        ͻ
                                                    Ŀ
              K E E P I N G   I N   T O U C H        
                      
            SPITFIRE Monthly Support Newsletter      
              for registered SPITFIRE Sysops!        
                      December 1994                  
           Compliments of BUFFALO CREEK SOFTWARE     
             Buffalo Creek's BBS * 515-225-8496      
               38400/19200/9600/2400/1200 Bps        
                          2 Nodes                    
                                                     
        ͼ 
          
                    Edited by Jacque Shipley
       The Mother Board BBS - (515) 986-3464 - 57600 Bps
                Sysop Of The Month by Walt Crede
      Roam This Fertile Land -  (515) 288-8755 - 14400 Bps
         Newly Registered SPITFIRE BBS List by Ann Woltz
                  Other Contributions As Noted

          Merry CHRISTmas Wishes to all SPITFIRE Sysops!

ͻ
    Notes from the author of SPITFIRE!   Ŀ
ͼ 
  

>>> MERRY CHRISTMAS <<<
-----------------------

   And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the
field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
 
   And, lo, an angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory
of the Lord shone round about them; and they were very much
afraid.
 
   And the angel said unto them, Fear not; for, behold, I bring
you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

   For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior,
who is Christ the Lord.

   And this shall be a sign unto you: Ye shall find the babe
wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manager.

   And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the
heavenly host, praising God, and saying,

   Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will
toward men.

                                             Luke 2:8-14


   God gave each of us the most wonderful gift possible, a
Saviour named Jesus Christ.  This CHRISTmas, let's take the time
to thank God for our Saviour.  Without Him, there would be no
hope.  Let's put Christ back into CHRISTmas.  Merry CHRISTmas
to each of you from the Woltz family.

                         Until next time, may God bless you...
                         Mike, Ann & family

                         ͻ
                           Glory to God in the highest,     Ŀ
                           and on earth peace, good will     
                           toward men.                       
                                               Luke 2:14     
                         ͼ 
                           



͸ 
 SPITFIRE UTILITY REVIEW - SFDFC10.ZIP 
;

   SFDFC, SPITFIRE Duplicate File Checker, is a multi-functional
utility written to test for duplicate files on a SPITFIRE BBS.
However, SFDFC not only can be used to check for duplicates which already
exist on the BBS, but can also be used to test a caller's uploads to
determine if the upload duplicates existing files.

   Initially, SFDFC should be executed to build a database of all files 
available for download from your BBS.  In other words, the SFDFC database
should be created to include files which are downloadable from each of the 
SPITFIRE File Areas, as well as files stored on CD Rom discs and/or tape 
drives.

   When creating the database of available files several command line
options are available.  Using the MAKEFILE parameter, SFDFC will read
SPITFIRE's SFFAREA.DAT and add all files listed in each File Area's
SFFILES.BBS to the database.  Using the ADDLIST parameter, SFDFC will
read a specified file list (such as a CD Rom file listing) and add
each file name contained in the list to the database.  The later
option, is especially convenient as a Sysop adds new CD Rom discs
to the BBS.

   Sysops may also use the command line parameter CHECKDUPE which
will test for duplicate files while building the database.  If this
is done, SFDFC will create a text file, DUPES.TXT, listing any
duplicates found while creating the database.  Sysops can then use
this text file as a guide for locating files on their BBS which are
duplicates of files stored on CD Rom discs.  With this information,
the Sysop can then erase the duplicates from their hard drive,
freeing precious disk space.

   It should be noted the CHECKDUPE is an optional parameter and may
require some time to do the required duplicate checking.  But it is
also important to note that the CHECKDUPE option should in most
instances only need to be performed once.

   Once the database is created, SFDFC can then be used with SFCHKUP
to verify whether or not a caller's uploads duplicate files which
already exists on the BBS.  Whether a Sysop uses SFDFC with SFCHKUP
to test for duplicate files will most likely depend on the structure
of his/her BBS.  Sysops with multiple CD-Rom discs online might find
SFDFC's file checking preferable to SPITFIRE's internal file checking
due to the time required to read through many large CD Rom file
lists.  With SFDFC, the file checking occurs after the caller has
uploaded the file and logged off the BBS, eliminating the need to
scan each of the file areas/lists prior to allowing the upload.

   SFDFC should be used in conjunction with Buffalo Creek Software's
SFCHKUP to check a caller's upload for duplication.  SFDFC returns an
errorlevel to indicate whether the upload is a duplicate of an
existing file.  Depending on the errorlevel returned, commands within
CHECKUP.BAT can handle the file processing.  If SFDFC determines the
file is a duplicate, the CHECKUP.BAT commands simply erase the
uploaded file and the caller's credit for the upload is removed.  If
SFDFC determines the file is not a duplicate, processing is continued
and the ADDFILE command line parameter is used to add the uploaded
file to SFDFC's database.  Sample commands for CHECKUP.BAT are
included in the SFDFC documentation.

   SFDFC is written by SPITFIRE Sysop, Richard Lemaster.  SFDFC has
been released as freeware.   Sysops are encouraged to leave comments,
suggestions, or problems encountered while running SFDFC to Richard 
on his BBS, Over The Line BBS, at (918) 250-0542 or in the Fidonet 
SPITFIRE conference.


͸ 
 SPITFIRE UTILITY REVIEW - SFNOTICE 
;

   If you find it difficult creating .BBS/.CLR display files,
SFNOTICE could very well be just the SPITFIRE utility you need!  It
makes creating a display screen so simple even those very adapt at
using the screen generating programs will find a use for this
program!  If you can type in the text of the message you wish to
convey to your BBS callers, you can create a SPITFIRE display file
with SFNOTICE!

   Configuration options of SFNOTICE allow the Sysop to specify the
colors that will be used in creating the screen.  In addition, the
Sysop defines whether to clear the screen before the bulletin is
displayed, the border colors, the text color and the background color
of the display file.  When the screen is completed, the Sysop name
and BBS name entered in the configuration file is displayed on the
screen, along with the date and time SFNOTICE created the screen.

   SFNOTICE will create any SPITFIRE display file in ANSI and ASCII
format.  A menu option appears that allows you to select the screen
to be created.  If the display file is not listed, an option is
included that allows you to enter the file name of the screen.  No
extension is needed, as SFNOTICE automatically creates a .BBS/.CLR
screen and places them in the drive/directory you have configured as
your display file path in SPITFIRE.

   After selecting the display file to be made, SFNOTICE next allows
you to select the type of border (or no border, if preferred) that
will used for the screen.  SFNOTICE also, will prompt you as to
whether the screen being created should be 3 dimensional and whether
the Ascii screen should be a text only screen.

   SFNOTICE, at the time of this writing, is still being beta tested.
However, is is a wide beta test, which means that is available to
anyone who wishes to give it a try and available on Buffalo Creek's
BBS and the author's BBS at 605-353-1309.  SFNOTICE is the first
SPITFIRE utility by author, Colin Royal.  Hopefully, this will be
only one of many!

   As previously mentioned, configuration and use of SFNOTICE is
extremely easy.  Registration is also easy, a meager $3.


  
͸
 SPITFIRE DOOR REVIEW - YANKEES AND REDNECKS 
;

  Slam a key!  Slam your head on another key!  Are you a yella-bellied
Yankee or a no-good Redneck?  Thus begins a fun, new door game authored
by SPITFIRE's own David Koons.  Yankees and Rednecks is a role-playing
game sparked by wicked wit.  It is almost a parody of other role-playing
games.  Armor includes bad breath and weapons include spit!

  From a Sysops perspective, YankRed is relatively easy to install and
the docs are detailed and delightful.  Yes, contrary to popular myth, 
Sysops DO read docs!  The author support is absolutely fantastic!! I
chanced upon this door in its early days and experienced some problems.
David IMMEDIATELY responded to my questioning message and even uploaded
a revised .EXE file to my board!!  The door has stayed stable and popular
on my BBS.

  From a Callers perspective, Yankees and Rednecks is just plain fun.  The
graphics are crisp and clear.  The menus are extremely user-friendly. 
The "correct" command flashes.  Callers don't need to read any instructions
to be able to play this game.  Contrary to popular myth, callers do NOT read
instructions!  There are so many things to do in YankRed.  There is a 
lottery at the beginning which is easily won.  Blackjack is available in
the Sports Lounge.  It is not so easily won.  Naturally, there is plenty
of opportunity to steal and kill.  Yankees and Rednecks has all the options
traditionally associated with role-playing games plus much, much more!

  The latest version of Yankees and Rednecks is YANK104.ZIP.  The shareware
version is not crippled and registration is $20.  I understand that David
now accepts online credit card registration.  David Koons is available on
SFNET (Node ID A09910004) to answer any questions and does so promptly and 
cheerfully!  He may also be reached at The PigPen BBS, 910-487-0363.

Article contributed by Della Moore
Moore Fun BBS - (417) 886-4051


͸
 SPITFIRE BOARD-OF-THE-MONTH 
;
Gamer's Paradise BBS                          SFNET HUB A0605000
Huron, South Dakota                           605-353-1309 14,400 Baud
Colin Royal, Sysop

    Today I got a call from Mike Woltz and the answering machine grabbed
it since I was out of town. He sounded as if it was quite important by
the way he worded the message. When I got in, I immediately started the
redial process and got through and was informed the Gamer's Paradise was
selected as the Board of the Month for December 1994. This was indeed
important and I take it as a great honor. Thank you Mike and your team
for the award!

    Gamer's Paradise started out August 1, 1989 as the Eight Ball BBS. A
place to call and have fun some place that was different. The first
computer was an Acer 8088 with a 40 meg hard drive and a 1200 Baud modem
and running a copy of SpitFire 2.7 Shareware. With the help of Tim
Maloney of Blue Foxx BBS I got the Eight Ball up and running and shortly
there after I graduated to a 2400 Baud modem. The name changed several
times and the format changed from having fun to messages to adult
orientation to graphics and back to the current format of having fun
with games and messages. Now, Gamer's Paradise BBS is run on an old 20
MHz ICT 286 AT with 170 megs of drive space and a 14,400 baud modem
supporting SFNET and under eight doors using Spit Fire's menu extension
program, there are 115+ doors fully operational. Talk about interesting!
And as usual, I am always looking for more to load.

    In the near future I plan to upgrade to a state of the moment system
and will continue to strive to be the best BBS in Huron, South Dakota. I
had a local computer store owner and enthusiast comment me on the speed
of the BBS. He said out of the three full time boards at that time, mine
was the smoothest and fastest of them all. This is quite a thing since
the other two are 486/33s running OS/2. I'll be saddened when the time
comes to retire the old 286. She has treated me well, and just keeps on
plugging at it.

    As the HUB for the 605 area code, I only have 3 nodes who poll me
for SFNET, and only a total of 53 callers and gaining slow but sure. By
far a small operation, but it's fun and I wouldn't have it any other
way. I also offer my assistance with computer setup, hardware
installation, software installation, setup and tutoring where I can at
no cost to the individual. Also I am working up a system where I carry
other BBS file listings for download and splitting the cost of getting
the files with my callers. Also while flipping through the messages, I
try to give help where I can or point the person to someone who can
help. I guess, to me, the true meaning of a sysop is one who will give
full support to their callers and this is what I strive to do at all
times.

    The original reason for starting a BBS was to help me get through a
tough divorce by taking my mind away from it for a few hours a day. It
didn't take long to get hooked and with a serial number of SF350330, I
have been around a while. I run this board as a hobby and I also play
with software writing a bit. Gamer's Paradise and SFNET are second only
to my family, who have put up with a lot of "dad's hooked to the
keyboard". I come in from work and get down to the business of reading
the SPITFIRE 3rd Party Programs and the General Religion conferences,
which I moderate. Then it's off to the programming after the messages
until wee hours many times.

    Recently, I have been trying my hand at writing a utility for SF. I
decided to try something simple or so I thought. SF Notice is growing
far beyond what I originally intended, to be a simple notice writer for
sysops to send a quick note to the caller(s). Currently released for
wide beta testing, I would say it's about 25% completed. It's amazing
how much things get to growing when you start thinking.

    I will admit, I have played with other BBS softwares and have found
only one to be easy to operate and maintain, SPITFIRE. I thank Mike for
a great software and the fantastic support he delivers. There have been
a few times where I have bungled and called him for assistance and it
was being stared right in the face. I also wish to thank Tim Maloney and
my family for the support and guidance they have given me through the
years. Many fine folks have become friends through the BBS community and
I wish to thank them for their support in the SFNET conferences.

    As a final note, I am proud to be chosen as the SPITFIRE Board Of
The Month. This is a great honor and I will continue to support SPITFIRE
through its and my life time. Thank you all and...


    Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones!

Colin Royal, Sysop, Gamer's Paradise BBS



͸
 SPITFIRE SYSOP-OF-THE-MONTH 
;        

        Thanks Mike for making me the Sysop of the month...

   I don't know how to start, so I guess I'll just jump in.  My name
is Dieter Awiszus, and I run Excalibur.  I ran several other BBS
packages before I found SPITFIRE BBS.  The Sysop who is responsible
for me switching to SPITFIRE is a gentleman named Jim Prohs, who used
to run a SPITFIRE BBS in Nebraska.  When I logged on to that BBS I was
hooked... Jim had one good looking BBS, top notch all the way.  (You
old timers that ran your BBS's on steam power remember him don't
you...)

   I asked my wife Diana what I should say about my self.  She said I
should mention that I am a computer fanatic, and that I should
mention that I have a lovely and understanding wife who never
complains about my HUGE phone bills. <GRIN she is standing right
behind me as I type this...>  Diana and I have been married 20 years,
and we have two teenagers, Adam and Kathy.  I work for a major gas
gathering company.  I buy the natural gas from the oil companies, and
start the process of getting that natural gas to your house, so you
can stay warm at night, and blame me when you get your natural gas
utility bill.

   I asked my callers what I should say about myself, and one of my
kind, female callers said that I should say that I am 6 ft. 6 in. tall
with long blond hair and blue eyes, and the body of a Greek God.  Well,
I do have long blond hair, and I do have blue eyes, but I am only 6
ft. 1 in. tall.

   Another caller mentioned that I should tell you about my
experience with the local Newspapers.  Well after all the bad press
about bulletin boards, I ended up with a reporter logging on as a
caller of my system, (this fella also is a stringer for a large
newspaper so I was sweating bullets) and he wanted to do a story on
me.  Well I was reluctant, but concerned that he would do the story
anyway so I granted him an interview, under the condition that it
would be with a group of local Sysops, not just me.  He agreed.  I got
with 5 or 6 of the other Sysops in town, we had a great session with
the reporter and when the story came out it was all positive!  I even
got to get my picture in the paper.

   Running a bulletin board system has been an experience that I do
enjoy.  I am a member of our local community's computer users club.
I try to help out members and guests with questions that I might be
able to answer, at the meetings and on my BBS through local network
echo areas.  I also post the next computer club meeting date through
my BBS using one of my logon screens and in turn the BBS club posts
my BBS phone number in their monthly newsletter, and I get new
callers from that newsletter.

   As for my ideas on running a BBS, well I try to treat the caller
right!  I try to run a BBS that works well, is quick and doesn't try
to dazzle you with submenus that can get a new BBS caller lost.  I
started my BBS because I did not like what was available to me as a
BBS caller, and I knew I could do better... I'm running SPITFIRE.

   As for Excalibur, well, it has been on 5 or 6 different computers,
starting out with an 8088 a tiny 40 Meg hard drive and a 2400 baud
modem.  Currently I am running a DX-50 with 8 or 9 CD-Roms on line
and available for d/l to my contributing callers.  I run all of my
door games through Wildfire, I am a Fido system, and recently joined
SFNET, to offer my callers something not available elsewhere here in
town.

   This part of my message is a little different and I hope you other
SPITFIRE Sysops take time to read it.  When I found out I had votes
nominating my BBS for competition in the Board Watch 100, I was so
proud of my callers that did this, and it was rather humbling.  I also
knew realistically that because I was in such a small area of callers
that I had no chance of making any shot at that list.  I ask you as
SPITFIRE Sysops that if you really think that Mike Woltz's SPITFIRE
software is a good BBS package that you get a copy of a Board Watch
voting ballot this summer 95 and cast your vote to Buffalo Creek BBS.
I know you all call it...  so you are eligible to vote for it and I
think it would be the greatest gift from all of us Sysops to Mike
Woltz that he can't buy for him self at any cost...

   Maybe a few of you other sysops can take the ball on this and make
some blank voting ballots available to other sysops this summer, and
maybe mention my idea on the other NETs that I don't participate
in...

   I would love to see a SPITFIRE BBS voted as the #1 bulletin board
system in the world... Buffalo Creek has the callers...  with 3 or 4
thousand votes all going in on one BBS we could do it...

thanks,
             |\     /|
             | ``''' |
             \(O) (O)/             Have a good day...
           __  \   /  __          from Dieter Awiszus
        --oooO--(_)--Oooo--  SPITFIRE's most dangerous Sysop

        Excalibur 307-682-3209 SFNET A0307000 FIDO 1:316/18
  

͸
  NEWLY REGISTERED SPITFIRE SYSTEMS 
;

   A hearty welcome is extended to the following, who have
recently become public registered SPITFIRE Bulletin Board Systems:

Rob's Place...................................705-497-3028...14400 BPS
Rob Allen, Sysop............................North Bay, Ontario, Canada

The Hang Out BBS..............................402-293-0625...14400 BPS
Timothy Millea, Sysop...............................Bellevue, Nebraska

Kerygma system................................813-366-6713...14400 BPS
Robert G. Vance, Sysop...............................Sarasota, Florida

Timberlane....................................504-732-3475...14400 BPS
Chad Adams, Sysop..................................Bogalusa, Louisiana

Gate Way to Success BBS.......................314-456-3582...38400 BPS
Donald Schramm, Sysop..............................Warrenton, Missouri

The SysOp's HangOut...........................409-945-5909...14400 BPS
Mervin Cockerham, Sysop..............................Texas City, Texas

Strong Tower..................................816-454-2099....2400 BPS
KCCRC, Sysop.....................................Kansas City, Missouri

Puget Systems BBS.............................305-484-3356...14400 BPS
Roger Stegman, Sysop..................................Sunrose, Florida

Viper's Kingdom...............................907-457-5019....2400 BPS
Melic Gregersen, Sysop...............................Fairbanks, Alaska

Q.C.C. B.B.S..................................708-485-9039...14400 BPS
Steve Bross, Sysop................................Brookfield, Illinois

Erotica BBS...................................908-866-4118...28800 BPS
Steven Blaier, Sysop..............................Freehold, New Jersey

Crystal Dream.................................704-285-0050...14400 BPS
Richard Wallace, Sysop.......................Asheville, North Carolina

Entropy, Chaos & Magic........................414-679-2460...14400 BPS
Dave Bloomfield, Sysop..............................Muskego, Wisconsin

Thunder Dome..................................803-972-2881...14400 BPS
Chad Shipman, Sysop..........................Townville, South Carolina

The Outpost BBS...............................417-725-8361...14400 BPS
Bill Fleming, Sysop.....................................Nixa, Missouri

DOS Dungeon...................................419-562-8243...28800 BPS
Mike Adams, Sysop........................................Bucyrus, Ohio

The Home of Fluid Power.......................716-759-8641....9600 BPS
Hughes Industrial Products Inc., Sysop..............Clarence, New York


     In addition, there was 4 new private SPITFIRE BBS Systems
registered.  The private SPITFIRE BBS was registered to Sysops in
Wooster, Ohio; Boise, Idaho; Snohomish, Washington; and Warrenton,
Oregon.

     There were 12 registrations for whom registration information
was incomplete.  These included BBS's in: Hurst, Texas; Tyler, Texas;
Berwyn, Illinois; Kincardine, Ontario, Canada; Hartford, Connecticut;
Benbrook, Texas; Des Moines, Iowa; Wabush, Newfoundland, Canada;
Santa Rosa, California; Petaluma, California; Little Rock, Arkansas;
and South Boston, Massachusetts.

     The increase in registrations where information is incomplete is
largely due to Buffalo Creek's Software's policy of accepting on-line
Mastercard and Visa credit card registrations.


     JUST A REMINDER...the newsletter is always looking for
contributions!  Please forward any articles in ASCII text to either
Buffalo Creek's BBS or The Mother Board BBS.

