Fresh Fish 8/FreshFishVol8-CD1.bin/new/comm/bbs/4d-bbsdemo/docs/text/11.local_control

Text File | 1993-12-28 | 7KB | 187 lines

Chapter 11:  Controlling the BBS




11.1 Overview

    Controlling 4D-BBS locally is simple and you have many options of how
to control it.  You can use ARexx to send the user a quick line of text
without having to go into chat mode.  If you don't have ARexx, the Announce
pull-down menu function can accomplish the same thing.

     The 10 function keys allow quick control of many functions.  Each key
has a toggle, dependent upon whether there is a user on-line or not.  The
pull-down menus contain a large variety of options, which are also enabled
or disabled depending on whether a user is on-line or not.

11.2 Keyboard Input

    The 10 function keys and their behaviors are listed below:

        User On-line No User On-line

    F1    Start  or End a Chat        Logon Local to BBS

    F2    Start User Defaults Editor    Run Terminal Mode

    F3    Start On-line User Editor    Run Normal User Editor

    F4    Runs Configuration Editor        Runs Configuration Editor

    F5    Runs Bulletin Editor        Runs Bulletin Editor

    F6    Quick Hangup on User        No function

    F7    Give User Extra Time        No function

    F8    Take Time From User            Run Boards Editor

    F9    Toggles SysOp Availability    No function

    F10    Starts File Editor        SysOp Quick Logon

    When the editors come up they will NOT disturb the on-line user.
4D-BBS will bring the Workbench screen to front where the editor screen
will open.

11.2.1    Amiga control Keys

    These keys are accessed by holding down the Right-AMIGA key and
pressing the specifier key once and letting go.  The following keys are
supported and DO NOT work in Iconify mode.  The keys are not
case-sensitive.

    AMIGA-I        This will Iconify the BBS

    AMIGA-Q        This will shut the board down if user is on or not.

    AMIGA-V        This will toggle the status screen to allow you to view
the on-line users profile, If hit again it will toggle back to the small
status screen Only if on-line user.

    AMIGA-S        Will show the last 5 callers in your status window.

    AMIGA-C        Will enter or exit chat. ONLY if on-line user.

11.2.2    Pull Down Menu Options

    This is the only thing that will pause the on-line user.  When you
hold your mouse button down to view the options the user will be paused
until you release.  It would be best to familiarize yourself with all the
options so that you can quickly jump to the option with minimal pause time
for the user.  Most on-line options have function key or hotkey equivalents
to avoid this delay.

    Certain menu options are disabled due to BBS reports.  If no user is
on-line you will not be able to access the user menu options, or the chat
mode, etc.

    Below is a short summary of menus and options available:

    First Menu       "Other"

    About        Tells a little info about this software
    Reset        Reloads all data files
    Init Modem    Resets your modem
    Local login    Same as F1
    Sysop login    Same as F10
    Iconify        Iconifies BBS
    Save&Quit        Save user info and quit
    Quit        Brings board down

    Second Menu   "Go Edit"

    U-Defs        Starts user defaults editor
    User        Starts normal user editor (on-line     or not)
    System        Starts system editor
    Boards        Starts message board editor
    Files        Starts file library editor
    Bulls        Starts bulletin editor
    Menus        Starts menu editor    ** Not in Demo version

    Third Menu   "Defs"

    Sysop avail    Toggles the SysOp avail (same as F9)
    Busy  local        Toggles the busy signal while logon local
    Keyboard On/Off    Turns keyboard input on/off.  If off, the only way
                    to turn it back on is via this pull down menu.

    Fourth Menu   "Sysop"

    Reload System    These 3 Reload options were created in case you Reload
                Boards changed a file or structure and wanted 4D-BBS to know
    Reload Files    about it now.
    View last 5    Same as AMIGA S
    View User        Same as AMIGA V
    Announce         This function is primarily for those who don't have ARexx.
It's main purpose is to send a quick message to the user without entering
into chat mode.  You can edit any file or echo a string to "RAM:Tellem".
This function will echo whatever is in that file to the screen.  If no file
can be found, 4D-BBS will look for your CLP of "-S".  If you have "-SGet
lost!  Bbs going down" in your setup, that will be echoed instead.  It
defaults to "System note -> BBS will go going down in a few moments".

    Fifth Menu       "User"

    Validate User    This will do a quick validation of the user and give the
user members access as defined by you in the user defaults, message and
file editors.  It's the same as the "V" key from within the user editor.
    Hang-up on 'em    This will do just what it says.
    Give time            This will give the time as requested by the CLP of "-T"
    Take time        Same as above but TAKES the time (Defaults to 10)
    On-line edit    This invokes the on-line user editor. User NOT paused.
    Chat            Toggles your chat, enter or exit chat.

    Sixth Menu   "Personal Menu"

A few words about this menu.  This is completely set up by you!  You have
all the control over this menu you could ever want.  You set up the text
you want to have shown and the 4D-BBS menu commands or AmigaDOS commands
you wish to run.  Here is a quick example.

    4                        <- # of options
    Lets run DPAINT            (Start of text section)
    Lets run TrapDoor
    Lets play Space Emp            <- Text strings(4)
    Lets view the bbs list
                            <- Skip this line!(Start of commands)
    *dh0:dpaint                <- External
    *rex:rx td.rexx            <- External
    C spcemp/spcemp            <- Menu command to run door
    D S                        <- Menu Command and parameters

You can find the personal menu editor in the system editor, however the
data file is only a text file so you can use your normal text editor if you
wish ("BBS:Personal.Menu").

Your text shouldn't be too long, 20 characters in length should be
sufficient.  You have a maximum of 20 text strings and 20 commands.

ANY 4D-BBS EIC or menu command will work here, 4D-BBS assumes everything
will be a menu command so if you want to use an EIC you will need to do
this.  E "Time is ^]P0%" E, is the normal 4D-BBS echo command and we will
be echoing an EIC, Isn't that nice!

DOS commands need to have an "*" at the very beginning.  This tells 4D-BBS
that it is a DOS comman.  4D-BBS will take the "*" off and execute it.
(NOTE:  4D-BBS will run ">NIL:" every DOS command.  This won't hang the BBS
nor pause the user, so remember not to redirect to the "NIL:" when you're
editing this menu because it already is.

    Seventh Menu "Windows"

More information will be given about this topic in the Windows section.
When you use the menu and change, resize or move a window/screen its exact
coordinates are saved.  If you iconify and then un-iconify the windows and
screens will be in the last saved position.

4D-BBS To Back         Puts 4D-BBS screen at the end of screen list.
WorkBench Front         Brings workbench screen to front.
WorkBench Back          Puts workbench screen at the end of screen list.

    The "Go's" will be disabled if you are already in that category.  For
example, if you are using the WorkBench Screen already, you cannot "Go
WorkBench".