TO: All Callers

More details about the way things are done on this BBS:


LOGIN           Do you hate auto-name detect at login?

                Use "=Your Name" at the "Name:" question to bypass it.


PROTOCOLS       BiModem is available to Level 10+  users.   Basically,   just 
                unpack  it  and read the instructions on installing  it  into 
                your  communications  program  and those for  "Transfer  Path 
                Maintenance".    Don't  worry  about  all  the  configuration 
                options.  If you do a lot of uploading, this is what you want 
                to use.  If you wish to chat,  this is your best option--as a 
                message will appear for the length of the transfer. 

                Note that in BiModem,  even though you may only be uploading, 
                the entire session counts as a download session.  If you only 
                upload--or  the time you spend uploading is greater than  the 
                time  you  spend  downloading--then you could  actually  lose 
                minute-credits.   Although you do get more minute-credits for 
                the upload with BiModem (than with Zmodem). 

                With any upload, it is your responsibility to make sure there 
                is enough space on the drive.  The system won't stop you from 
                sending a too-large file, but the effects will prevent people 
                from  leaving messages and probably crash the system.    Then 
                I'll come along, look at the caller log, and know who did it. 

                This system has "auto-detect"  of Zmodem uploads or  BiModem.  
                To  initiate this,  simply "do it"  from any menu,   or  when 
                reading messages. 

                When  transferring  using  DSZ,  you can  stop  the  transfer 
                fastest with <alt>N (rather than ^X's). 


TIME LIMITS     Both are detailed in the BBS Information files.   But what it 
AND RATIOS      doesn't  say is that the whole system is flexible.   Most  of 
                the  flexibility lies with the Exchange system.   In  BiModem 
                the system will do any exchanges for you, including borrowing 
                against  future uploads.   For Zmodem exchanges must be  done 
                from  the Personal Menu and cannot be used to borrow  against 
                the  future.   Should  you exceed your time limits,   the  AI 
                automatically  will  do  an exchange to  get  you  back  into 
                balance.    Should  it  be unable to do exchanges,   it  will 
                gradually reduce your daily download minutes until you  can't 
                download at all. 

                If  you've  choosen  to Link with someone else:   it  has  no 
                advantages  for time,  only provides yet more flexiblity when 
                it  comes to downloading.   But a user using two names Linked 
                together will find no advantage over using just one name. 

                Zmodem uploads get 1/2  the estimated send time at 2400  baud 
                (based on size)  for minute-credits.  BiModem uploads get 3/4 
                the  estimated send time--this is due to the fact  that  many 
                will  just send an upload that either lasts longer or without 
                the download portion.   After all,  all time spent in BiModem 
                is counted as downloads,  since the optimal use of time is to 
                have exactly matching UL and DL sizes,  and since the average 
                user  downloads  far  more  than they upload,   the  user  is 
                expected  to try to match his uploads with his downloads  (if 
                using BiModem) rather than waste time doing one or the either 
                alone. 


HOURLY "GRAPH"  Each  "time box"  on the hourly graph marks one  hour.    The 
                colors  represent how busy that hour was.   With the  lighter 
                the color marking increasing levels of activity.  Bright Blue 
                is the brightest representation. 


LINKED          Linked Accounts are linkages between two or more users.   The 
ACCOUNTS        only time this linkage comes into play is during downloading, 
                then all linkage members'  upload and download stats are used 
                rather than just the individual users'.  Time and ratio stats 
                do not play a role--the users'  are always used.   This is to 
                provide a method for such situations as:  one friend has lots 
                to upload while another doesn't, one friend knows BiModem and 
                they  just  let that one do the uploading,  for keeping up  a 
                larger  "can download bytes"  buffer for when "must have now" 
                files appear. 

                If you want linking with another user, ask the sysop.


UPLOADING       Do not upload the following:

                  Files   you  find  in  the  off-line  lists.    You   are 
                  responsible  for making sure the file  doesn't  exist--no 
                  matter what the filename.ext is. 

                  "Grouped together"  files.   Example:  putting a bunch of 
                  .GIF's  or .MOD's together in one archive  and  uploading 
                  it. 

                  Demo's.

                Any of the above, and you will get DOUBLE off for the upload. 

                Also,   if you're upload is made up of many files that  don't 
                fit   in  the  available  drive  space,   you  must  tell  me 
                beforehand--so we can schedule the upload.   Otherwise,   ANY 
                UPLOADS  NOT COMPLETLY COMPLETED IN TWO DAYS WILL BE  DELETED 
                AND THE UPLOADER GIVEN THE PENALTY. 


FILE ATTACHES   The  sysop  reserves  the right to put  the  files  into  the 
                uploads area.  Don't use this for trivial, or large, files. 

                If the upload is interrupted,  you may select 'Give  Attached 
                Files' when reading the message to continue the upload, or to 
                add more files. 

                You  may  simply  begin uploading at  the  entering  messages 
                command line.   Your message will first be saved,  then auto-
                detected uploading will be done. 

                The files are deleted when the message is deleted.
                

MATURITY AND    Maturity is a way of thinking:  knowing about the rest of the 
EXPERIENCE      world,   being  aware of what you say,  write,  or do  (being 
                responsible),  directed (not living day to day wondering what 
                to do next), and growth oriented (interested in new things). 

                Experience  is mainly computer,  electronic,  and educational 
                experience, or other related experience with computers.   Can 
                you program in many languages?  Can you install hardware onto 
                your computer system?   Do you know where and how to look for 
                information?  Do you know how BBS's work?  Are you both up on 
                the  latest  software,   and  know the  history  of  previous 
                software of that type? 


WORD            Using  something like:   " }6text " will highlight that word.  
COLORIZATION    This works in both messages and file descriptions.   But note 
                that it only works on a single word and there must be a space 
                in  front of the "}"  character.   I'm going to not let  this 
                occur  in "New Stuff",  that way those wondering what's going 
                on will see how it was done. 

                Entering something like:   " ]5text...text[ " will  highlight 
                that block of text. Just like with "}", there must be a space 
                in front of the inital "]".   The "["  character must have  a 
                space  after it,  and no space before it.   You may highlight 
                words  within  this block with "}"  as well.    Note  that  I 
                consider  it  childish to highlight  whole  messages.    This 
                feature  should  only be used for specific text you  wish  to 
                emphasize. 


VOTING BOOTH    Selecting "other"  leads to "please elaborate".  What happens 
                is  your answer is put into a file and I just look at to  see 
                if maybe the question needs another option.


ON-LINE LISTS   A  "DeathCount"   has been added to the On-line lists'   file 
                descriptions.  This is a count, at the end of the description 
                (eg.  |6), that tells how many more days the file will remain 
                on-line.    When it gets down to 0,  it will appear as:   |?, 
                which means I could take it down at any moment! 

                Files with a "|+"  or "|-" refer to the Life & Death value of 
                that file.  Usually going from "|+"  numbers,  to "|-",   and 
                finally to a DeathCount. 


UNDOCUMENTED    The space bar will pause a message being read.
COMMANDS        
                You  can just enter a message number at  the  "next/previous" 
                line when reading messages to jump to that message. 

                [Tab] can also be used to pause output where [Space] is used. 
                It pauses message text.  It will also act as a [N]ext command 
                when at the reading messages command line. 

                A  ":"   at the main menu will show the version of  this  BBS 
                software. 

                Hitting "-" while listing files, users,  or messages will re-
                start the listing in reverse (A-Z or Z-A). 

                Hitting "."  while listing files,  or at the main menu,  will 
                send   you  to  the  Point  and  Shoot  File  Selection   and 
                Information System. 

                "!"   can be used when listing the on-line files to find  out 
                additional information. 

                When entering mail, "/s" at the start of a line will save the 
                message and exit,  "//G"  anywhere will toggle on/off  active 
                grammar checking. 

                When  at a voting question,  you can just type the number  of 
                another voting question to jump to that question. 

                When entering a name,  typeing "*" or "?"  will get a list of 
                all the users with the same letters you typed so far. 

Foreign/        When entering a description or a message, the following keys,
International   when typed, will produce the result.
Characters
                  Keys       Resulting
                  Entered    Character
                  -------    ---------
                    a"a          
                    e"e          
                    i"i          
                    o"o          
                    u"u          
                    y"y          
                    A"A          
                    O"O          
                    U"U          
 
                    a`a          
                    e`e          
                    i`i          
                    o`o          
                    u`u          

                    a'a          
                    e'e          
                    i'i          
                    o'o          
                    u'u          
                    E'E          

                    a^a          
                    e^e          
                    i^i          
                    o^o          
                    u^u          

                    n~n          
                    N~N          

                    a.a          
                    A.A          

                    c,c          
                    C,C          

                    ?^?          
                    !^!          

                With the exception of the last few commands, you type:
                  1. character you want
                  2. character above the character you want
                  3. character you want
                The  BBS will then delete these three characters and  replace 
                them with the foreign character. 
 

THE JDR_BBS     The  'Pseudo AI'  is the intelligence and personality of  the 
'PSEUDO AI'     BBS itself.  It will fill in and complete file names and user 
                names.    It  will send new users a "hello"   message,   send 
                Targeted  Upload destinee's a "get it now"  message,  and all 
                sorts  of automatic tasks for the sysop.   It's a little baby 
                now, but will grow in time. 


SEARCHING       When searching the off-line list,  the system filters out all 
                non-alphabetic  characters  and won't do the search with  any 
                less than 3 characters.  The reason for this is to discourage 
                people  using  filenames.   Generally,  if what you  want  to 
                search for causes trouble (eg.  is only two letters), then it 
                may  be better to not upload it--or check with me first.    I 
                prefer that users know what they are uploading.   For .GIF's, 
                you can also search by subject (if it's a pic of someone)  or 
                by "author" (usually the BBS whose name is in the 