Cream of the Crop 12

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@A12 @c18 NOTE: This help file also serves as an example of a regular ASCII text file that you, as SYSOP of a Magnum BBS can create. Although a regular ASCII text file, created with any text editor, it can offer sophisticated menus, customization, and multitudes of other things limited only by your imagination. @P0 @C8 @A14 Gilmore Systems MESSAGE HELP @A13 [G] - General Explanation of Commands [R] - Reading Messages Explained (and how to reply) [C] - Message Conferences Explained (and changing conference area) [E] - Entering Messages [M] - MILC - "MAGNUM Interpreted Language Commands" for your messages! [Q] - Quit Help Enter Choice (G,R,C,E,M,Q) => @Z0('GRCEMQ'); @B1(z0="G"); @B2(z0="R"); @B3(z0="C"); @B4(z0="E"); @B5(z0="M"); @C16 @P1 @C8 @A14 Gilmore Systems General Explanation of Message Commands @A10 [Q] - Quits Message section and returns back to Main Menu [R] - Read Messages (requires a default conference area to be chosen). This option takes you to a submenu where there are several different ways of reading messages. See@a13 [R] - Reading Messages Explained@a10 [E] - Enter a message. This menu selection allows you to enter any kind of message with the online message editor. The message can be public, private (if allowed), to ALL or to SYSOP. If your message is addressed to ALL, then any user with access to the conference area you enter the message in can read the message. [T] - Text Search. All messages are required to have one line of text which describe the nature of the message - this description is called the message SUBJECT. When you specify a Text Search, whatever you type as your search criteria (ie: Communications) will start MAGNUM BBS on a search of all message SUBJECTs which contain your search word(s). The less you type (parts of a word rather than whole words), the more matches will be found. For instance, both "Com" and "cat" are part of the word "Communications", so all SUBJECTs containing "Com" and "cat" anywhere in the description will be matched and displayed - also note that message subjects such as "Catalog Programs" or "Compilers" will also be matched. To narrow down your match, user longer words such as "Communic". Also note that upper and lowercase are not important - MAGNUM BBS internally converts everything to uppercase before actually performing the search. Therefore, "Cat" and "cAt" are identical. [G] - Goodbye - disconnect from the BBS (hang up). [C] - Change Message Area. To Read Messages requires a "default" message conference area. There are up to 26 areas (not all of which are necessarily used, nor are all sections used available at your security level). If you first select [R]ead Messages, you will be asked for a default conference. You will remain at that default conference until you choose [C] to change the conference area. Selecting [C] will show which conference areas are available to you. Conference areas range from A-Z, but note that there is a conference labeled 0 (zero), which means you are choosing "All conferences" as your default area - this will make all conferences which you are authorized to read available to you.@A12 NOTE: MAGNUM BBS allows the SYSOP to restrict ANY conference area to any user as "read-only", "write-only", or "list-only", or any combination of the three. "Read-only" means you can only "read" but not write to that conference area. "Write only" means you can only "write" to (but not read from) that area (as is the case with "Comments to Sysop"), and "List-only" means the conference will only appear in the conference list but you will not be able to choose that conference as a default.@a10 [S] - Scan Messages. This function allows you to enter a DATE to start scanning from. Only the message 'headers' but not the actual messages will be shown. If during the scan you find a message subject which looks interesting to you, you can jot down the message REF# and select [R]ead with the [R]ef# submenu choice. [D] - Delete a Message (if available - depends on Sysop) allows you to delete any message that YOU entered. You need only supply the REF#. [P] - Personal Mail Check. This option allows you to scan for all mail addressed to you since the last message you read which was addressed to you. It is identical to the "Check Your Mailbox?" prompt when you first log on. [?] - Presents this help screen. @C9 @B0(0=0); @P2 @C8 @A14 READING MESSAGES (and how to reply) @A10 To Read Messages is very simple. Simply select [R] from the message menu. You are required to pick a default message conference (A-Z or 0 for ALL conferences combined). If this is the first time you choose [R] this session, you will be presented a list of conferences available to you, and asked to pick one. If you wish to change to another conference later, simply pick the [C]hange option from the message menu. The [R]ead option will present the following submenu: B = Backwards Read (newest first) D = Date to start from M = Match Text R = by Reference # S = Since Last Read U = To/From User (or to/from you) V = View my unread mail Q = Quit Choosing "B" will start with the latest (newest) messages and go backward from there - all other choices default to forward. Choosing "D" will prompt you for a specific date to read from - this only works in a forward fashion. Choosing "M" will prompt you for text to match up with the SUBJect field of the message headers. Choosing "R" will prompt you for a specific Reference # to read (messages do not have regular numbers). Choosing "S" will display all messages since the last message you've read (for your current conference). Choosing "U" will display all messages TO or FROM the User ID you supply. Choosing "V" will display all message TO YOU which you have not yet read. When reading messages, all messages are preceeded by a message "header". This header will look similar to the following: @a10 CONF: @a11 A@a15 General Mail @a10 SUBJ: @a15 WELCOME! @a10 FROM: @a15 /0 (CHUCK B GILMORE) @a10 TO: @a15 ALL @a10 DATE: @a15 06/27/1989 @a10 TIME: @a15 12:30 @a10 TIMES READ: @a15 40 @a10 REF # @a15 A61B0901D38 @a10 This is a general message header showing which CONFerence the message is assigned to, the SUBJect nature, who the message is FROM, who it is TO, the DATE and TIME the message was entered, how many TIMES READ, and the message's REF #. There may also be one additional line following the header which will indicate if the message is <PRIVATE>, <CC> or <FWD>. If the message is <PRIVATE>, it means the message is either addressed TO or FROM you. If a <CC> exists, the message was originally sent to someone else with a Carbon Copy to you. If <FWD> is present, then that means someone who read a message which was addressed to them had FORWARDED a copy of the message to you! Also note that if the above message was addressed to an individual instead of ALL, there would be an additional field stating that the message was RECEIVED if the addressee has read (received) the message, showing date and time of receipt. If the message has an EXPIRATION DATE associated with it, that date will be displayed as part of the header as well. After the message header appears, the body (or text) of the message follows. When the message ends, several options are available to you. The options always available are "[N]ext, [R]eply, [C]ontinuous, [-/+] and [Q]uit". The "[N]ext" option, merely tells MAGNUM BBS to display the next message. "[R]eply" tells MAGNUM BBS that you wish to reply to the message with the same subject. "[C]ontinuous" tells MAGNUM BBS to display all the rest of the message in a non-stop fashion (ie: you will not be presented with the -More- prompt). "[-/+]" is to tell MAGNUM BBS which direction to go. The default is to read messages in chronological order. Pressing '-' instructs MAGNUM BBS to present messages in reverse chronological order (backwards), whereas '+' tells MAGNUM BBS to revert back to the forward direction. "[Q]uit" tells MAGNUM BBS to return back to the "Read Messages" submenu. If there are replies to the current message, a "[T]hread" option will appear. Choosing "[T]hread" means you wish to skip all messages not dealing with the current SUBJect and only wish to see the next message on the same subject (the reply). If the current message is a response to another message of the same SUBJect, an "[O]rigin" option will appear. If you choose the "[O]rigin" option, MBBS will search for the first message dealing with the current SUBJect and display that message. If the current message is a reply within a thread, "[B]ackthread" should also appear - this will take you to the previous message in the thread. If the message is addressed either TO or FROM you, then the "[K]ill" option will be displayed IF the Sysop allows you the capability of deleting messages. Also, if the "[E]dit" option appears, you may edit (revise) the message - this option will appear if the message is addressed to or from you. If the message is addressed to you, the "[F]orward" option will appear. If you think you'd like someone else to have a look at the message, you may choose the "[F]orward" option and "forward" (send) a copy of that message to them. NOTE that messages do NOT have traditional numbering schemes which start at 1 and ascend. These numbering schemes have been found to be confusing on other BBS's for 3 reasons: 1) numbers assigned are unpredictable as to which conference any message number belongs to, 2) private messages cannot be viewed by the public and are therefore skipped, and 3) when other BBS's "pack" or "clean-up" their messages, the messages are frequently re-numbered adding yet more to the confusion. Instead, MAGNUM BBS uses a Reference number (REF #) consisting of 11 characters - the first character is always the letter of the conference the message is in. The rest of the characters are merely a unique sequence of characters that can never be duplicated by any other message - the REF # is always assigned by MAGNUM BBS. To redisplay a message, or to view a message after doing a [S]can, simply jot down the REF # and do a [R]ead by Reference #. @c9 @B0(0=0); @P3 @C8 @A14 Message Conferences Explained (and how to change areas) @A10 All functions require you to be in a default (preselected) message conference. There are up to 26 conferences (labeled A-Z). You may not have access to all the areas, and all areas may or may not be used (depending on how the SYSOP configured the system). There is an additional default conference, conference 0 (zero), which tells MBBS you don't want to be limited to just one conference at a time - you want them all at once. Keep in mind that viewing all conferences at once can get a little confusing - it's best to stick with a single conference at a time. To change to a different conference area, simply use the "[C]hange" option from the message menu. @c9 @B0(0=0); @P4 @C8 @A14 Entering Messages @A10 There are two built-in text (message) editors: Line-oriented and ANSI. If you're using a communications package capable of ANSI terminal emulation you can use the ANSI editor - you don't have to have your color settings on in order to use this editor (color escape sequences simply won't be sent if your color setting is 'off' but all other ANSI sequences will be sent). If you're using the ANSI text editor, help is online and on your screen at all times during message entry, therefore, no explanation of its use will be presented here. There is, however, one feature in the ANSI editor not found in the line-editor: if you're replying to a message, the ANSI editor will let you re-read the message you're replying to. The remainder of this help panel will discuss the line-editor: The line-oriented text editor features automatic word-wrap. This means that anytime the current line you're typing reaches the end of the line, it will move the last word to the beginning of the next line automatically if the word will not fit on the current line. This means you needn't press your CR or ENTER key unless you wish to start a new sentence or paragraph. The same feature is built into the ANSI editor. You may enter up to 150 lines of text. Unlike other BBS's, entering a blank line with the line-editor does just that - other BBS's end your message when you enter a blank line. To end typing your message, enter "/EXIT" (without the quotes) on a line by itself beginning in the first column of the line. To start entering a message, choose the "[E]nter" option from the message menu. If you do not have a default conference selected, you will be prompted as to which conference you'd like the message to go into. Next, you will be asked who the message is to be addressed to. If you type "ALL" (without the quotes), the message will not be directed to anyone in particular but anyone with access to that conference can read and/or reply to that message. If you choose to send it to someone in particular, enter that user's ID# - if you do not know their ID#, merely enter a "?" and you will be presented with a userlist search prompt - if you find that the user's ID# is 10 for example, you would then address the message to "/10" (without quotes). If you want the message to go to the SYSOP, you may either type "SYSOP" or "/0" (without quotes) - the SYSOP's ID# is always "/0". If the message is not addressed to ALL, you will be prompted as to whether you want this to be a PRIVATE or a PUBLIC message (PRIVATE means that ONLY the addressee and YOU can read the message). You will then be asked to type a line of text describing the SUBJect nature of the message. Try to make this as definitive as possible. You will then be asked for an EXPIRATION DATE. The expiration date is optional and if you do not enter one, there will be no expiration date. Please try to make use of the expiration date feature - especially if you're announcing something that is time-sensitive. For example, you wouldn't want to post a message stating that the "next user-group meeting is 8/1/89" and have the message still show up after that date - same thing with announcing a special price on a product good through a certain date. Regardless, general messages do get old, and if the message is that important that it needs to be posted forever, then don't enter an expiration date. If the message is not addressed to ALL, you will be asked if you want a RECEIPT for the message. If you select "Y" (yes), MAGNUM BBS will write a message to you and drop it in your mailbox stating that the addressee of the message has received (read) the message you are about to create. You will now be placed in the text editor. Merely type like you would on a typewriter. The Backspace key on your keyboard will move back to the previous character (erasing it as it goes back) to allow you to correct any mistakes. You may press the backspace key as long as there are characters to the left of the current cursor postion. The TAB key will move the cursor to the next tabstop position (tabstops are preset at 8, 16, 24, etc to the end of the line). When you are all done with your message, enter the word "/EXIT" (without quotes) on a line by itself. If you'd like the more traditional way of ending a message with a null line (2 successive presses of your ENTER key), you may choose the [E]nvironment option from the main menu to tell Magnum that you'd like to end your messages with a null line. A submenu will now display: Edit Commands: [S]ave, [T]ype, [D]elete, [I]nsert, [C]ontinue, [A]bort, [E]dit line, [R]eplace line Choosing [S]ave will save your message and post it on the board. If the sysop has configured MAGNUM BBS to compensate you for time spent entering the message, MAGNUM BBS will count the number of words you've entered in your message, and compensate you with a predetermined amount of seconds for each word. Half-minutes and above will be rounded to the next highest minute. Under half-minutes will not be compensated. Only public messages are compensated. Once again, if the sysop did not choose time compensation, you will not be compensated for time spent typing. Choosing [T]ype will type all lines of your message for you for review. Choosing [D]elete will prompt you for which line(s) you wish to delete (all lines have numbers during message entry and during "type"). Keep in mind that once you delete a line or group of lines, the lines following will be renumbered - use [T]ype after a [D]elete to see the changes in line number and confirm the deletion. Choosing [I]nsert will prompt you for a line # which you wish to insert a new line at. In other words, if you choose line 6, you will be adding a new line which now becomes line 6, while the previous line 6 becomes line 7, line 7 becomes 8, etc. Choosing [C]ontinue will put you back into message entry mode at the end of the last line you typed - you are merely continuing (or appending) from where you left off. Choosing [A]bort tells MAGNUM BBS that you changed your mind and no longer wish to enter a message - it will be as though you never entered a message at all. MAGNUM BBS will first prompt you as to whether you really wish to abort the message or if you chose abort by mistake. Choosing [E]dit will allow you to change certain characters on a line. For example, if you mispelled something like "Tuesday night meating", you will be prompted first for the line number, then for the mispelled word(s) - you would enter "meating" (without quotes), then you will be prompted for the right spelling in which case you'd enter "meeting". You could use this method to insert a word or delete a word as well. For example the line might contain "Tuesday meeting" and you want to change it to "Tuesday night meeting". You would supply "Tuesday meeting" for the words to replace, and "Tuesday night meeting" for the words to replace it with. Choosing [R]eplace will let you replace any line altogether. If you choose line 6 for example, you will be asked to type in the NEW line 6. What you type will replace the old line 6. @a11 @c9 @B0(0=0); @P5 @a14 MILC - "MAGNUM Interpreted Language Commands" for your messages!@a10 @c10 MILC (MAGNUM Interpreted Language Commands) are available for your messages! There are hundreds of commands in MILC, however, the SYSOP has only given you access to just a handful of commands. MILC commands are special commands that you can imbed in your messages to create special effects. All MILC commands start with the @ character. Following, is the MILC command syntax for only the MILC command(s) that your sysop has allowed you to use. While you are entering messages, you can safely imbed color commands into the messages without having to worry about ANSI escape sequences. MAGNUM BBS incorporates an interpreted language within the messages which allow you to create@a11 different@a12 colors@a13 throughout@a14 your@a31 messages @a10 without worrying about whether the reader has their color settings turned on or off. If the reader's color settings are on, great! Otherwise, the imbedded commands are removed when they read the message. To insert colors, the command is @c7% @Axxx where 'xxx' is one to three digits (0 to 255) representing a color. For example, if you entered the following line: There is @a12 danger @a10 involved in mountain climbing! The reader with their color settings set to ON would see it as: There is %a12 danger %a10 involved in mountain climbing! If your color setting was set to OFF, you would only see it as a regular sentence: There is danger involved in mountain climbing. The basic rules are, The @ character starts a command and can appear anywhere. If it is followed by an 'A' character, it tells MAGNUM BBS that 1 to 3 digits of an attribute (color) code are about to follow. After the last digit, there must be a blank (space). Below is a color table: %a11 @A0 - BLACK on BLACK @A8 - GRAY on BLACK @A1 - BLUE on BLACK @A9 - hi-intensity BLUE on BLACK @A2 - GREEN on BLACK @A10 - hi-intensity GREEN on BLACK @A3 - CYAN on BLACK @A11 - hi-intensity CYAN on BLACK @A4 - RED on BLACK @A12 - hi-intensity RED on BLACK @A5 - MAGENTA on BLACK @A13 - hi-intensity MAGENTA on BLACK @A6 - BROWN on BLACK @A14 - bright YELLOW on BLACK @A7 - WHITE on BLACK @A15 - hi-intensity WHITE on BLACK @A16 to @A31 - same as @A0 to @A15 but on BLUE background @A32 to @A47 - same as @A0 to @A15 but on GREEN background @A48 to @A63 - same as @A0 to @A15 but on CYAN background @A64 to @A79 - same as @A0 to @A15 but on RED background @A80 to @A95 - same as @A0 to @A15 but on MAGENTA background @A96 to @A111 - same as @A0 to @A15 but on BROWN background @A112 to @A127 - same as @A0 to @A15 but on WHITE background @A128 to @A255 - same as @A0 to @A127 but blinking (simply add 128 to any of the above for blinking effect) %a10 In addition to the above, the sysop has chosen the following additional MILC commands for your use. When any of these commands appear anywhere within your message, it will be replaced with the proper values: %a11 @O0 - Hours (ranges from 0 to 23) @O1 - Minutes (ranges from 00 to 59) @O2 - Seconds (ranges from 00 to 59) @O3 - Hundredths of seconds (ranges from 00 to 99) @O4 - Day of month (ranges from 00 to 31) @O5 - Month (ranges from 1 to 12) @O6 - Year (the current 4-digit year) @O7 - Day of week (string: "Sunday", "Monday", etc) @O8 - Month (string: "January", "February", etc) @O9 - Time (string: "3:57 PM", "12:01 AM", etc) @O10 - User's age @O11 - Minutes user has been online this call @O12 - COM PORT # user is on @O13 - Total calls received on PORT # @O14 - Previous caller's name (up to 62 chars) @O15 - Previous caller's location (up to 62 chars) %a10 There are many, many other MILC commands which may be imbedded within messages, but until we figure out just which commands to let users use in messages, we'll limit them to the color (@Axxx) and optional (@Ox) commands for now. But later on, we'll give you the capability of interacting with the reader(s) of your message(s) in a way that you've never seen on any other BBS before! %c7@ @c11 @c9 @B0(0=0);