TBBS 2.2 - Setup of Topic Type Message Boards

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SETUP OF TOPIC TYPE MESSAGE BOARDS
----------------------------------

INTRODUCTION

Topic type message boards were introduced to TBBS with our 2.2 release.  
Because the manual was produced before the topic features of TBBS were 
complete, the documentation is not complete on the creation and initialization 
of topic boards.  This Tech Note will attempt to explain the process in 
detail. 

CREATION OF NEW BOARD

IF YOU ARE CREATING A NEW BOARD, follow these directions.  TO CONVERT EXISTING
BOARD(S) TO TOPIC TYPE, refer to "Converting Existing Boards to Topic Type" 
later in this document. 

Here are the steps involved in setting up a new topic message board:

1)  Create a new board in CEDIT on the MESSAGE BOARD DEFINITIONS screen.  Make 
sure the type field is set to "T" for Topic. 

2)  Create a menu entry to access the board you just defined.  IT MUST BE A 
TYPE 6 (MESSAGE READ) COMMAND!  In the Opt Data for that menu entry, place the 
name of the board (as defined in CEDIT) ONLY.  DO NOT USE ANY OPT DATA 
SWITCHES AT THIS TIME!  If the board name in CEDIT is "Tech", for example, 
then the Opt Data will be "Tech" with NO SWITCHES. 

3)  Logon to the system as Sysop, and access the newly created message read 
command.  The system will prompt you as to whether or not you want a MULTI-
LEVEL or BI-LEVEL style topic board.  Refer to the TBBS manual, Chapter 3, for 
details on these styles of topic boards. 

4)  Next, you will be presented with the standard message retrieval options 
(forward, reverse, etc.).  Select a <F>orward read. 

5)  When prompted whether to pause after each message, select "Y" for YES. 

6)  The system will display a message indicating that no sub-topics exist, and 
then will display a prompt line which includes three Sysop topic commands, 
including <C>reate. 

7)  Select <C>reate to create a sub-topic. 

8)  Create a sub-topic by typing in the topic path you desire.  WHEN CREATING 
A TOPIC, YOU MUST TYPE THE ENTIRE TOPIC PATH, INCLUDING THE ROOT NAME AS 
DEFINED IN CEDIT!  For example: 

     Tech/Printers

or:

     Tech/Printers/Laser

MAKE SURE YOU USE FORWARD SLASHES (/) AND *NOT* BACKSLASHES (\) or the 
creation will FAIL!  

9)  Go to step 7 and define more sub-topics (if desired). 

At this point, you can create the other menu entries to access the new topic 
board.  If you wish, you can also add Opt Data switches to the menu entries, 
to add (for example) flattened access. 

If you make any mistakes in this process and wish to start over again, see 
"Reinitializing Topic Boards" below for instructions. 

FLATTENED ACCESS CONSIDERATIONS

When using "flattened" access to topic boards, TBBS will suppress the 
"show/join" interface which allows users to select which sub-topics they're 
interested in. 

To add this functionality, you need to add a Type 24 menu command 
(select/deselect) and put the topic board name (as defined in CEDIT) in the 
Opt Data of that menu entry.  This will then allow the user to select and 
deselect sub-topics on the flattened topic board they desire to read. 

NOTE:  The Type 24 with topic board name command can be used on topic boards 
regardless of the retrieval style (flattened or native hierarchical mode) for 
direct access to the "show/join" interface. 

REINITIALIZING TOPIC BOARDS

If you have made an error in the creation and initialization of a topic board 
and wish to start over, you need to "clean the slate" first. 

Using MFSQZ, review message headers on the topic board you wish to 
reinitialize.  You will encounter one (or more) "topic directories."  These 
are stored just like regular messages on the system.  In MFSQZ, you'll be able 
to indentify them easily because their date and time are all zeroes, the to 
and from fields are blank, and the subject of the message is ">>> Topic 
Directory <<<". 

Delete ANY and ALL occurrances of such messages on the board.  Mark them for 
deletion by pressing the "D" key.  These are protected messages, so press "O" 
to toggle the protected bit off. 

You also need to delete any normal messages posted on the topic board.  The 
topic board must be TOTALLY clear of ALL messages in order to be properly 
reinitialized.  

Once you have deleted all messages and topic directories, squeeze the message 
base.  Afterward, run MFSQZ, review headers on the board, and make sure all 
messages are gone before moving on.  Once this is done, you can move to step 2 
from the "Creation of a New Board" section above. 

CONVERTING EXISTING BOARDS TO TOPIC TYPE

IMPORTANT:  There is NO WAY to truly "convert" older standard boards to topic 
boards directly!  DO NOT attempt to convert an existing board by simply 
changing its board type in CEDIT, or malfunction will occur. 

The only solution is to create new topic boards and sub-topics, and move 
existing message threads into the newly created topics.  The moving can be 
accomplished online using the <$> Sysop message read command, then pressing 
<4>, move thread.  Individual message threads must be moved, one at a time, to 
the desired destination sub-topic.  The design of topic boards is rather 
complex internally, and therefore moving threads into them places an unusual 
burden on the system.  We recommend performing thread moves when the system is 
not being used heavily. 

In general, attempting this type of conversion involves considerable effort, 
and is best avoided.  We recommend just creating the new topic board, and 
letting message traffic build-up over again from scratch. 

TOPIC BOARDS AND NET MAIL / TIMS

At press time for the Tech Note, the TBBS Net Mail Utilities have not been 
updated to support topic boards.  DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CONFIGURE THE NET MAIL 
UTILITIES VERSION 2.1 TO ACCESS A TOPIC TYPE MESSAGE BOARD OR MALFUNCTION WILL 
OCCUR!  When available, the utilities version 2.2 will offer topic board 
support. 

In the interim, the shareware package Tmail (in its recent revisions) offers 
FidoNet scan/toss to and from topic boards. 

- END -
TBBS0006
Rev. 10/93

Copyright (C) 1994 eSoft, Inc., All Rights Reserved.  Permission granted
to distribute this file in its entirety, without modification, to any
interested party.  Any other use requires the written permission of
eSoft, Inc.

IMPORTANT:  The information herein is subject to change without notice.
Please call or write to confirm factual information of importance to you
or your organization.

