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                        User Created BBS Interface
                        Programmed by Alan McNamee


   


 Ŀ
   Introduction  
 

   So, you want to run a multi-line BBS system but you are a little short of
 the 50k or so it takes to buy the hardware and software.  Well, now you can
 have your very own BBS and never have to buy a thing and you won't need
 a degree in computer science to get it done!

 USysop will allow you to create your very own BBS using any or all of the
 resources that the 'REAL' sysop (the one that spent the 50k) provides for
 you.  This means that you TOO can have a BBS running on the most powerful
 bbs software in the galaxy (TBBS).


 Ŀ
   Instructions  
 

   Creating your BBS is going to be easier than you would expect.  There
 will be a series of steps that you will perform in the beginning to
 initialize your system.  After you have a simple working system, you can
 then go on to create a fancy design and load it up with features that
 your users will enjoy and encourage callers to use your BBS rather
 than any of the others.  All systems are rated by the number of times
 they are accessed by callers other than by the person that created
 the system.  This is part of the USysop TOP 100 list.



 Ŀ
   Initial Creation 
 

    1. Select the ADD option and enter the information you would like
       displayed.  Also, it is a good idea to password protect your BBS
       until you have it designed just the way you like it.  Once you
       have it the way you like it, you can remove the password protection
       or leave it in place as you see fit.

    2. Use the GENERATE command.  This command will ask you if you would
       would like to generate a BBS command list.  At this point say Yes.

    3. Once you have the command list, you can then look thru it to see
       what kind of commands you would like to use in your system.

    4. Your system was assigned a SYSTEM ID.  This will be a 4 character
       id for your system, such as FFD6.  Create a text file with an
       ascii text editor.  The name of the file will be your 4 character
       system id, followed by a .SDL .. Example:  FFD6.SDL

       SDL stands for System Definition Langauge.

       This file will have a very simple format for your entries.  First,
       you will give it a KEY STROKE for a commands activation, second, you
       will give it a command.  Example:

       KEY=W COMMAND=WHOS ON
       KEY=C COMMAND=OPEN FORUM
       KEY=L COMMAND=LIST CALLERS
       KEY=F COMMAND=FILES

       This format is all that you have to do in order to create your SDL
       file.

    5. You will now need to create a menu file.  This is the file that
       will actually be displayed to the callers as your MAIN MENU.  This
       file can be a TEXT file or a complex and fancy ANSI file.  This file
       will have a name that is MENU+SYSTEM ID+.ANS .. Example:

       MENUFFD6.ANS

       This file will give your system its 'look and feel'.  You should have
       each valid key represented on this menu so that your callers know
       which key strokes to use to activate each option.  There are a number
       of ANSI drawing programs that you may wish to use in order to create
       a fanci ansi menu.  I personally like THE DRAW myself.


    6. You may OPTIONALLY create a SIGNON text or ansi file that will be
       displayed once as a caller is logging into your system.  This file
       should be called SYSTEM ID+SIGN.IN  .. Example:

       FFD6SIGN.IN

    7. Once you have created your SDL and MENU file, you will then need to
       use the GENERATE option of USysop again.  This time, answer NO to the
       question about GENERATING A COMMAND LIST.  USysop will ask you to
       enter an EXIT KEY.  This is the KEY STROKE that will be used on your
       system to exit your BBS.  This should appear on your MENU as an EXIT
       option.  This key stroke cannot be used by any of your other commands.
       USysop will then prompt you to upload your SDL file and your MENU
       file.  Once BOTH of these files have been successfully uploaded,
       USysop will compile your SDL file into the system binary control
       files.  If no errors are reported during the compiling stage, you can
       then DIAL your system and see your work in action!

    8. At this point you will be able to tinker and change your design and
       features.  Each time you make a change to your systems SDL file, you
       will need to use the GENERATE option to recompile your SDL file.  You
       may wish to generate a COMMANDS LIST from time to time to see if the
       SYSOP has added anymore commands that you can use.

    9. The HOST Sysop may have USysop setup to validate systems before
       allowing them to be used by other users.  If your system is
       invisible to other users, you may wish to asked to sysop to review
       your system and allow it to be used by other users.


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   BBS Completion  
 

   There is no command for BBS completion!  As you will find out, it will
 never be completed and will always be in a state of change and refinement.


 Ŀ
   Advanced Menu Design  
 

   When creating the menu for your system, there is a number of advanced
 features that can be used in the construction.  If you are using an ansi
 paint program such as THE DRAW, then you can created animated ansi displays.

   With both the TEXT menu and the ANSI menu, you can include INSERTION
 parameters as part of the display.  Insertion parameters are special
 words that are explanded at the time the menu is displayed.  These
 words are the value of a users system information, I.E. %USER% = USERS NAME,
 %BPS% = USERS BAUD RATE.  The following list are the INSERTION parameters
 that are available for you to use.

      System Wide Parameters:

      %USER%     - The user's full name in UPPER CASE.
      %NAME%     - The user's full name in Mix Case.
      %FIRST%    - The user's first name in Mix Case.
      %LAST%     - The user's last name in Mix Case.
      %CFIRST%   - The user's first name in UPPER CASE.
      %CLAST%    - The user's last name in UPPER CASE.
      %PRIV%     - The user's priviledge level.
      %TIMELEFT% - The amount of time left for this call.
      %LOCATION% - The users location information.
      %LASTON%   - The user's last logon date and time as: MM/DD/YY HH:MM
      %LOGINS%   - The number of times the user has logged on.
      %TIMEUSED% - The amount of time a user has been logged on NOT counting
                   the current call.  Is is in hours:MM format where hours
                   can be up to 5 digits long.
      %LINE%     - The user's line number.
      %TIME%     - The current clock time in HH:MM format
      %DATE%     - The current calendar date in MM/DD/YY format
      %EURODATE% - The current calendar date in DD/MM/YY format
      %WAITING%  - Displays the WAITING mail information if the user has
                   any mail that has not been answered.
      %BPS%      - Displays the BAUD RATE that the users is currently logged
                   on at.

      Your BBS' Parameters:

      %M1%       - Your BBS' System ID as a hexidecimal value
      %M2%       - Your BBS' System ID as a decimal value
      %M3%       - The name of the BBS' Sysop
      %M4%       - The name of the BBS


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   Host Sysop Notes  
 

   This area is for the HOST Sysop so that he may post special infomation
 and instructions for use on his/her system.


