        ͻ
                                                    Ŀ
              K E E P I N G   I N   T O U C H        
                      
            SPITFIRE Monthly Support Newsletter      
              for registered SPITFIRE Sysops!        
                        June 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 - 2400 Bps
         Newly Registered SPITFIRE BBS List by Ann Woltz
                  Other Contributions As Noted


ͻ
    Notes from the author of SPITFIRE!   Ŀ
ͼ 
  

͸
 SPITFIRE v3.5 REPORT 
;

   SPITFIRE v3.5 is basically completed.  We are now waiting for the
completion of the SPITFIRE v3.5 manuals.  While waiting on the
manuals, some of the beta test folks are making their reports thus
providing the information needed to clean up the code.  Hopefully
we will get a good, clean copy of SPITFIRE released.  We need to now
decide how we are going to distribute SPITFIRE v3.5 (upgrades) and
then get the upgrade notices in the mail.


͸
 SPITFIRE UNIQUE MAIL NETWORK BEING ESTABLISHED 
;

   For whatever reason there has been a strong outcry for a SPITFIRE
unique mail network.  A number of SPITFIRE Sysops (including myself -
smiling) have decided to attempt to create such a network in the hope
of establishing a network which will serve a positive, useful and
constructive role in the SPITFIRE project.  Thus, please welcome
SFNET.

   Inasmuch as I have a somewhat strong dislike for the content of
messages and the negative attitudes displayed in some networks, I am
kind of excited about SFNET.  I am hopeful that SFNET can be operated
in a manner which will promote a healthy, positive attitude rather
than the negative posture of other networks which I have witnessed.
In fact, I am hopeful that I can serve as the SFNET SPITFIRE Support
Conference moderator (I am not sure at this point as to whether that
is the correct title).

   David Pierron has been appointed to temporarily serve as SFNET's
International Hub.  David has agree to accept this position and
hopefully the position will become permanent.

   Matt Blythe has been appointed to temporarily chair the SFNET's
Regulations Committee.  It is the responsibility of this committee to
decide and publish the manner in which SFNET is going to operate.
For example, this committee will decide what procedures will be
followed for the addition of a new conference within SFNET.  The
committee will also decide things such as how conference hosts are
selected and what the responsibilities of such conference hosts are.
Matt has assured me that it is his intention to create the SFNET
regulations in a manner to utilize democratic procedures when it is
possible and feasible to do so rather than the utilization of a
dictatorial management of SFNET.

   There will be an AreaCodeHub for each area code participating in
SFNET.  The AreaCodeHub will exchange mail with the International
Hub.  The EndNodes will exchange mail with the AreaCodeHub.

   We are currently looking for boards to serve as AreaCodeHubs.  We
are going to attempt to begin selection in deciding who will serve as
each AreaCodeHub.  We don't want to select someone who doesn't operate
a dependable board.  Additionally, we want only Sysops who are
faithful, loyal and dedicated to the SPITFIRE project.  Do you
qualify? (smiling)  In the event you are interested and qualified,
then please let us know.

   Hopefully, the top-shelf SPITFIRE Sysops will join with us to make
this effort a success.  I believe the establishment of this network
will be beneficial to the SPITFIRE project.  In the event I didn't
think so, I wouldn't be participating.

   I am looking forward to working with you in SFNET.


͸
 SPITFIRE SURVEY PLANNED 
;

   I am planning to include a survey on the back side of the SPITFIRE
v3.5 Upgrade Request & Order Form.  The purpose of this survey will
be to acquire information which will aid in deciding future
features/additions will benefit the majority of SPITFIRE Sysops.  In
other words, it would be silly add a 'group node chat' feature to
SPITFIRE if only 5% of the SPITFIRE Sysops operate more than 2
nodes.  I hope that you understand what I am trying to explain.
I trust that you will participate in this survey when you return
your SPITFIRE v3.5 Upgrade Request & Order Form.
   
                         Until next time, may God bless you...
                         Mike, Ann & family

                         [ John 3:3 ]ͻ
                           Jesus answered, and said unto  Ŀ
                           him, Verily, verily, I say      
                           unto thee, Except a man be      
                           born again, he cannot see the   
                           kingdom of God.                 
                         ͼ 
                           


͸
 MORE UPDATES TO SPITFIRE V3.5 
;

   In order to try and keep SPITFIRE Sysops as informed as possible
on the continuing development of SPITFIRE v3.5, listed below are all
the changes which have occurred since May 1.


FILE AREA ENHANCEMENTS


   SPITFIRE is now capable of supporting extended download drives and
paths for each File Area.  The primary function of the extended 
download directories feature is to provide additional CD Rom support,
although, the extended download directories do not have to be located
on a CD Rom.  A file FA<x>.TXT (where <x> represents the number of
the File Area) can be used to include any additional drives/paths
where files can be downloaded from for this File Area.  FA<x>.TXT is
a simple ASCII text file which lists, one drive/path per line, the
extended download directories for this File Area.  The number of
extended download directories which can be listed in the FA<x>.TXT
file is somewhat unlimited.  After creating the FA<x>.TXT file, it
must be placed in the SPITFIRE home directory.

   As an example, suppose File Area #8 is the BBS Games File Area.  In
addition, to the primary download directory which is configured at
the File Area record, a FA8.TXT in the SPITFIRE home directory might
contain:
 
F:\GAMES\
G:\NEWGAMES\
C:\MYGAMES\
 
as extended download drives and directories where Game files are
stored.  Previously, using the above example, SPITFIRE would have had
to have four separate File Areas, each configured with its own
download directory.  However, using the extended download directory
feature, the common files can be placed in a single File Area and
downloaded from either the primary or the extended download paths
contained in FA<x>.TXT.

  To explain how it works, when a caller logs on and initiates a 
download (or attempts to read or view a file), SPITFIRE will first
look in the configured download path of the current File Area.  If
the file is not found, SPITFIRE will then check for the appropriate
FA<x>.TXT in the SPITFIRE home directory and search any extended
download paths for the file.  If SPITFIRE is still unable to locate
the file, it will then begin searching the other File Areas and
their associated FA<x>.TXT's extended download directories, where 
appropriate, until the file is found or all File Areas have been
searched.

  The file listing (SFFILES.BBS for File Areas not configured as a CD
Rom File Area or SFFILES.<x> for File Areas configured as a CD Rom
File Area) for any File Area using the extended download directories,
must include the file names and descriptions for all files in the
multiple download directories.

   It should be noted that if the File Area is not configured as a
CD Rom File Area, and the FA<x>.TXT includes an extended download
directory from a CD Rom, when the CD Rom files are download they will
be transferred directly from the CD Rom.  SPITFIRE will only copy
files from the CD Rom if the File Area is configured as a CD Rom File
Area.   There is on more important thing to know about this feature.
When the File Area being searched is toggled as a CD-Rom File Area
and when the search SFFILES switch is turned on (rather than
searching drive), then the file MUST be listed in SFFILES or SPITFIRE
will not find the file.

   The ZModem transfer protocol is now internal within SPITFIRE for
both uploading and downloading.  In addition, ZModem can now be selected
by the caller as their default transfer protocol.

   The status box for file transfers which displays on the local monitor
and allows the Sysop to monitor the progress of the file transfer has
been modified.  The status box now reports the following information:
the transfer protocol being used, the name of the file being transferred,
the total bytes to be transferred, bytes which have been sent, consecutive
errors, total errors, bytes remaining to be sent, a linear graph which 
shows the progress of the transfer, and a last message field which
SPITFIRE uses to calculate the characters per second of the transfer
when no other messages are being sent.


MESSAGE AREA MODIFICATIONS


   SPITFIRE now resets the caller's last read message pointers when
<B>rowsing messages.


GENERAL SPITFIRE UPDATES


   SPITFIRE will now record Caller ID information in the CALLERS.LOG.
Before SPITFIRE can record the Caller ID information, certain criteria
must be met.  First, the phone line and the modem must support Caller ID
and second, the modem must be configured to report the Caller ID 
information.  If the modem reports a valid phone number, SPITFIRE
will record the reported phone number in the CALLERS.LOG.

   The NUCALLER.ZIP feature which was reported in the May newsletter,
has been changed to NUCALLER.*.  Therefore, any file named NUCALLER,
regardless of the extension, can be used for sending information to
the new caller.  However, it should be noted, that if more than one
NUCALLER.* exists in the first File Area, SPITFIRE will send the
first NUCALLER.* it encounters.

   The F5 status window now reports the number of new callers for the
day.
   
   The control character codes which SPITFIRE uses for ASCII (.BBS)
and ANSI (.CLR) display files can now also be used with RIP display
files.  It should be noted that the ^P will not display the pause
prompt to the local monitor but rather the ^P only displays to the
remote caller.  This is mentioned so Sysops won't be alarmed when the
display is not interrupted on the local monitor.

   Modifications have been made to the expanded Subscription features
developed in v3.5.  SPITFIRE now uses the Questionnaire/Order files
to automatically update a caller's subscription date.  When the first
character in a questionnaire is a dollar sign ($), SPITFIRE tests
to see if the line is over 2 characters long and whether the last
character in the line is also a dollar sign ($).  When those 2 tests are
passed, then SPITFIRE tests the value between the 2 dollar signs.  In
the event that value is between 1 and 32767 then SPITFIRE sets the
caller's subscription date to the number of days which is represented
by the value between the dollar signs.  For example, to grant a 30 day 
subscription then include the line:

$30$

in your questionnaire file.  When SPITFIRE encounters the $30$ line,
the caller's subscription date is updated by 30 days.


͸
 SPITFIRE MESSAGE NETWORK BEING CONTEMPLATED 
;

   It has recently come to the attention of Buffalo Creek Software
and others that there are a significant number of SPITFIRE Sysops who
are in search of a message network operated solely by SPITFIRE
Sysops.  Thus, the conception of a new message network for SPITFIRE
is currently being contemplated.  The establishment of a mail network
which works in an efficient and cooperative manner requires a
tremendous amount of planning.  Such planning and development will
progress smoothly with the input of an appropriate number of
participants.  Therefore, we are looking for SPITFIRE Sysops who have
leadership ability and who would be willing to become involved in the
development of such a network.  Therefore, in the event, you want to
get in on the ground floor, please contact Mike Woltz, David Pierron
or Matt Blythe.  Together, guidelines can be established which will be
beneficial to all participants.

   Please respond to Mike via Buffalo Creek Software's BBS.  David
can be reached TOLL FREE voice at 1-800-51-KELLY, and by BBS at
215-331-2590.  Matt Blythe can be contacted via his BBS at 317-257-9295.
Please provide your BBS name and number along with your voice number.

Article Contributed by David Pierron
Wombat's Wagon - (215) 331-2590


͸
 SPITFIRE UTILITY - SFRMENU 
;
 
   SFRipMenu is a utility which provides some very nice RIP Menus for
the SPITFIRE BBS.  If you haven't quite mastered the artistry of the
Remote Imaging Protocol or simply prefer to rely on the talents of
others, you should consider SFRMENU.

  The MAIN.RIP, MSG.RIP and FILE.RIP Menus distributed with SFRMENU
include all the available options from each menu, with the exception
of the Sysop Utilities option.  These default menus can be copied to
the various security levels which the Sysop has available on the BBS
(for instance, MAIN10.RIP) and edited so that only the appropriate
options are available for each security level.  For the Sysop,
SFRMENU offers a MAIN999.RIP, MSG999.RIP, FILE999.RIP and SOP999.RIP
which includes the Sysop Utilities option, as well.  In addition, to
the above menus, SFRMENU also provides SFBATCHU.RIP and SFBATCHD.RIP
Menu screens.

   Undoubtedly, the most outstanding feature of the SFRipMenus is the
icons which are to be used with the menus.  The icons reflect great
creativity and artistry by the author.  Each menu feature has it's
own mouseable icon and it is these icons which truly makes these
menus so attractive!  The icons come in a archived file, SFIICON.ZIP,
which can be made available for download to the BBS callers.  SFRMENU
presents a unique concept, which has been copyrighted, of naming the
menu icons with a SFI (SPITFIRE Icons) extension so that callers
won't confuse these with icons downloaded from or for other boards.
  
  SFRipMENU is shareware from 21 Jewel Software.  The menus are
created by SPITFIRE Sysop, Lonnie Odom and can be registered for $5,
a minimal fee when you consider the time involved in creating the
menus and icons.  When registered, 21 Jewel Software allows the
shareware statement to be removed from the SFRipMENUs and allows the
.SFI icons to be used in other RIP screens created by you.


͸
 SPITFIRE BOARD-OF-THE-MONTH 
;


                          Captain Hooks BBS!
                          John Greenlow, Sysop
                              908-905-9066
                          Lakewood, New Jersey


   Captain Hooks BBS! started online in April of 1992, this endeavor
started 1 Year after purchasing my first PC/CLONE.  A 286/12/mhz
Blistering machine loaded with 1 meg of RAM "More Than Anyone Would
Ever Need" <G>!  I originally Purchased this PC to assist in my
business of Heating Air Conditioning & Refrigeration.  It's main
purpose was to be no more than to keep Inventory, Perform Customer
Invoicing, and keep me honest with Uncle Sam.
 
   I must tell you all though it became an obsession to understand
the how and why this thing called a PC worked. There were nights in the
beginning that seemed like 5 Minutes had gone by, but to look over at
the window and see the sun shining in telling me I missed another
night of sleep and it was time to go to work.  Once I seemed to have
mastered DOS and was able to get this machine to listen to me it
raised more questions on my behalf.  Shortly after that I got on a
hardware kick, I couldn't make enough money to fill the requirements
I wanted at that time, so I embarked on building my first PC from
hardware purchased by mail order.  I used an IBM/XT chassis as the
framework for this adventure.  I was amazed how easy it was to throw
this 386/DX PC together from a mass of parts and saving at that time
almost 1000.00 dollars.  WOW now I was really HOOKED!  Shortly after I
started to adventure out in the Electronic world of communication, I
purchased my first ultra fast 2400/MNP modem <G> and found out there
was another entirely different world out there.  "MAN WILL THIS EVER
END I SAID!"

   After logging on to many different BBS systems and floundering
around through archaic commands and almost needing to download a
manual for many of them just to find a file, I logged on to my first
"SPITFIRE BBS System".  "MAN THIS BBS JUST MADE PLAIN COMMON SENSE!"
I continued to call this BBS Named "Raven's Crest BBS" even though it
was a toll call for me.  I was able to chat with a Sysop named: Jim
Poulos and ask a few questions on how I could obtain the BBS
software.  Jim told me he had a shareware version for download online
and queued the files for me. I must say to all out there this
software was not only easy on the callers end to operate, but even on
the Sysop end it just made "PLAIN COMMON SENSE!".  My SPITFIRE BBS was
online the next day with a whopping 10 meg of downloads available.
Within the first week I knew that this software and I thought alot
alike, the commands in it's operation and the overall concept of the
software were as at home to me as the DOS commands that took many
months of sleepless nights to gain friendship with.

   My system now runs under Windows for work groups 3.11 and have a
second node using the same as the network LAN.  SPITFIRE still
performs flawlessly for my now 640+ loyal callers even under this
Windows environment.  I now have 4.5 gig of hard drive space with 2.7
gig online for download.  Man if I only new what I was getting into
with that purchase of that first PC!
 
   I must say there has not been a better hobby that I have ever been
involved with and I OWE all of my enjoyment of this, to <Mike Woltz>
for having the intellect, knowledge and PLAIN COMMON SENSE to design
a BBS system that not only is user friendly, but also to the system
operator!

Thanks Mike!  From one loyal SPITFIRE Sysop: John Greenlow


͸
 SYSOP-OF-THE-MONTH 
;        

                              Tom C. Blalock
                     The BOSS Board *** Austin, Texas
                              (512) 219-5030
                   FidoNet 1:382/115  SurvNet 9:2400/13 
                  TacoNet 31:1000/5  EchoNet 50:5512/115  
            SFireNet 85:249/1  InterNet: tblalock@infomail.com

   Greetings SPITFIRE Sysops!  I'm honored to be the SPITFIRE Sysop
of the Month.  I'd like to Thank Mike Woltz and all those SPITFIRE
Sysops that helped me along the way.

   I got started running a SPITFIRE BBS back in October 1989.  I was
Lucky enough to have a Great SPITFIRE Sysop in my area.  This
SPITFIRE Sysop, Mike Johnson, was running a BBS named West SA BBS and
was the first Registered SPITFIRE BBS in San Antonio.  He was also
one of the first to get SPITFIRE working with FidoNet Echomail.  Back
in those days we ran QuickBBS as door to access the FidoNet Echomail
areas.  Back in the early days you really had to have a creative
setup to get FidoNet to work with SPITFIRE.

   Then one day my training wheels came off when Mike Johnson asked
me if I would continue the SPITFIRE Tradition in San Antonio by
taking over his BBS.  Mike took another job and had to move.  I was
proud to take over the operations of his BBS.  I recall his last
visit to my house.  He was going over the FidoNet setup with me and
telling me about getting the SF Echo which turned out to be the
Science Fiction Echo instead of the SPITFIRE Echo as he had first
thought.  Mike told me how one day he hoped that FidoNet would have a
SPITFIRE BBS Support Echo like other BBS packages had.

   After running Mike's BBS for awhile I decided I better get
registered and jump in with both feet.  In August 1991 I moved to New
Mexico where I setup The BOSS Board. BOSS is an acronym for Blalock
Operating System Support.  Always looking for the optimum
SPITFIRE/FidoNet setup I started messing around with different
SPITFIRE Utilities and the new Enhancements to SPITFIRE.  I figured
out how to route FidoNet EchoMail and decided to get SPITFIRE in
FidoNet.

   I scanned the FidoNet nodelist for all the known SPITFIRE Sysops
and started sending out NetMail to find out which ones were
interested.  To my amazement all the SPITFIRE Sysops I found wanted
to get one going as much as I did.  After about 4 months of Long
Distance Charges we had enough SPITFIRE Sysops around the USA to get
the SPITFIRE Echo on FidoNet's Backbone.  FidoNet's SPITFIRE Support
Echo receives well over 100 messages a week and is still going
strong.

   When I first got things going I knew that an important part of
making all of it work was to have a list of the FidoNet/SPITFIRE
Systems.  I called this list of SPITFIRE Support Systems: The SPITFIRE
Pioneer Team Member List.

  Recently I was requested to change the name of the list so it
wouldn't be confused with A SPITFIRE Pioneer, those first 10% of
Registered SPITFIRE Systems.  I changed the name of the list to: The
Global SPITFIRE Team List.  This list will be published monthly from
now on.  The name of the file is GSFT9406.ZIP.   I hope you all will
get a copy, read through it and get your system on The Global
SPITFIRE Team List.

   There is alot of excellent Shareware/Freeware programs available
to get your SPITFIRE BBS running smoothly with FidoNet Style
Communication Networks.  Getting the Support you need to get it all
going has never been better.  There are alot of "Top Shelf" SPITFIRE
Sysops that will help you get started.  Just check out the latest
version of The Global SPITFIRE Team List for more information on
getting your SPITFIRE BBS FidoNet Compatible.

   The Goal of our Team is to have all the Registered SPITFIRE BBS
Systems linked into a FidoNet Compatible Global Support Network.  I
hope I can count on each and every one of you to help us attain this
Goal for our SPITFIRE Family and make SPITFIRE BBS the new force in
Network Communications.

See you in the Echo's!  tcb


͸
  NEWLY REGISTERED SPITFIRE SYSTEMS 
;

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

Concord Raider BBS............................302-529-3098...14400 BPS
Concord High School, Sysop........................Wilmington, Delaware

Sunset Ridge..................................708-636-0791...14400 BPS
Terri Larsen, Sysop.................................Oak Lawn, Illinois

More Byte BBS.................................603-445-2153...14400 BPS
Russell Pope, Sysop..........................Charleston, New Hampshire

Realm of the Lone Wolf BBS....................402-465-4312....9600 BPS
Travis Velder, Sysop.................................Lincoln, Nebraska

The Cage......................................708-739-5169...19200 BPS
Rob Harris, Sysop...............................Bolingsbrook, Illinois

~In The Wind!.................................201-646-0227...21600 BPS
Bill McGarrity, Sysop...........................Hackensack, New Jersey

The Burbs BBS.................................708-519-1699...14400 BPS
Greg Longfield, Sysop........................Hoffman Estates, Illinois

Wapello's Only Little BBS.....................319-523-4309....2400 BPS
Neil Toland, Sysop.......................................Wapello, Iowa

Swords & Sorcery..............................401-783-6709....2400 BPS
Stephen Lamphiere, Sysop....................Narragansett, Rhode Island

The Labyrinth BBS.............................919-758-8395...14400 BPS
Kenton Seay, Sysop..........................Greenville, North Carolina

The Dragon's Lair.............................505-359-1770...14400 BPS
Leslie Peterson, Sysop............................Portales, New Mexico

The Bent Wrench BBS...........................904-542-7702...14400 BPS
Claude Harvard, Sysop................................Old Town, Florida

Alive and Sober BBS...........................317-639-6796...14400 BPS
Robert Schiele, Sysop............................Indianapolis, Indiana

R & R BBS.....................................405-355-2876...19200 BPS
Robert Stein, Sysop...................................Lawton, Oklahoma

Chris and Nancy's Place.......................803-494-2082...28800 BPS
Chris Capps, Sysop..............................Sumter, South Carolina

Tower Online Data Services....................708-980-9283...14400 BPS
Tower Online Data Services, Sysops...............Bloomington, Illinois

Lusty Rusty...................................301-598-2308...14400 BPS
Kevin Robinson, Sysop.........................Silver Springs, Maryland

S.C.B.U.G. BBS................................408-379-3391...14400 BPS
Mickey Quenzer, Sysop...............................Cambol, California

Wizard of Ah's BBS...........................Phone Unknown...14400 BPS
Jim Williams, Sysop................................Logansport, Indiana

The Starlite BBS..............................503-267-5441...14400 BPS
Alan Link, Sysop......................................Coos Bay, Oregon


   In addition, there were 8 new private SPITFIRE BBS Systems
registered.  These private SPITFIRE BBS's included registrations
from: Newburgh, Indiana; Belleville, Ontario, Canada; Berkeley,
California; West Des Moines, Iowa; New York, New York; Horsham,
Pennsylvania; Matamoras, Pennsylvania; and Cleveland, Ohio.

   There were 19 registrations for whom registration information
was incomplete.  These included BBS's in: Crystal Lake, Illinois;
Savannah, Georgia; Ocala, Florida; Lincolnton, Nebraska; Pensacola,
Florida; Seattle, Washington; Ft. Huachuca, Arizona; North Aurora,
Illinois; Omaha, Nebraska; Des Moines, Iowa; San Francisco, California;
Fayetteville, North Carolina; Clarksville, Missouri; Wilmar, Arizona;
Barrington, Illinois; Portage, Indiana; Camden, Arkansas; Grand Centre,
Alberta, Canada; and St. Leonards, NSW, Australia.


   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.

