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Introduction
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Sometimes, you don't need a full blown BBS, but you want something that will continually accept modem calls for you and give callers some options. Hostess is perfect for this. She answers calls, and allows callers to upload, download, and display files.
Installation
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Open the settings document called "Hostess". There will be only one option on the icon bar, a "Run" icon. Clicking the "Run" icon will place Hostess in a waiting mode, where she will wait for incoming calls. As soon as one arrives, she'll connect the user and present some options. Here is what the main menu will look like to callers:
Hostess version 1.0
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1 - Display Available Files
2 - Download a File or Files
3 - Upload a File or Files
4 - Disconnect
Please enter your selection:
Display Available Files will show the current contents of the "Downloads" folder, which should be in the same location as the Hostess settings document. If a "Downloads" folder does not exist, Hostess will create one automatically. Each file will be numbered, and the caller will want to note the number for each file, as this information will be used to download the files.
Download a File or Files enables the caller to download specific files that are stored in the "Downloads" folder. The caller can type the number of the file that should be downloaded. If more than one file is desired, then the caller should separate each file number by a comma. Hostess will download the files you selected using the ZMODEM protocol.
Upload a File or Files enables the caller to upload specific files. These files will be stored in the "Downloads" folder for other people to download at a later time. Hostess will be ready to receive the files you send.
Disconnect will terminate the session and disconnect the caller.
Where to go from here
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You might not want uploaded files to be available immediately to subsequent callers. If this is the case, try modifying the appropriate upload scripts so that uploaded files are placed in a folder called "Uploads".
Also, you might want the caller to leave a note about uploaded files. Try adding scripts that will allow the caller to type a one-line message regarding the uploaded files.
