subdirectory, and set DATAPATH= to that subdirectory.
This directory should have MAILFIL.* and USRSFIL.*
files, and all menus, bulletins, etc. Set all ANSI Set all ANSI Set all ANSI
(*.Gxx), ASCII (*.Txx), BIG (1.xx, 2.xx, 3.xx), and (*.Gxx), ASCII (*.Txx), BIG (1.xx, 2.xx, 3.xx), and (*.Gxx), ASCII (*.Txx), BIG (1.xx, 2.xx, 3.xx), and
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NAPLPS (P.xx) files' attributes to NAPLPS (P.xx) files' attributes to NAPLPS (P.xx) files' attributes to read only read only read only. This is
done with this DOS 5.0 command: attrib +r filename.ext attrib +r filename.ext attrib +r filename.ext.
F1 Press F1 once to see a listing of how the system
is configured and what the security levels are
for the menu items. Pressed F1 while seeing
that listing to toggle Debug mode. In Debug
Mode, MEGAHOST displays ANSI screens during
local logon, logoff, reports various errors to
the log, and displays the record numbers of
messages.
F2 Sets Ringback status toggle
F3 Toggles log (turns user log on or off)
F4 Toggles printer (turns printer log on or off)
F5 Toggles closed system (makes Closed or Open
system)
F6 Sets Off Hook Toggle
F7 Toggles color on and off
F8 Initial baud rate toggle
F9 Security -1 Each press of F9 drops by one the
security level of an on-line caller.
F10Security +1 Each press of F10 raises by one the
security level of the user on-line, to give that
user have temporary access to functions not
otherwise available to him.
6.7.2 SHIFT + Function Key 6.7.2 SHIFT + Function Key 6.7.2 SHIFT + Function Key
SF1Toggles XONXOFF state
SF2Toggles MATCHLEVEL state
SF3Toggles BIOS state
SF4Toggles DIRECT state
SF5Toggles EXECSWAP state
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SF6Toggles ALLOW300 state
SF7Toggles BATCHLOG state
SF8Toggles CALLBACK state
SF9Toggles USERLOCK state
SF0If set to TRUE then Operator HOURS are bypassed
and SysOp is available
6.7.3 CTRL + Function Key 6.7.3 CTRL + Function Key 6.7.3 CTRL + Function Key
CF1Toggles SAVESCRN state
CF2Toggles RINGPIN state
CF3Briefly drops DTR to disconnect the caller
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VII. FOR THE ADVANCED AND THE CURIOUS VII. FOR THE ADVANCED AND THE CURIOUS VII. FOR THE ADVANCED AND THE CURIOUS
7.1 More on INITSTRING 7.1 More on INITSTRING 7.1 More on INITSTRING
The examples of INITSTRING below use V1. This sets the
modems to verbal result codes. While V0 can also be
used, for numeric result codes, V1 maintains software
compatibility with other communications programs. If
you have difficulty with one mode, try switching to the
other. The same applies to the E1 (echo) command.
Your modem may respond better in E1 state as opposed to
E0, or visa versa.
Any INITSTRING sent to a Hayes modem MUST be 40 40 40
characters or less characters or less characters or less. If the string contains a command
not recognized by the modem, the entire string is
ignored, and MEGAHOST will not operate correctly.
Some clone 2400 baud modems are compatible either with
the Hayes 1200 (and should use the Hayes 1200
INITSTRING) or with the Hayes 2400 compatible (and
should use the Hayes 2400 INITSTRING). If you are not
certain which to use, experiment.
Hayes 1200 baud modems:
INITSTRING=ATE0M0Q0V1X1S0=0S1=0
This is the initialization string sent to the modem.
It breaks down as follows:
AT Attention M0 Speaker off
X1 Extended result code Q0 Send result
codes
E0 Echo off S1=0 Count 0 rings
S0=0 Do not auto answer V1 verbal result
codes
Hayes 2400 baud modems:
INITSTRING=AT&D2V1Q0E0S0=0&C1&T5L3B1M1
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This is the initialization string sent to the modem.
It breaks down as follows:
AT Attention Q0 Result codes enabled
&J0 Single-line connection B1 Select Bell 212A
&D2 Follow DTR E0 Characters not echoed
&T5 RDL disabled M1 Modem on until
carrier
V1 Verbal result codes S0=0 Disable auto answer
L3 High speaker volume &C1 Detect carrier
(not forced on)
Racal Vadic 1200/2400/9600 modems:
INITSTRING=AT&C1&D2E0M0Q0V1X4S0=0S1=0
Multi-Tech 2400 baud modems:
INITSTRING=ATE0M0Q0V1X1S0=0S1=0&Q1
This string is the same as that for the Hayes 1200 with
the exception of the &Q1, which instructs the Multi-
Tech to emulate the Hayes 1200 modem.
US Robotics Courier HST 9600:
INITSTRING=ATE0M0Q0V1X1S0=0S1=0&B0&H0&I0&N0
This modem uses the same INITSTRING as the Hayes 1200,
plus:
&B0 DTE rate follows connection rate
&H0 Flow control disabled
&I0 Flow control disabled
&N0 Normal link operations
The result code expected from the modem is 13 for a
9600 baud connect.
Everex Evercom 24 modems:
INITSTRING=ATE0Q0V1X4L3S7=60
Everex 24 MNP modems:
INITSTRING=ATE0M0X4\N3\Q0\V0\X1\G0\C1%C1S0=0
Some Everex modems require the contents of registers S3
& S4 to be reversed, i.e. S3=10 S4=13.
7.2 Running DOS (or a program) from a remote 7.2 Running DOS (or a program) from a remote 7.2 Running DOS (or a program) from a remote
TRAPDOOR.BAT or TRAPDOO?.BAT (where ? is a letter, A
...Z), is executed from MEGAHOST. A path MUST BE SET
to point to TRAPDOOR.BAT if the call is to be
successful. A sample TRAPDOOR.BAT is provided with
this package; as written, it enables WATCHDOG, a public
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domain program that monitors carrier detect at DOS
level.
MEGAHOST sends TRAPDOOR.BAT a parameter to inform it
which port is selected, so it may run the proper
version of WATCHDOG. You might do well to use this
file as is. You could change the line with COMMAND to
the name of the program of your choice; this would not
allow DOS access, but would execute the program and
then return to MEGAHOST. Keep in mind that very many
programs write directly to the screen, or intercept the
keyboard directly. These programs will not operate
correctly under the DOS shell, and may hang up the
system. If you have called in DOS then type EXIT at
the DOS command line to return to MEGAHOST.
There is a fine shareware program, available on the
MEGAHOST Support BBS, and other BBSs, called Doorway Doorway Doorway.
That program lets you operate your computer by remote,
as if you were there. You can do many things from a
remote position with Doorway which you cannot do by a
simple drop-to-DOS using CTTY.
MEGAHOST passes the following command line parameters:
%0 = name of program called (batch, exe, com)
%1 = port number
%2 = baud rate
%3 = the caller's first name
%4 = the caller's last name
%5 = the caller's security level
%6 = whether the caller selected ANSI after log on
(Y or N)
%7 = the directory MEGAHOST was to start from
%8 = is CARRIER if the call is from a remote
computer,
or LOCAL
%9 = the number of the node
The following TRAPDOOR.BAT file is an example of using
c:\rundir\doorway local /OT /GON /M32767 /AON /BMS
/S* /CDOS
:end
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The following TRAPDOOR.BAT file is an example of using
Doorway to call in an external program. Rundir would
be the directory MEGAHOST was invoked from, and
Startdir would be the directory specified by START=.
It may happen that your MEGAHOST BBS exits prematurely.
For example, the computer may reboot because of a power
outage. One way to avoid this problem is to use a
batch file (call it MEGA.BAT), an alternative
autoexec.bat file and, if your normal config.sys does
not load ANSI.SYS, an alternative config.sys file. The
last line of the alternative autoexec.bat file (call it
AUTOEXEC.MEG) would be MEGA M. The alternative
config.sys file would load ANSI.SYS. These files would
sit in the root directory of the boot disk.
@ECHO OFF
REM THIS IS MEGA.BAT
IF "%1"==""GOTO MENU
IF "%1"=="B" GOTO BBS
IF "%1"=="M" GOTO MEGAHOST
IF "%1"=="R" GOTO RETURN
GOTO MENU
:BBS
REM THIS ASSUMES A DIFFERENT CONFIGURATION FOR
MEGAHOST, FROM WHAT REM YOU HAVE FOR YOUR
NORMAL, WORKDAY SETUP. BE SURE THAT THE LAST
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REM LINE IN AUTOEXEC.MEG IS MEGA M SO THAT A
REBOOT TAKES YOU BACK TO REM MEGAHOST
REM
ECHO *** WARNING ***
ECHO You are about to alter your autoexec.bat and
config.sys
ECHO after which you will call up your MEGAHOST
BBS. If you
ECHO want to stop now, press Control-C, otherwise,
pause
IF EXIST C:\AUTOEXEC.REG GOTO MEGAHOST
REN C:\AUTOEXEC.BAT AUTOEXEC.REG
REN C:\AUTOEXEC.MEG AUTOEXEC.BAT
REN C:\CONFIG.SYS CONFIG.REG
REN C:\CONFIG.MEG CONFIG.SYS
:MEGAHOST
REM THIS ASSUMES
REM 1) YOU OPERATE UNDER DESQVIEW, OR
REM 2) YOU DON'T OPERATE UNDER DESQVIEW AND DON'T
REM HAVE ANSI LOADED BY WAY OF YOUR CONFIG.SYS,
AND
REM 3) YOU HAVE DVANSI.COM. THERE ARE OTHER
COMMAND-LINE
REM -LOADABLE ANSI PROGRAMS AVAILABLE ON BBSs, SUCH
AS ANSI.COM.
REM
DVANSI
MEGAHOST
MEGA M
:RETURN
ECHO **********************************
ECHO THIS RETURNS YOUR COMPUTER TO
ECHO ITS NORMAL, WORKDAY CONDITION
ECHO **********************************
IF EXIST C:\AUTOEXEC.MEG GOTO END
REN C:\AUTOEXEC.BAT AUTOEXEC.MEG
REN C:\CONFIG.SYS CONFIG.MEG
REN C:\AUTOEXEC.REG AUTOEXEC.BAT
REN C:\CONFIG.REG CONFIG.SYS
GOTO END
:MENU
ECHO
************************************************
*
ECHO * This Batch File Manages the MEGAHOST BBS
*
ECHO *
*
ECHO * Syntax: MEGA [P]
*
ECHO * Where [P] is one of these parameters:
*
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ECHO *
*
ECHO * ? Brings up this menu
*
ECHO * B To reconfigure the computer and
*
ECHO * call up your MEGAHOST BBS
*
ECHO * M To call up MEGAHOST without change
*
ECHO * in the computer's setup
*
ECHO * R To Reverse reconfiguration of the
*
ECHO * of the computer and Return to its
*
ECHO * regular, workday configuration
*
ECHO *
*
ECHO
************************************************
*
:END
GET W
This is how the batch file works. When you call MEGA
alone or with anything but upper case B,M or R, you see
a list of parameters and the file exits.
If you call MEGA B, and if there is no AUTOEXEC.REG in
the root directory, config.sys and autoexec.bat are
renamed and substitute files are appropriately renamed.
If there is an AUTOEXEC.REG, in the root directory,
DVANSI (you can substitute any other command-line
started ANSI system program) is called and MEGAHOST is
started. Note that, if ANSI.SYS is already loaded,
DVANSI won't load. If there is a power outage, or for
some other reason the host computer reboots or MEGAHOST
closes down without your having told it to, MEGA Bat is
called up again -- either by the batch file itself or
by the newly named autoexec.bat. Since the command is
MEGA M, the file skips all the renaming steps, which
are unnecessary now.
If you are in DesqView or some other multi-tasking
environment, you could call MEGA M. That command
causes MEGA.BAT to jump right to the part which calls
DVANSI and MEGAHOST, altering no files along the way.
How would you get out of this loop? Simple! You
should have a way to Drop to DOS from inside MEGAHOST.
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Drop to DOS and issue the command, MEGA R. That
command puts things the way they were before MEGAHOST
was called up and warm boots the computer.
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VIII. COMPATIBILITY PROBLEMS VIII. COMPATIBILITY PROBLEMS VIII. COMPATIBILITY PROBLEMS
8.1 Downward compatibility of future versions 8.1 Downward compatibility of future versions 8.1 Downward compatibility of future versions
Strict compatibility between different versions of
MEGAHOST is attempted, but not guaranteed. See
Appendix A for instructions on converting MINIHOST
files to MAXIHOST and MAXIHOST files to MEGAHOST.
8.2 Memory resident program problems 8.2 Memory resident program problems 8.2 Memory resident program problems
MEGAHOST does not function correctly when certain
memory resident (TSR) programs are loaded. DOSEDIT, a
DOS editor, does strange things at times, especially
after a Jump to DOS. Those spiffy clock programs
interfere with binary file transfers. If you are
having problems, remove all resident programs from
memory and see if this helps. TSRs should be invoked
from a DOS shell TRAPDOOR only with caution!
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IX. TESTIMONIALS: IX. TESTIMONIALS: IX. TESTIMONIALS:
PC World MAY 1991 says:
MAXIHOST, a versatile shareware BBS that almost
anyone can use. MAXIHOST's ample security
features and easy setup make it ideal and a
MAXIHOST BBS is easy to maintain as it is to set
up.
Micro Cornucopia NOV-DEC 1989 says:
MINIHOST has amazing low maintenance
requirements, is very flexible, and after years
of reliable use Mankin's little BBS is a gem of
a system.
American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education Vol 53,
Summer 89 says:
Because of the extensive documentation, I have
never a need to call for help and a file
shareware BBS which every college of pharmacy
should try.
Personal Computer Communications, The bible of the on-
line World, by Alfred Glossbrenner (of the New York
Times) says:
For new users we recommend Don Mankin's
MINIHOST. Simple to setup and use and for
anyone willing to tap an office or home computer
from a distant location.
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