. NOTE: If the first three nonspace characters in a line are REM or rem, TriBBS will treat the line as TriBBS Bulletin Board System 44 a comment and will not display it. The following is a sample questionnaire file: +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ |Please answer the following questions truthfully: | | | |:What is your real name? | | | |:What is your street address? | | | |:What is your city, state, and zip code? | | | |:What type of computer do you own? | | | |:What type of modem are you using? | | | |:What type of communications software are you using? | | | |:Are you interested in messages, files, doors, or all three? | | | |?Are you the Sysop of a bulletin board | | | |+ | |:What is the name of your BBS? | | | |#What is the BBS's phone number? | |+ | |- | |- | | | +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ You should note that TriBBS supports a special new user questionnaire. This questionnaire has a file name of NEWUSER and will be presented to a new user after displaying a new user screen, if any. TriBBS Bulletin Board System 45 MULTILANGUAGE SUPPORT --------------------- Almost all of the text that a caller sees when calling a TriBBS board is contained in a language file called LANGUAGE.001 in node 1's MWORK directory. You can add other languages by first creating a language menu configuration file called LANGUAGE.MNU in your NWORK directory. The following is an example LANGUAGE.MNU file: +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ |TriBBS Default | |French | |German | |Spanish | +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ For the above system to function correctly, you would need to have a French version of the TriBBS language file called LANGUAGE.002, a German version of the TriBBS language file called LANGUAGE.003, and a Spanish version of the TriBBS language file called LANGUAGE.004. All of these files must reside in node 1's MWORK directory. You can also create multilanguage display screens and menus. Let's say you want to create a French version of bulletin number 1 for the board that uses the above LANGUAGE.MNU file, you would need to at least create a BULLET1.B02 file for the French ASCII bulletin and you could create a BULLET1.A02 file for your French ANSI bulletin and a BULLET1.R02 for your RIP bulletin. German versions would be called BULLET1.B03, BULLET1.A03, and BULLET1.R03 and Spanish versions would be called BULLET1.B04, BULLET1.A04, and BULLET1.R04. Multilanguage menu names are numbered in a similar manner. If you had multilanguage versions of your main menu for the above example system, you would call them MAIN.M02 for the French version, MAIN.M03 for the German version, and MAIN.M04 for the Spanish version. TriBBS Bulletin Board System 46 TriBBS Bulletin Board System 47 SPECIAL BATCH FILES ------------------- TriBBS runs a number of batch files that allow you to run doors and perform maintenance routines at certain desirable times. ATTACH.BAT ---------- If it exists, ATTACH.BAT is called by TriBBS just after a file is a uploaded to be attached to a message and before it is optionally scanned for viruses. TriBBS will pass the uploaded file's complete path name as ATTACH.BAT's first parameter and the uploaded file's extension as ATTACH.BAT's second parameter. This batch file is very handy for stripping comments from or recommenting archives. You should note that you do not need a call to BOARD.BAT at the end of an ATTACH.BAT file. BETWEEN.BAT ----------- If it exists, BETWEEN.BAT is called by TriBBS just after a callers logs off. This batch file is very handy for performing intercaller maintenance routines. You should note that you do not need a call to BOARD.BAT at the end of a BETWEEN.BAT file. CHAT.BAT -------- Whenever the sysop initiates a chat, TriBBS will check for a CHAT.BAT file. If found, TriBBS will run the batch file instead of using it's internal chat. Because TriBBS swaps itself out of memory to run CHAT.BAT, you shouldn't call BOARD.BAT at the end of the CHAT.BAT to rerun BBS.EXE. DOWNLOAD.BAT ------------ If it exists, DOWNLOAD.BAT is called by TriBBS just after a file is moved from its location in the file area directory into the TRANSFER directory. TriBBS will pass the file's complete path name as DOWNLOAD.BAT's first parameter and the file's extension as DOWNLOAD.BAT's second parameter. This batch file is handy for adding comments to archives just be for the file is download. This is especially helpful for commenting files off of CD-ROMs. You should note that you do not need a call to BOARD.BAT at the end of DOWNLOAD.BAT. TriBBS Bulletin Board System 48 EDITOR.BAT ---------- Whenever the caller uses the full screen editor, TriBBS will check for an EDITOR.BAT file. If found, TriBBS will run the batch file instead of using it's internal full screen editor. The external editor must be of the type that supports DORINFO1.DEF, MSGINF, and MSGTMP. Because TriBBS swaps itself out of memory to run EDITOR.BAT, you shouldn't call BOARD.BAT at the end of EDITOR.BAT to rerun BBS.EXE. FASTLOG.BAT ----------- If it exists, the FASTLOG.BAT file is called by TriBBS if the caller has used TriBBS's quick logon feature. TriBBS creates all door data files before running FASTLOG.BAT. Unlike previous versions of TriBBS, starting with 10.0 you must add a BOARD.BAT at the end of FASTLOG.BAT to rerun BBS.EXE. GOODBYE.BAT ----------- Before appending the temporary callers log in NWORK to the main callers log in MWORK, TriBBS will now call an optional GOODBYE.BAT file if one exists. Because TriBBS swaps itself out of memory to run GOODBYE.BAT, you shouldn't call BOARD.BAT at the end of GOODBYE.BAT to rerun BBS.EXE. You should note that the caller is still online and TriBBS generates all door files for GOODBYE.BAT. LOGON.BAT --------- If it exists, LOGON.BAT is called by TriBBS just before the bulletin menu is displayed. Before exiting from memory, TriBBS will generate all of its possible door data files. NDLOGON.BAT ----------- If it exists, the NDLOGON.BAT file is called by TriBBS just after the caller logs on. You should note that TriBBS does not create any door data files for this batch file and you do not need a call to BOARD.BAT at the end of NDLOGON.BAT. NEWUSER.BAT ----------- If it exists, the NEWUSER.BAT file is called by TriBBS just before the bulletin menu is displayed providing it is the caller's first call. Before exiting from memory, TriBBS will generate all of its possible door data files. TriBBS Bulletin Board System 49 PAGE.BAT -------- Whenever the caller selects age, TriBBS will check for a PAGE.BAT file. If the batch file is found, TriBBS will run the batch file instead of using its internal chat. Because TriBBS swaps itself out of memory to run PAGE.BAT, you shouldn't put a call to BOARD.BAT at the end of PAGE.BAT to rerun BBS.EXE. SECn.BAT -------- If it exists, SECn.BAT (where "n" is the caller's security level) is called by TriBBS just before the bulletin menu is displayed. Before exiting from memory, TriBBS will generate all of its possible door data files. UPLOAD.BAT ---------- If it exists, UPLOAD.BAT is called by TriBBS just after a file is uploaded and before it is optionally scanned for viruses. TriBBS will pass the uploaded file's complete path name as UPLOAD.BAT's first parameter and the uploaded file's extension as UPLOAD.BAT's second parameter. This batch file is very handy for stripping comments from or recommenting archives. You should note that you do not need a call to BOARD.BAT at the end of an UPLOAD.BAT file. TriBBS Bulletin Board System 50 TriBBS Bulletin Board System 51 FILE LISTS ---------- TriBBS maintains a file list for each file area. If you look at one of TriBBS's binary file lists with a listing utility, they will appear to be a normal text file; however, they are formatted in such a way that allows BBS.EXE to read them very quickly. Each line is exactly 78 characters long and uses the following format: +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ | 1 2 3 4 7 | |1234567890123456789012345678901234567...012345678 | |FFFFFFFFFFFF SSSSSSSS MM-DD-YY DDDDDD...DDDDDDD** | | | |Where: | | | |FFFFFFFFFFFF is the file's name. | | | |SSSSSSSS is the file's size. | | | |MM-DD-YY is the file's date. | | | |DDDD...DDDD is the file's description. | | | |** is a carriage return/line feed pair. | | | |Note that a file's entry in a file list can be from 1 to 20 lines | |long. | +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ IMPORTANT: If you use a text editor for modifying your file lists, you must run AscToBin on the modified file lists or TriBBS will not be able to read them correctly. The easiest way to create a file list is to use FileMan to scan a file area's directory for new files. See the description of FileMan which follows. FileMan ------- Included with TriBBS is an external utility program called FILEMAN.EXE. This utility makes it possible to quickly and easily edit your file lists. To run FileMan, be sure that you are in one of your node's main directory and enter FILEMAN at the DOS prompt. FileMan has an extensive context sensitive help system so a long detailed explanation of its features isn't really necessary. When in doubt simply press <F1> while running FileMan. Supplied with TriBBS is a 32-bit version of FileMan that allows you to maintain huge file lists. You must have a 386SX or better in your TriBBS Bulletin Board System 52 computer to run the 32-bit version of FileMan. To run the 32-bit version of FileMan, you must be in one of your node's main directories and enter FMAN32 at the DOS prompt. MakeIdx ------- TriBBS allows you to optionally search for files by index files instead of using the DOS directory functions. This can greatly speed up searching large file areas such as CD-ROM file areas. Before MakeIdx can generate an index file for a file area, you must specify an appropriate index file name using TriMan's file area editor. MakeIdx can be run using one of the following three formats: MAKEIDX This will display a list box of all of the file areas that have been configured to use an index file. Simply move the highlight bar to the appropriate file area and press enter. Press ESC to exit from MakeIdx. MAKEIDX /ALL The /ALL switch is used to run MakeIdx from either the DOS command line or from within a batch file. This switch will have MakeIdx generate index files for any file areas that are configured to use index files. MAKEIDX /F:n1[-n2] The /F: switch is used to run MakeIdx from either the DOS command line or from within a batch file. This switch will have MakeIdx generate an index file for a specified file area if it is specified using /F:n1, where n1 is the file area to be indexed. The /F: switch can also create index files for a range of file areas if it is specified using /F:n1-n2, where n1 is the first file area to be indexed and n2 is the last file area to be indexed. IMPORTANT: You should not use an index file for an upload file area. The reason for this is because TriBBS will only search the index file for matching files if the file area is configured as an indexed file area. Therefore, a file that was uploaded after the index file was created cannot be found until the file area is re-indexed. So the best use for indexed file areas is to index any large file areas that don't serve as upload areas. Then you will only have to reindex a particular file area when you add or move a file to it. Note that it is possible to index an upload area by either running MakeIdx on your upload file areas either in an UPLOAD.BAT or BETWEEN.BAT file. You should also note that once you have built an index for a CD-ROM file area you will not have to ever rebuild it because the file area's directory will never change on a CD-ROM. One last note, MakeIdx can build an index file for any file area that has up to 15000 files in its directory. TriBBS Bulletin Board System 53 Master ------ TriBBS/Pro supports another file indexing system that is much faster than the MakeIdx index system. This optional file indexing system is called master indexing and can build a single index file for all of the file areas that you wish to include in the master index. To create a master index, you must toggle the file area configuration's Master Index toggle to "Yes" for any file areas you want included in the master index. Next you must run MASTER at the DOS prompt from a node's main directory. As with MakeIdx, you should not include upload file areas in your master index. AscToBin -------- Included in the TriBBS archives is a program called ASCTOBIN.EXE. When this program is run, it will convert an ASCII file list to the special binary format that TriBBS uses to read and display file lists as fast as possible. AscToBin is run from one of your nodes main directories and is run in one of three modes. It can be run with the following command lines: ASCTOBIN This will display a list box of all of the file areas. Simply move the highlight bar to the appropriate file area and press ENTER. Press ESC to exit from AscToBin. ASCTOBIN /ALL The /ALL switch is used to run AscToBin from either the DOS command line or from within a batch file. This switch will have AscToBin convert the file lists for all of the board's file areas. ASCTOBIN /F:n1[-n2] The /F: switch is used to run AscToBin from either the DOS command line or from within a batch file. This switch will have AscToBin convert the file lists for a specified file area if it is specified using /F:n1, where n1 is the file list to generate the binary file list for. The /F: switch can also create binary file lists for a range of file areas if it is specified using /F:n1-n2, where n1 is the first file area to create a binary file list for and n2 is the last file area to create a binary file list for. IMPORTANT: AscToBin does not support file sharing. Therefore, it should only be run whenever all of the BBS's nodes are down. If you edit your file lists with a text editor, you must run AscToBin on all modified file lists or TriBBS will not be able to properly read and display the file lists. TriBBS Bulletin Board System 54 List Converter -------------- List Converter is used to convert files lists for BBS systems other than TriBBS to the TriBBS 10.0 file list format. Because List Converter uses a collection of templates to determine the foreign file list format, it can convert virtually any file list. You should note that List Converter will only work for registered TriBBS 10.0 Pro sysops. Because List Converter will only work for registered TriBBS 10.0 Pro sysops, it must be run for a node's main directory. Running List Converter ---------------------- List Converter is run by simply entering LISTCVT at the DOS prompt. You will notice that near the top of the screen there are two black lines. The top black line is the sample file list display line. The bottom black line is the template display line. The template display line will contain the first template in List Converter's template file. Because most CDs come with PCBoard file lists on them, the first template displayed is the PCBoard file list template. To get a list of control keys that List Converter supports and a detailed description of each key's function, simply bring up the context- sensitive help screen by pressing <F1>. Notes About List Converter -------------------------- Although List Converter does an excellent job of converting file lists, it's not perfect. Some BBS file list formats permit headers in the file lists. If the file lists you want to convert have headers, they will have to be removed manually with a text editor before running List Converter. List Converter will not word wrap a description as long as the description's first line is 45 characters or less. List Converter will assume that a 02H byte in the description is a line break. User-Defined Templates ---------------------- Because List Converter allows you to define your own file list templates, it can convert virtually any file list out there. If you do create templates of your own, please upload your TEMPLATE.TXT file to TriSoft so that your user-defined templates can be included in future releases of the List Converter template file. Please try to name the templates as to the type of BBS software or CD that the original file list came from. Offline File Areas ------------------ TriBBS Bulletin Board System 55 TriBBS/Pro support offline file areas. This is particularly useful if you have a lot of CDs, but only have a single CD-ROM drive. To setup a file area as an offline file area, simple set the file area configuration Offline File Area toggle to "Yes" for the file area. Next you need to assign a "disc number" in the file area's Disc Number field. IMPORTANT: For TriBBS to be able to recognize that there are files in the offline file area, you must index the file area either using the master indexing system or the MakeIdx indexing system. Putting Requested Files Online ------------------------------ Whenever a caller has requested an offline file, TriBBS will add an entry to a file called REQUEST.TXT in node 1's MWORK directory. These requests can be processed by running the program REQUEST in any node's main directory. Request will prompt you to insert CDs whenever necessary. It will place each requested file in the file area's upload area, update the file list for the upload file area, and send a private message to the caller who requested the file that it is now online. TriBBS Bulletin Board System 56 TriBBS Bulletin Board System 57 TriBBS Bulletin Board System 58 EXTERNAL PROTOCOLS ------------------ TriBBS supports up to 15 external protocols. To enable external protocols, you must edit the external protocol menu configuration file via TriMan. The following is an example of an EXTPROT.MNU file: +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ |z,Zmodem (DSZ),sz.bat,rz.bat,y,n | |m,MPt (Puma),smpt.bat,rmpt.bat,y,n | |h,HS/Link,hss.bat,hsr.bat,y,n | +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ This example file replaces TriBBS's internal Zmodem protocol with DSZ, adds the very speedy MPt (formerly Puma), and the speedy, bidirectional protocol HS/Link to the board's list of protocols. All three protocols support batch downloads and none of them require an error correcting connection. Send Batch Files ---------------- When TriBBS calls a send batch file, it passes the following three parameters to the batch file: +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ |port number baud rate filename or EBATCH.DAT | +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ The "port number" and "baud rate" parameters are pretty self explanatory. The third parameter TriBBS passes to the batch file requires a little further explanation. If the protocol, doesn't support batch downloads, TriBBS only passes a single "filename" to the protocol. Otherwise, TriBBS creates a file called "EBATCH.DAT" and passes the name of the file to the protocol's batch file. "EBATCH.DAT" is simply a line-by-line listing of the files in the batch download. The following is an example of a DSZ send batch file called SZ.BAT: +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ |dsz port %1 sz -m @c:%3 | +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ Note that the above batch file enables MobyTurbo transfers. The following is an example of a MPt send batch file called SMPT.BAT: +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ |mpt p%1 s @%3 | +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ TriBBS Bulletin Board System 59 The following is an example of a HS/Link send batch file called HSS.BAT: +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ |hslink -p%1 @%3 | +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ Receive Batch Files ------------------- When TriBBS calls a receive batch file, it passes the following three parameters to the batch file: +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ |port number baud rate filename | +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ IMPORTANT: You should note that the "filename" parameter is not passed to external protocols that support batch file transfers. The following is an example of a DSZ receive batch file called RZ.BAT: +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ |dsz port %1 rz -mrr | +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ Note that the above batch file enables MobyTurbo transfers. The following is an example of a MPt receive batch file called RMPT.BAT: +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ |mpt p%1 r | +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ The following is an example of a HS/Link receive batch file called HSR.BAT: +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ |hslink -p%1 | +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ TriBBS Bulletin Board System 60 FILE RATIOS ----------- File/Byte Ratios (Security Level Stays the Same) ------------------------------------------------ TriBBS also a file/byte ratio method that restricts the caller's ability to download if he has exceeded his file or byte ratio. To setup your system so that it will restrict a caller's ability to download to their ratios, you must edit your ratios configuration via TriMan. The following is an example a RATIOS.DAT file: +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ |30,10,20 | |20,5,10 | +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ Note from this example that a level 30 caller must maintain a file ratio of 1 upload for every 10 downloads and a byte ratio of 1K bytes uploaded for every 20K bytes downloaded. If the caller fails to maintain these levels he will not be able to download anymore files until he uploads a sufficient number of files or bytes to restore is file/byte ratios to the required level. File/Byte Ratios (Adjusting Security Levels) -------------------------------------------- To optionally setup your system so that it will adjust callers' security levels according to their ratios, you must first set the ratios type toggle in your system configuration via TriMan to the appropriate settings. Next you must edit the ratios configuration via TriMan. The following is an example of a RATIOS.DAT file: +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ |30,5.5,7.5 | |20,10,20 | |15,20,30 | +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ Note from this example that you can specify both a file and a byte ratio for each security level and you can also use decimals to specify the ratios. In this example, a caller with a security level of 30, must maintain a file ratio of at least 1 upload per every 5.5 downloads and must maintain a byte ratio of 1K bytes uploaded per every 7.5K bytes downloaded. If the caller can't maintain these ratios, TriBBS will downgrade the caller to a 20 security level. If the caller can't maintain a 20 security level, TriBBS will further downgrade the caller to a 15 security level. Finally, if the caller TriBBS Bulletin Board System 61 can't maintain a 15 security level, TriBBS will not allow the caller to download any more files until he has uploaded enough files to meet his security level. You should note that a caller's ratios are checked at logon and after every upload and download. Free Downloads -------------- Often times, a BBS has a number of files that the sysops would like all callers to be able to download without the files being counted towards the caller's file and/or byte ratio. You can accomplish this with TriBBS by editing your free files configuration via TriMan. The following is an example of a FREE.DAT file: c:\tribbs\tribbs\*.* r*.* In the above example, TriBBS will consider any files that are in the directory "c:\tribbs\tribbs" and any files starting with "r" as free downloads. TriBBS Bulletin Board System 62 SUBSCRIPTION SYSTEM ------------------- TriBBS supports an optional subscription system. The first step in setting up a subscription system is to edit the subscription configuration via TriMan. The following is an example of a subscription configuration file: +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ |30,10 | +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ Note from this example that a level 30 caller would be reduced to a level 10 as soon as his subscription has expired. TriBBS checks for an expired subscription at logon. A subscription expiration date is set for an individual caller through the Waiting for Caller screen's Edit User function. TriBBS Bulletin Board System 63 TriBBS Bulletin Board System 64 RUNNING TRIBBS WITH A FRONTEND OR AS A DOOR ------------------------------------------- TriBBS can be run with either a frontend program (i.e., FrontDoor, BinkleyTerm, etc.) or as a door. To execute TriBBS when there is already a connection, you must specify the connection's baud rate with TriBBS's "/F" command line switch. The format for using this switch is "/Fbaud rate". Where "baud rate" is the connection's baud rate. For example, TriBBS could be executed with a 2400 baud connection with the following command line: BBS /F2400 The above is only an example and you should use BOARD.BAT to run TriBBS as you normally would. Otherwise, doors will not function properly. To do this, modify your BOARD.BAT file as follows: +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ |echo off | |cd \tribbs | |if exist door.bat del door.bat | |if exist event.bat del event.bat | |if exist endbbs del endbbs | |bbs %1 | |if exist door.bat door | |if exist event.bat event | |if exist endbbs goto end | |board | |:end | +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ Note the "%1" after "bbs" in the above batch file. This will use BOARD.BAT's first command line parameter to pass the "/F" switch to TriBBS. For example, you could execute TriBBS using the above BOARD.BAT file with a 2400 baud connection by using the following DOS command: BOARD /F2400 Normally, TriBBS will recycle to the Waiting for Caller screen when the caller either logs off or is forced off the board. If TriBBS is started with a "/F" parameter, TriBBS will exit memory and return control to the calling program. Thus, TriBBS acts just like a door when a "/F" parameter is used. TriBBS Bulletin Board System 65 IMPORTANT: Although doors run fine when using TriBBS in this manner, events are always executed by TriBBS's Waiting for Caller screen routine. Therefore, events will never run if TriBBS is being run with the "/F" parameter. If your board requires maintenance events and you are using TriBBS with a frontend program, simply run them as a frontend event. If you are running TriBBS as a door, simply let your main board run the necessary events. Error Correcting Connections ---------------------------- If your frontend is able to supply an error correcting message (i.e. ARQ, etc.), it may be specified with a slightly modified version of TriBBS's "/F" command line switch: "/F baud rate/error correcting message". Please note the slash between the "baud rate" and "error correcting message" parameters. This slash is essential for TriBBS to be able to correctly parse the "/F" command line switch. Limiting Time ------------- A user's log on time can be limited with TriBBS's "/T" command line switch. The format for this command line switch is "/Tminutes". Where "minutes" is the maximum number of minutes the caller should be allowed for this call. Forced Hang Up -------------- Normally, TriBBS does not hang up on the caller when he says goodbye. It leaves the task of hanging up to the frontend program or the main board. If your frontend doesn't hang up before recycling, you can use TriBBS's "/H" command line switch to instruct it to hang up on the caller before returning to the frontend. IMPORTANT: Whenever a caller is in a door, TriBBS creates a file called DOORS.TMP in the node's NWORK directory. TriBBS uses this file to determine if a caller is returning from a door when BBS.EXE is restarted. Therefore, it is essential that your frontend's batch file delete DOORS.TMP before running BOARD.BAT. Otherwise, if carrier is lost in a door, BBS.EXE will assume that a caller is returning from a door when the frontend program calls it the next time. Consequently, the next caller will be logged on under the previous caller's account. TriBBS Bulletin Board System 66 ODDS AND ENDS ------------- @USER@ Messages --------------- Anybody with at least a minimum sysop security level can address messages to @USER@ in local message conferences. When a message is addressed in this fashion, it will appear to the caller that the message was addressed to him personally and all callers that have access to the message conference will have their waiting message counters for the conference incremented to indicate that they have a message waiting for them in the appropriate conference. Multidisc CD-ROM Drives ----------------------- TriBBS supports CD-ROM drives that have multiple CDs, but only one laser (e.g., Pioneer drives). This feature is only enabled if a CDWAIT environment variable is defined before running BOARD.BAT and is only necessary if you're running such a drive on a multinode system. This feature can be enabled by putting a line like the following in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file: SET CDWAIT=TRUE DSZLOG Logging -------------- TTPROT.EXE will produce DSZ-style logs by setting the environment variable DSZLOG to the name of the file that you want TTPROT.EXE and any external protocols that support DSZ-style logs to write the log file to. For example, you could use the following line in your BOARD.BAT file: SET DSZLOG=C:\TRIBBS\DSZ.LOG You should note that on multinode systems the name of the DSZLOG file must be unique for each node. Furthermore, you should not set the file name to the CALLERS.LOG file in either the NWORK or MWORK directories. In addition to providing additional log information, this feature is handy for catching callers who try to beat ratios by aborting transfers with the final file in a large batch transfer. Whenever, a download is aborted, TriBBS will try to locate a DSZLOG file and if one is found TriBBS will extract the information it needs from this log file to determine what files the caller actually downloaded during the batch transfer. TriBBS Bulletin Board System 67 Special Keys ------------ There are a number of special keys that you can used while a caller is logged on to your board. They are as follows: +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ |Key Description | +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ |<F1> Adds 5 minutes to the caller's time. | |<F2> Takes 5 minutes away from the caller's time. | |<F3> Toggles the page bell on and off. This key is | | functional while somebody is online and at the waiting| | for caller screen. | |<F4> Will allow you to adjust the caller's security level. | | TriBBS will prompt you to enter the caller's new | | security level. | |<F5> Logs the caller off. | |<F6> Logs the caller off and marks his user record as | | "Locked Out". | |<F7> Logs the caller off with a "Keyboard input time | | exceeded" message. | |<F8> Displays a screen called either NUKE.BBS or NUKE.ANS | | and hangs up on the caller. | |<F9> After the caller logs off, TriBBS will stop execution | | and return to DOS. Once <F9> has been pressed, TriBBS| | will display a blinking down arrow in the lower right | | hand corner of the user status window. The automatic | | shut down can be overridden pressing <F9> again. Note| | that TriBBS will exit with an errorlevel of 2 if the | | F9 key has been pressed. | |<HOME> Toggles between the two caller status windows at the | | bottom of the display screen and two help screens | | about the above mentioned function keys. | |<ALT><C> Enters chat mode. The chat can be ended by pressing | | <ESC>. | |<ALT><D> Allows you to drop to DOS. | +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ Quick Logon ----------- TriBBS allows you to enter both your name and password at the "Enter your name" prompt. Simply separate your name from the password with a semicolon <;>. For example, a caller with the name Mark Goodwin and a password of Install could enter his name and password at the name prompt as follows: Mark Goodwin;Install You should note that for security reasons TriBBS will display the password as a series of periods <.>. TriBBS Bulletin Board System 68 If the caller's security level is greater or equal to the Fast Logon security level in the board's system configuration, the caller can bypass all logon screens, logon batch files, and bulletin menus by preceding his or her name with an asterisk <*>. For example, a caller with the name of Mark Goodwin and a password of Install could do logon and go straight to the main menu by entering his name and password at the name prompt as follows: *Mark Goodwin;Install File Flagging ------------- While displaying a file listing, the "more" prompt will allow the caller to flag files for downloading by simply pressing <F>. TriBBS will prompt the caller to enter letters that are displayed with the appropriate files in the listing. Packing the Message Base ------------------------ You may have noticed that included with your TriBBS files is a file called TRIPACK.EXE. TriPack is the TriBBS message base packer. It will remove any <DELETED> messages and messages that are older than the number of days you have indicated in your message conferences setup. TriPack was developed as an external program in order to permit you to pack your message base as an event. TriPack is a fairly easy program to use and can be executed with the following command line: TRIPACK /P /R /C:range Where: /P is an optional switch. If specified, all messages marked <PRIVATE><RECEIVED> will be deleted. /R is an optional switch. If specified, the message base conference will be renumbered. TriBBS support message numbers as high as 999,999. You should only renumber a message base conference if you think the conference will rollover this amount. Although TriBBS will update its message threads internally, net mail message threads may be lost. For example, PCRelay maintains a list of message threads for each netmail conference. After renumbering your message conference, PCRelay will not be able to correctly indicate if a message has been replied to or not. TriBBS Bulletin Board System 69 /C:range is an optional switch. It is used to specify either a single conference or a range of conferences to be packed. A single conference is packed by specifying its number after the ":". For example, /C:4 would pack message conference 4. A range of conferences can be packed by separating them with a "-". For example, /C:5-9 will pack message conferences 5 through 9. IMPORTANT: Never pack a system's message base unless the entire system is down. The TriBBS Protocol Driver: TTPROT.EXE -------------------------------------- The file TTPROT.EXE is the protocol driver TriBBS calls to perform file transfers. In order for TriBBS to be able to run TTPROT.EXE, it must be in your DOS PATH. This is very important! If it isn't in your PATH, file transfers will always abort. Multitasker Awareness --------------------- On startup, BBS.EXE will attempt to detect if it is running under a multitasking operating system (OS/2) or a multitasking operating environment (DesqView or Windows). You can override this automatic multitasker detection with one of the following BBS.EXE command line switches: +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ |Switch Action | +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ |/MD Force BBS.EXE to use DesqView awareness. | |/MN Force BBS.EXE to not use any multitasker | | awareness. | |/MO Force BBS.EXE to use OS/2 awareness. | |/MW Force BBS.EXE to use Windows awareness. | +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ Archive Testing --------------- TriBBS can optionally scan archives, EXEs, and COMs for viruses. This feature is enabled by setting the appropriate toggle in your system configuration via TriMan. Fossil Driver Support --------------------- Normally, TriBBS communicates with the computer's modem directly through the computers serial port. However, TriBBS can optionally TriBBS Bulletin Board System 70 support communication with the modem through a fossil driver. Fossil support is a TriBBS/Pro feature only and can be enabled in your node configuration via TriMan. IMPORTANT: If you have enabled fossil driver support, you should rename the file FTTPROT.EXE to TTPROT.EXE. FTTPROT.EXE is the fossil driver version of TTPROT.EXE and must be used for the proper transfer of files. TriBBS Bulletin Board System 71 TriBBS Bulletin Board System 72 MULTINODES ---------- Setting up a multinode TriBBS board is a pretty easy procedure. You must first create a directory for your new node. For example, you might create a directory called C:\TRIBBS2 for the second node's directory. Now you must copy your SYSDAT2.DAT file from your node 1 directory to your new node's directory. You also need to copy all of the *.EXE and *.HLP files from node 1's main directory to the new node's directory. Next change your current directory to the new node's directory and run BBS.EXE. Immediately exit from BBS.EXE. You now have a second node. You should now use TriMan to configure your new node. Upon returning to DOS, you must create a BOARD.BAT file for your new node. The simplest method for doing this is to copy your node 1's BOARD.BAT file to the new node's directory and edit it appropriately. About the only change you'll have to make is to edit the change directory command (i.e. cd \tribbs) near the top of you BOARD.BAT file to change the directory to the new node's directory. Next, you will need new menu configuration files in the new node's NWORK directory. Once again, you can simply copy node 1's MNU files and edit them appropriately. The process for setting up a third, fourth, fifth, etc. node is just like the above. You simply set up another directory and repeat all of the above steps. How Do I Get the System Up and Running -------------------------------------- To get multiple nodes up and running on the same computer, you will need to use a multitasker and have a 386 or better to do it. TriBBS 10.0 can been successfully run under DesqView, Windows 3.x, Windows 95, Windows NT, or OS/2 2.0. IMPORTANT: So that TriBBS's data file will not be written to by more than one node at a time, TriBBS fully supports file sharing. To enable file sharing, you must put the command SHARE.EXE in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file. SHARE.EXE is a terminate and stay resident program that comes with DOS that handles record locking. Without SHARE.EXE in memory, TriBBS does not have the ability to correctly lock and unlock the system data files and sooner or later they will become corrupted. For some strange quirk unique to Windows 3.x, you must have SHARE.EXE in memory to run TriBBS under Windows 3.x. This is true whether you are running a single or multinode system under Windows 3.x. Also note that Windows 95, Windows NT, and OS/2 have record locking built right into the operating system; therefore, SHARE.EXE is not required when multitasking TriBBS with Windows, Windows, or OS/2. To get multiple nodes up and running on more than one computer, you TriBBS Bulletin Board System 73 will need to use some type of networking hardware and software. TriBBS has been successfully tested on Windows network, a Novell Netware network, a Novell Netware Lite network, and a LANtastics network. The only possible glitch in running TriBBS on a LAN is that all nodes use identical SYSDAT2.DAT files to locate node 1; therefore, you must configure your LAN in such a way that all workstations and servers refer to node 1 drive as the same drive. For example, if node 1 is located on the C: drive on the server, the rest of the network must refer to this as C: also. If another node's workstation already has a C: drive, you must redirect that drive to say D:, E:, or etc. and configure the node 1 drive as C: So as long as the whole LAN refers to node 1's drive as the same drive, TriBBS should work flawlessly on any LAN. Doors and Multinodes -------------------- The greatest challenge you will find about getting a multinode system fully functional is getting doors to run from all nodes. The problem comes from the fact that most doors do not support multinode operation. If they do, then fine, simply set up the proper configuration and batch files and away you go, but if they don't it takes a little more effort. The best method I've found so far for running a nonmultinode door on all nodes of a multinode system is to use two utilities: FOYER and PROECHO. FOYER is a nifty little utility that create a data file in your door's directory to determine what, if any, node is currently using the door. If the door is in use, FOYER returns an appropriate "errorlevel" that can be used in your batch file to prevent the door from being run. If the door isn't in use, FOYER will return without error and your batch file can continue to run the door as it normally would. After running the door, FOYER is run again so it can "unlock" the door for use by another node. PROECHO is a handy little utility that lets you send a short message out through the comm port. For example, if a door is in use, you could send a message like "That door is in use on another node. Please try again later." By sending such a message to the user, he will know that everything is ok and that he'll probably be able to use the door sometime later in his call. Some Helpful Hints ------------------ If you are multitasking a multinode TriBBS system, you will probably want to give each node the same number of clock ticks if they are running modems that have similar speed capabilities. If you are running a high speed modem on one line and a slower modem on another, you may want to give the node with the high speed modem a few more clock ticks than the node with the slower speed modem. A multinode system requires a phone line and a modem for each node. I know that may seem rather obvious, but I've seen people on a variety of network echos wondering why it can't be done on just one line. TriBBS Bulletin Board System 74 Sorry, but it just doesn't work that way. If your local phone company offers Busy Call Forwarding, you may want to consider getting it. With Busy Call Forwarding, a node will automatically ring down to another node whenever it is busy. For example, The Lobster Buoy has two lines. Node 1's phone number is 207-941-0805. Whenever node 1 is busy, it will ring down to node 2. Of course if node 2 is busy, the caller is out of luck. The fee for Busy Call Forwarding is very small and make it convenient not only for you but for your callers as well. The most helpful suggestion I can give is to get your feet wet with a single line setup first before jumping in with your guns blazing into a multinode setup. Give yourself sometime to master running a single line setup first. Multinode Chatting ------------------ TriBBS supports multinode chatting through its TeleChat system. Unlike the system's normal sysop/caller chat mode, which is a real time chatting system where keypresses are sent in both directions almost instantaneously, the TeleChat system uses a series of special disk files to send lines of text between two or more nodes a line at a time. The TriBBS TeleChat system offers two distinct types of multinode chat: node chat and group chat. Node chat is where two nodes chat back and forth between each other. To page another node to enter node chat, the caller simply enters the desired node's number at the TeleChat menu. As soon as the caller enters the node number, TriBBS will send the other node a special message which states that the caller wishes to chat with the caller on the other node. As soon as the caller on the other node enters node chat, TriBBS will send the caller that initiated the chat a message to that effect. The caller may leave chat mode by simply entering the word EXIT by itself. As soon as the caller leaves chat mode, the other caller will be informed by an appropriate message. Group chat is very similar to node chat except for any caller on any node can enter group chat at anytime. Therefore, the number of callers in group chat at any one time is only limited by the BBS's number of nodes. Note that unlike node chat nobody is paged when a caller enters group chat. However, like node chat, appropriate messages are sent to all nodes in group chat whenever a caller either enters or exits group chat. Text entry is performed a line at a time with group chat instead of node chat's character at a time. TriBBS Bulletin Board System 75 TriBBS Bulletin Board System 76 TriBBS Bulletin Board System 77 HIGH-SPEED MODEMS ----------------- Because the price of high-speed modems has been dropping steadily over the past year or so, many sysops have decided to take the plunge and purchase either a V.32, V.32bis, or V.34 modem. Unfortunately, most new owners of high-speed modems quickly find that setting up a high- speed modem can be rather confusing at first. This confusion occurs because most sysops have never had any experience with locking a serial port. Although locking a serial port is a very simple thing to do, modem manuals generally assume that the modem owner knows all about the subject. The first step in understanding how a serial port is locked requires you to understand a little communications-related terminology and some of the reasons why it is beneficial to lock a serial port. First of all, a modem is considered data communications equipment (DCE) and the computer is considered data terminal equipment (DTE). When your modem is communicating with another modem, there are essentially three links in the communication path: your computer and modem are talking to each other (DTE to DCE), the two modems are talking to each other (DCE to DCE), and the other person's computer is talking with their modem (DTE to DCE). When a DCE to DCE connection is established, the modem will send a CONNECT message to the computer. This CONNECT message tells the computer what baud rate the two modems are talking to each other at. Let's assume that your modem is a 9600 baud modem and that the caller is calling with a 2400 baud modem. In a case like this, the modems will establish a 2400 baud connection and your modem will send a CONNECT 2400 baud message to your computer. If your serial port isn't locked, the modem will switch the baud rate that it talks to the computer with to 2400. In turn, the computer's communication program (BBS software, terminal program, etc.) will set the computer's serial port for 2400 baud. At this point, both the DTE to DCE and the DCE to DCE baud rates will be set for 2400 baud. Now lets assume that the serial port is locked at 19200 baud. When your 9600 baud modem establishes the 2400 baud connection, it will once again send a CONNECT 2400 baud message to your computer. However, this time the modem will maintain the 19200 baud connection it has with the computer instead of dropping down to 2400 baud. Likewise, the computer's communication program will not lower the computer's serial port to 2400 baud. So with a locked serial port, the DTE to DCE baud rate will be 19200 and the DCE to DCE baud rate will be 2400. Why would you want to lock your serial port? Error correction and data compression are the two best reasons. Error correcting connections can transmit data about 20 percent faster than non- error correcting connections. Also through data compression, modems can send data up to four times faster than without data compression. TriBBS Bulletin Board System 78 Therefore, it is possible for an error correcting connection to be sending data much faster than the DCE to DCE baud rate. So that data will not be lost between the computer and the modem, the DTE to DCE baud rate must be higher than the DCE to DCE baud rate. Generally, high-speed modems are locked at either 19200 baud or 38400 baud. So, how is a serial port locked? The first step is to tell your modem to maintain the DTE to DCE link at a constant baud rate and to report DCE to DCE baud rates in the CONNECT string. Additionally, you should always use RTS/CTS hardware data flow control with an error correcting modem. To configure your modem to perform these actions, you need to either add a couple of AT commands to your initialization string or save the proper AT commands in your modem's NRAM settings. Unfortunately, there is no set standard for the AT commands that perform these actions. Consequently, you'll have to either consult the modem's manual or contact the modem's manufacturer to determine the appropriate AT commands you need to use. After you've correctly configured your modem, you need to configure the computer's communications program. Simply tell the communication program that the serial port is to be locked and that hardware data flow control is to be used. Believe it or not, that's all there is to locking a serial port. For most high-speed modems manufactured today (those that use the Rockwell chipset), you will probably need to add the AT commands &C1, &D2, W2, and S95=3 to your initialization string. TriBBS Bulletin Board System 79 SUPPORT ------- You may obtain assistance with a TriBBS related problem by calling The Lobster Buoy (207-941-0805), via FidoNet (1:328/104), or via Internet (mgoodwin@tribbs.com). This is the home board for TriBBS. If you are having a problem with TriBBS, please try to be as specific as possible. Please don't say something like "I can't get doors to work". Unfortunately, statements like that are all too common and do nothing to help resolve the problem. Instead, try to explain as best you can exactly what is happening when you try to run a door and ZIP up and upload your door batch files and door menu configuration file. Screen captures can be very helpful when trying to diagnose a problem. So if you can, log on remotely and capture a session that will illustrate the problem. If you are unable to log on remotely, ask one of your users for help. Most problems can be cured in one message if the problem is explained in enough detail. However, if you do not provide specific details, it can take many messages and a lot of frustration before resolving the problem. Also, READ THIS MANUAL!!!!!!!!! 90% of the questions that I get could very easily be answered by the user simply reading the pertinent part of the manual. TriBBS Bulletin Board System 80 TriBBS Bulletin Board System 81 REGISTRATION ------------ Registration of TriBBS is only $75.00. Please use the file REGISTER.DOC to register your board. When you register TriBBS, you will receive the latest version of TriBBS on disk and a letter that contains your TriBBS registration code. Registration of TriBBS/Pro is $100.00. Please use the file REGISTER.DOC to register your system. When you register TriBBS/Pro, you will receive the latest version of TriBBS on disk and a letter that contains your TriBBS/Pro registration code. If you are already a registered TriBBS sysop, you can upgrade to TriBBS/Pro for only $25.00. Please use the file REGISTER.DOC to register your board. When you upgrade to TriBBS/Pro, you will receive a letter that contains your TriBBS/Pro registration code. Once you obtain your TriBBS or TriBBS/Pro registration code, you can turn you board into a registered system, by simply entering the registration code exactly as it is presented in the letter in the first line of your system configuration via TriMan. TriBBS Bulletin Board System 82 TriBBS Bulletin Board System 83 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS -------------------------- Q. I want to be able to drop to DOS remotely, but TriBBS doesn't seem to support this feature. Can I remotely drop to DOS with TriBBS? A. Because of TriBBS's ability to add commands to the Sysop menu, there really isn't any need to put a drop to DOS function directly into the BBS software. If this is a feature you can't live without, setup either REMDoor or Doorway (both are available for download off of The Lobster Buoy) as a command off of the Sysop menu. Both will allow you to perform just about any DOS command line task. Q. I'd like to be able to setup a DOS program, such as a database, as a door. Can this be done? A. A true door program either has it's own communication routines written into it or uses a FOSSIL driver (a device driver that provides communication routines to programs) to communicate with the remote computer. Unfortunately, the average DOS program doesn't have the ability to communicate through the serial port. However, the program Doorway (available for download off of The Lobster Buoy) will allow you to run just about any DOS program as a door. Q. I marked a user's record for deletion but it's still in the user file? A. For efficiency reasons, a user's record will not be physically deleted from the user file until you actually pack the user file. By marking a user's record for deletion you are telling TriBBS to delete the record the next time the user file is packed. Q. I want to run TriBBS under Windows 3.x but all I get is a blank screen with the cursor in the upper left hand corner? A. Windows has a strange quirk in it that requires you to load SHARE.EXE into memory even if you don't plan on running a multinode system. Q. I have a custom bulletin or door bulletin menu and whenever a caller tries to display a bulletin TriBBS tells him that it's an invalid bulletin number. What's wrong? A. You need to create either a BULLETIN.MNU or DOORBULL.MNU file in the node's NWORK directory. Q. When I lock my port at either 38400, 57600, or 115,200 baud, serial communications are very erratic but at 19200 baud everything is ok. What's wrong? TriBBS Bulletin Board System 84 A. Unfortunately, your computer has an old 8250 type UART that doesn't support high-speed serial communication. For reliable operation at higher speeds you should invest in a serial card with a 16550 UART. It may also be possible to just replace the 8250 UART on your current serial card with a 16550. Q. Under DOS TriBBS runs fine, but when I'm running it under a multitasker (DesqView, Windows, OS/2 2.0, etc.), the board seems to lose characters and there are a lot of errors during file transfers. What's wrong? A. Your computer has either an 8250 or 16450 UART. You should upgrade your serial card to one with a 16550 UART. A 16550 UART has what are caller FIFO buffers that will temporarily hold incoming and outgoing character while the BBS is either in the background or when the multitasker is switching tasks. It may also be possible to just replace the 8250 or 16450 UART on your current serial card with a 16550. Q. Can TriBBS be run on a computer that uses a disk compression program like Stacker? A. Yes. Although, you shouldn't expect to get anywhere near the 2:1 compression ratio on a BBS computer that the disk compressors routinely provide on other computers. The reason for this is because a BBS computer will have many already compressed files on its hard drive and compressed data doesn't usually recompress much smaller. So look for some benefit from a program like Stacker, but don't expect too much. Q. A caller has selected more than one file to be downloaded. How come TriBBS won't let him use either Xmodem or Xmodem-1K to download the files? A. You must remember that Xmodem and Xmodem-1K are not batch protocols. By that I mean that they can only transmit one file at a time. Therefore, TriBBS will ask the caller to pick from one of its available batch file transfer protocols (Ymodem, Zmodem, etc.). Q. I would like to be able to use TriMan and FileMan remotely. Is there a way? A. You can setup both TriMan and FileMan as an extension off of the Sysop menu with the program Doorway (available for download off of The Lobster Buoy). Although, I do not recommend the use of either, especially TriMan, remotely. If you are not very careful, you could very easily corrupt your data files. So unless you are very experienced with TriBBS and fully understand how all of the data files interact, I do not recommend that you ever use TriMan remotely. Do not ever under any circumstances add, insert, or delete either a message conference or a file area TriBBS Bulletin Board System 85 remotely. Such an action will almost certainly corrupt your data files. Q. I want to backup my board on a daily basis, but I really don't have the time or the floppy disks to back up the whole thing every day. What's the minimum amount of files I need to back up and not lose my whole system if it should crash? A. As a minimal backup you should backup your SYSDAT1.DAT, SYSDAT2.DAT, NODE.DAT, MWORK\USERS.DAT, MWORK\USERS.SPM, MWORK\USER.SPF, MWORK\USERS.IDX, MWORK\ALIAS.IDX, MWORK\MCONF.DAT, MWORK\FAREA.DAT, MWORK\NETWORK.DAT, NWORK\*.*, DISPLAY\*.*, and all of the batch file in your node's main directory. With such a backup available, you may lose your message base and/or your file areas, but you will still have all of your system data files, user information, and display screens available should the need ever arise. If you have a really small message base, you may want to just backup the entire MWORK directory. You may also want to maintain a backup of your file lists. They will come in very handy should you have to rebuild one or more file areas. Q. I think I've found a bug. What information do you need to fix it? A. Because no computer program is perfect, you may run across a bug in TriBBS sooner or later. If you should find a bug, it is extremely helpful if you can describe how it can be duplicated every time. A bug can usually be fixed very quickly if I'm able to duplicate it, but it can take a long time to track down if there even is a bug at all. Even if you can't duplicate, please let me know about any suspected bugs you might find. Sometimes it's possible for me to determine a pattern that causes a bug if more than one person has found the bug and they provide sufficient detail for me to find a similar pattern between the two systems. Q. I would like to join a netmail network. What programs do I need? A. This greatly depends on the method the network uses to pass mail from one system to another. TriBBS supports three major types of netmail networks: PCRelay or Postlink networks, QWK-based networks, and Fido-style networks. To join a PCRelay or Postlink network, you need to purchase a copy of either PCRelay or Postlink and use the TriBBS UTI. To join a QWK-based network, you'll need to use TriNet if you are going to be just a node or you'll need to use TriNet and TriMail if you are going to be a hub as well as a node. To join a Fido-style network, you'll need a frontend mailer (FrontDoor, BinkleyTerm, etc.), a tosser/scanner (TriToss or TriToss/Pro) and TriDog. You should note that the TriBBS UTI, TriNet, TriMail, and TriDog are written by myself and are freeware. You can obtain copies of any of my TriBBS Bulletin Board System 86 programs on The Lobster Buoy. TriToss and TriToss/Pro are also TriSoft products and are distributed as shareware. If you are interested in PCRelay or Postlink network, you will need to contact the person who runs the net your interested in about obtaining a copy of those programs. The reason for this is because both PCRelay and Postlink are commercial programs. Q. Sometimes my board will crash either during the night or when I'm not around. Is there a way to prevent this? A. All boards will crash from time to time. Doors, in particular, are notorious for locking up computers. If you experience frequent crashes, try to see if it's a certain door that's causing the problem or perhaps a TSR that's the guilty culprit. If you can locate the frequent offender, the simplest solution is to get rid of it. As an added precaution, you may want to try using a program like Watchdog or Watchkit on your system. Both of these programs can reboot your computer when they detect a loss of carrier in a door or after the phone has been ringing for a specified number of times. If you're running your board under DesqView, you may want to try out Autoboot. Autoboot provides essentially the same operations that Watchdog and Watchkit do, but for just a DesqView task. Q. I'm running my system under a multitasker and sometimes callers are incorrectly booted off the system for "No keyboard input timeout". A. Unfortunately, this seems to be a problem with "some" 386 and 486 machines. TriBBS will behave just fine under straight DOS on these machines, but will behave erratically when run under a multitasking environment on the same machine. About the only solution for this type of problem is to disable TriBBS's check to keyboard input timeouts by setting this value to 0 in the system configuration. Q. I have a monochrome VGA system and when I run TriBBS, I either can't see anything or can only see what I think is a small part of the Waiting for Callers screen. What's wrong? A. Some monochrome VGA systems don't use the area of video RAM that TriBBS expects it to be using. Simply run the DOS commands MODE BW80 or MODE CO80 before running BOARD.BAT. Probably the best thing is to just put the appropriate MODE command in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file. Q. When I try to run a door, TriBBS tries to run an event, or try to configure my system from the Waiting for Caller screen, it stops running and just sits there at the DOS prompt. What's wrong? A. You are running TriBBS through BBS.EXE and not through BOARD.BAT. You must run it through BOARD.BAT for TriBBS to be able to TriBBS Bulletin Board System 87 perform these operations. Q. I'm running a multinode system and when I configure the system from node 1's Waiting for Caller screen everything works fine, but when I try configuring the board from another node TriMan runs fine but when I'm returned to the Waiting for Caller screen I'm returned to node 1's Waiting for Caller screen. What's wrong? A. In order to run TriMan from the Waiting for Caller screen, TriBBS creates a dummy event batch file and in the batch file is a call to BOARD.BAT to restart the node. You are probably calling your BOARD.BAT file for node 2 something like BOARD2.BAT and node 1's BOARD.BAT file is called BOARD.BAT and is somewhere in your DOS PATH. Simply do all configuration from node 1 or rename your BOARD.BAT files for the other nodes to BOARD.BAT. Q. The manual says that TriBBS can run PCBoard doors, but I can't for the life of me get a PCBoard callback verification door to work with TriBBS. What am I doing wrong? A. Although, TriBBS can create the necessary door drop files for many other BBS systems, such as PCBoard, some doors are very specific to a certain brand of BBS software. For example, a callback verification door needs to be able to access the PCBoard user files. TriBBS and PCBoard have a totally different file structure for their user files so the callback door can't possibly be forced to run on a TriBBS system. So although you can run most doors that are written for other systems, there are a few that you can only run if you are running the BBS software they were originally written for. Q. Some of my callers are complaining that there are parts missing from some of their display screens. What's wrong? A. If this is a consistent problem, it is probably a flow control problem. If you have an error correcting modem, be sure that RTS/CTS flow control is enabled for both TriBBS (in your node configuration) and the modem. If this is already set or you don't have an error correcting modem, suggest to your caller that he should enable RTS/CTS flow control (for his modem and in his comm program's configuration) if he has an error correcting modem and XON/XOFF flow control (in his comm program's configuration) also. This should clear up any flow control problems like this. If it's an infrequent problem, it could just be line noise. Q. My modem detects a ring but doesn't answer the phone. What's wrong? A. Some modems can't accept the ATA command (the command that TriBBS uses to answer the phone) as fast as the computer can send it to it right after the modem sends a RING message. You need to TriBBS Bulletin Board System 88 adjust the delay before ATA in the node configuration to a higher value.