        ͻ
                                                    Ŀ
              K E E P I N G   I N   T O U C H        
                      
            SPITFIRE Monthly Support Newsletter      
              for registered SPITFIRE Sysops!        
                         May 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 
;

   Well, I have always been opposed to internal Zmodem within
SPITFIRE because it has always seemed a bit foolish to me since DSZ
works so well.  Thus, I have not added Zmodem over the years even
though I have had the code written for a number of years.  I have now
decided to add Zmodem internally within SPITFIRE for 2 reasons.

1) It will save me answering quite a number of messages each year
from those who seem to be unable to or struggle with installing
Zmodem externally.

2) There are those in the BBS community who measure the worth of the
software by whether the software has internal Zmodem.  In fact there
are some software firms who brag about their internal Zmodem.

Anyway, I had to grit my teeth (the few that I have left) when I
started to add Zmodem because I just didn't feel it was worth the
code.  Now that I am nearly finished with it, I am really glad that I
have added it.  It is really kind of nice to watch SPITFIRE send
files via Zmodem.  It seems to work quite nicely.  I am not alone in
this feeling.  I spoke with my good friend Jacque Shipley on the
phone a little bit ago and she voiced my feeling exactly.

So, I guess what I am saying is that I may be have wrong for not
adding internal Zmodem within SPITFIRE before now.  I hope you like
it, I do (smiling).

I am starting to get a little proud of SPITFIRE v3.5.  I have been
able to add a tremendous amount of new and changed features and at
the same time reduce memory requirements.  Currently, it appears that
SPITFIRE v3.5 will require approximately 24K less memory than
SPITFIRE v3.4.


͸
 NEW SPITFIRE MANUALS PLANNED 
;

   We are currently contemplating a new style (more professional)
SPITFIRE manual.  Frankly, I have always liked the style of the
SPITFIRE manual over the years, however, the times they are achangin.
I am not exactly sure how to describe the type of manual which is
being considered.  In the event you have a QMODEM v4.0 manual then
you will know what is being considered.  In the event you know of a
firm that produces this type of booklet, please let us know so we can
obtain some bids.

   I suspect that SPITFIRE v3.5 will be ready to be released before
the manuals are printed and ready for distribution.  Thus, in the
event you have any information regarding getting booklets printed,
please let us know as soon as possible.

   Hopefully, I will be able to get SPITFIRE v3.5 finished and
released in the near future.  Please keep your fingers crossed.
Thanks.


͸
 YOUR SUPPORT IS APPRECIATED 
;

   I recently chatted with a SPITFIRE Sysop (serial #8) who
registered SPITFIRE in 1988 at the registration fee of $65.00.  This
Sysop has continued to operate SPITFIRE (upgrade by upgrade) and he
has never been required to pay Buffalo Creek Software 10 cents beyond
his initial registration fee.  There are many loyal, faithful
SPITFIRE Sysops like the one who I make reference.  In fact, some
paid only a $50.00 registration fee.  When I think about these Sysops
I am reminded of the special relationships which are generated
through the SPITFIRE project.  To George Garvin (serial #8) I say
thank you for the many years you have continued to support the
SPITFIRE project.  And to all loyal SPITFIRE Sysops, I say thank you
for your continued support.
   
                         Until next time, may God bless you...
                         Mike, Ann & family

                         [ Acts 4:12 ]ͻ
                           Neither is there salvation in  Ŀ
                           any other; for there is no      
                           other name under heaven given   
                           among men, whereby we must be   
                           saved.                          
                         ͼ 
                           


͸
 MORE UPDATES TO SPITFIRE V3.5 
;

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


FILE AREA ENHANCEMENTS


   At the time of this writing, Mike Woltz is in the process of
adding ZModem as an internal transfer protocol within SPITFIRE.  In
fact, I have just witnessed SPITFIRE's first internal ZModem download
on my BBS...IMPRESSIVE!!!  (Well, except for maybe all the changes that
will be required to be made to the docs...)

   The YModem-g batch transfer protocol has been added as an internal
protocol in SPITFIRE for uploads.
   
   The Sealink file transfer protocol has been removed from SPITFIRE.

   A change has been made to SPITFIRE's <I>mport A File feature.
Previously the imported file was placed directly into the download
directory of the current File Area.  Now, the file is imported into
the upload directory of the current File Area.  The change allows the
imported file to be subjected to any testing/file handling which the
Sysop may have in place (such as SFCHKUP, adding file comments,
etc.).

   If a caller who is logged on using either ANSI or RIP graphics
performs a text search from the File Section, SPITFIRE now highlights
any matched text which is found.


MESSAGE AREA MODIFICATIONS


   SPITFIRE will now allow a message to be copied within the same
Message Conference.  Previously, SPITFIRE would only allow a message
to be copied to a different Message Conference.

   The <N>onStop Message Capture option has been removed from
SPITFIRE's Message menu.

   Some changes were made to correct circumstances were text might
not be found during a text search initiated from the Message Menu.

   Additional changes have been made to SPITFIRE's <B>rowse message
feature.  The caller now has the capability of replying to the
message being read.


GENERAL SPITFIRE UPDATES


   Even with all the changes, SPITFIRE v3.5 (at current development
stage) uses 24K less memory than that used by SPITFIRE v3.4.

   In regards to the expanded subscription BBS support, SPITFIRE will
now change a caller's subscription data to null at the time the
caller logs on and is notified that his/her subscription has expired.

   SPITFIRE has been modified to mask the callers password when a
caller logs on and when a caller changes his/her password.  The
caller and the Sysop will only see asterisk on the monitor rather
than the characters of the password.  In relation to this change, a
new caller after entering his/her password is prompted to type their
password a second time for verification purposes.

   The SPITFIRE node chat has been greatly improved!  Text from the
node chat is now written and constantly read from the node chat file
so that the node chat appears much like the Sysop page chat.  In
other words, the node chat is a "real time" chat where each character
is displayed as it is typed.  A new option from the ALT+Z
configuration window allows the Sysop to configure the Node Chat
Drive.  This is the letter of the drive where the node chat file is
to be written.  Because SPITFIRE is constantly reading the node chat
file it is highly recommended that a RAM drive be used as the Node
Chat Drive.
   
   A new feature has been added to SPITFIRE.  SPITFIRE will now
automatically flag the file, NUCALLER.ZIP, for any new caller to
download.  This works much like SFSENDIT in that after the new caller
completes logging onto the BBS, he/she is notified that the file is
available to them and the caller is then presented with a download
menu.  Suggested uses for NUCALLER.ZIP might be to include any rules
for participating on the BBS, subscription applications, RIP icons
specific to the BBS, etc.  NUCALLER.ZIP must reside in the download
directory of File Area #1.  To disable this feature, simply do not
place a NUCALLER.ZIP in File Area #1.


͸
 SPITFIRE UTILITY - PPRIMER 
;
 
   PPRIMER, to the best of my knowledge, is the first utility which
is written to process <x>.BBS/CLR/RIP messages addressed to callers
prior to purging the caller database.  Some utilities use the
<X>.BBS/CLR/RIP display files to convey special messages to that
particular caller.  For example, SFCHKUP uses the <X>.BBS to notify
callers of failed uploads.

   As cautioned in the SPITFIRE documentation, when the caller
database is purged, the <X>.BBS/CLR/RIP screens may no longer match
the caller for whom the message was intended.  During the purge
callers records are renumbered in sequential order.  So a caller who
had record 100 may after the purge be record 95.  Thus, a
100.BBS/CLR/RIP screen would never be received by the caller for
which it was intended.

   PPRIMER provides a solution to Sysops who are faced with the
dilemma of ensuring that the <X>.BBS/CLR/RIP is received by the
caller for whom it was intended, even when purging the caller
database at regular intervals.

   PPRIMER is easy to set up and use.  PPRIMER is executed prior to
actually purging the caller database.  If no command line parameter
is used, only callers marked for deletion will be processed by
PPRIMER.  An optional command line parameter allows the Sysop to
specify the number of days a caller who has not logged onto the BBS
will be considered as inactive and purged from the caller database.
The numerical value specified here MUST be set equal to the parameter
of inactive days specified by the purging program.
  
   PPRIMER methodically reads through the caller database and
determines which callers will be selected during the purging process.
When a caller is found which meets the purging criteria, PPRIMER will
rename the appropriate <X>.BBS/CLR/RIP display screens, if found, so
that they will be received by the intended caller after the purging
process is completed.

   PPRIMER may be executed online or from within a batch file as a
scheduled event.  However, it needs to immediately precede the caller
purge program and the number of inactive days should be the same for
both PPRIMER and the caller purge program.

   PPRIMER does seem to run rather slowly if there are many records
which require purging.  It is for this reason, the author recommends
that it be run nightly.  However, despite the speed, it does work
well even when run on a monthly basis.

   PPRIMER is written by Wes Wadsworth, co-author of SF-Master and
distributed as freeware.


͸
 SPITFIRE BOARD-OF-THE-MONTH 
;

                             Tim Klan
                             Tim's BBS
                        Erie, Pennsylvania
                          (814) 825-1731

   Mike's phone call telling me that I'd been selected as "Board of
the Month" sure came as a surprise to me.  I'm excited to have this
opportunity to give everyone some information on myself and my BBS.
I remember getting started into BBSing.  Back in 1989, I got an 8mhz
XT computer with a 20meg hard drive and 2400 baud modem.  I started
calling BBS's to play all the fun and exciting text door games.  I
was instantly hooked and couldn't help myself from calling every day.
It got so bad that I needed a separate phone line for my computer,
just so I could call a few local BBS's.

   A few months later, my favorite BBS (The Bad Attitude BBS run by
Chuck and Gay Dearbeck) held a party for its users.  I went and
finally had a chance to put some faces to the names I'd seen on the
BBS.  I met someone with a similar interest-- we both loved BBS's.
We each setup a BBS for each other to call to download games and look
at cool welcome screens.  Even with Spitfire 2.8's simplicity, we
weren't very computer literate.  We could get the software itself
running, but setting up door games was a goal we never could reach.
We eventually lost interest (gasp!) and that was the end of BBS's for
me.

 ..or was it??

   In 1991, I received some computer games for Christmas.  I played
the games for a few minutes and then decided to dial a BBS or two.  I
downloaded a copy of SPITFIRE 3.0 and finally figured out how to
setup doors.  Once I had four or five doors running, Tim's BBS was
born.

   During the 2.5 years I've run Tim's BBS, many things have changed.
I've had to upgrade continuously.  20megs isn't very much, so I
decided to put a cd rom online for more files.  A 386dx25 w/106mb hard
drive came a few months later.  Then I decided that 2400 baud was too
slow (shocking isn't it?).  I splurged and bought a 16.8k modem, and
eventually added a lot more.  Now I'm running three nodes under
Desqview (node 4 will be up in a week or so) with high speed modems.
Thirteen cd rom drives and a 2 Gig hard drive make Tim's BBS the
biggest in Erie county, with 100,000 files.  Of course, I changed BBS
software several times in this process--from SPITFIRE 3.0 to 3.1, 3.1
to 3.2, 3.2 to 3.3, and 3.3 to 3.4.

   SPITFIRE, though easy to run, can be challenging at times.  I've
had to turn to others for help.  All the SPITFIRE Sysops I've known
are helpful people.  Gay and Chuck Dearbeck at The Bad Attitude BBS
let me download the shareware copy of SPITFIRE.  Mike Woltz has
answered countless questions and always listens to my opinions and
suggestions.  I'd also like to thank Mike Robinson, who wrote SFROM
for spending HOURS on the phone to help me setup my BBS as a Fidonet
node.  His SFROM software makes running 13 cd rom drives with SPITFIRE
simple and organized.

   Today, we've logged over 43,000 calls.  Tim's BBS is a fun and
expensive hobby that requires countless hours of my time.  It's worth
it, though, to help other users solve the same problems I've had.  I
recommend SPITFIRE to everyone who wants to be a Sysop.  Most users
who download and setup SPITFIRE from my BBS end up becoming registered
SPITFIRE Sysops themselves.

   One thing I didn't mention above: I'm only 16 years old and in high
school.  I have a part time job at a computer store (go figure) and
am the proud Sysop of Tim's BBS.  My ability to setup SPITFIRE back
when I was only 11 years old goes to show that the SPITFIRE is
simple.  Tim's BBS's success shows that SPITFIRE is powerful and
configurable.


͸
 SYSOP-OF-THE-MONTH 
;        
 
                              Matt Blythe
                            ABSOLUT SpitFire
                         Indianapolis, Indiana
                             (317) 257-9295

   My early involvement with the world of computing is the result of
one great man, my father.  For this interest imbued in me at an early
age, I will be eternally grateful.  Since I was introduced to my
first computer, it has been a relationship of fun and fulfillment.

   Not long after I met my first computer through my father, I was
introduced to my first modem by accident.  We were purchasing a new
XT machine, and a 2400 baud Everex Evercom was included with the
package.  Being taught never to refuse anything free (except IRS
forms), my father and I accepted the modem basically ignoring its
existence.  The modem did not play an important role with our new
computer until I made the discovery that it could be used to
communicate over the telephone lines.  (So that is what it was for!)
I had graduated from many old computers, but I had never purchased a
new modem.  Until then, I did not know a modem was even useful.  I
had a deaf friend I had met at the start of my freshman year in high
school.  Since he was deaf, it was very difficult for us to
communicate using the conventional phone.  Usually conversations were
held with the help of a hearing translator.  But, with the discovery
of the ability of the modem to act as a communications device that
would meet our needs, we had a new way to "talk." This "typing"
conversation style was a GREAT experience for us.  (Not to mention
that it greatly increased my typing speed!) Never before had my
friend and I been able to discuss on this level over the phone.

   One day at school, I was standing at my locker in the hallway and
I overheard two people talking about computers.  In the conversation,
I picked up on the keyword "modem" and walked over to announce that I
had one of those things.  I was given the quick lesson on what a BBS
was during that conversation.  Whoa!  I had never dreamed that the
modem could be used for anything else.  So, I got my first BBS number
that night, and the rest is history.  Right from the start, I fell in
love with the idea of electronic communications!

   After toying with BBSing for awhile, I ran across a copy of WWIV
BBS software.  I thought to myself, it might be fun to run one of
these things.  I set up the software on my dad's computer with my
2400 baud Everex modem on our voice line and let my friends from
school call at night to play games.  I loved my "little BBS" and
being a "SysOp."  I decided that I wanted to set one up for real.
After searching high and low for BBS software (and realizing my
limited high school bank account) I was lucky enough to discover
SpitFire.  At the time, the choice seemed inconsequential to me.  Now
looking back, I realize how fortunate I was to have chosen wisely.
My father, being supportive of my new idea (and using it as a
responsibility learning tool), upgraded me to a 9600 baud Everex
Evercom and a 386/33 of my own to run the BBS on for my birthday.
So, on a cold day in January 1992, The Graveyard BBS was born.

   Early in the game, I was making some long distance phone calls to
search for the latest and greatest in SpitFire utilities.  I came
across this BBS that was located somewhere in Oregon.  I wondered,
what do they know about SpitFire in Oregon.  So, I decided to give it
a call for the heck of it.  I never realized how important that call
turned out to be.  Had I never dialed COLUMBIA SpitFire for the first
time, my BBS would not be half of what it is today.  One thing is for
sure, the phone company is thankful that I got to know Steve Newman
through COLUMBIA SpitFire.  Sometimes I wonder if my many calls to
him supported the expansion of AT&T.  Anyway, it is due largely to
his influence, that my BBS has made it to where it is now.  Thanks
Steve!

   Somewhere in March 1993, The Graveyard BBS hit a snag.  My old 700
megabyte hard drive finally gave in.  Begin irresponsible as most
teenagers are, my latest backup had piles of dust on it.  I decided
that I was through with BBSing for good.  But thanks to conning my
dad out of his 1.2 gigabyte hard drive just two months later, the BBS
was back up again.  I did not last very long without being a SysOp.
I decided to rename the BBS because it was basically reconstructed
from scratch.  By this time, I had learned how lucky I was to have
chosen SpitFire in the early going.  While struggling with a new
name, I came across an ABSOLUT Vodka add in a magazine.  These adds
imply that whatever is ABSOLUT represents the best; hence, they want
you to believe that their vodka is the best.  Letting my creative
instincts run wild, I thought, what about SpitFire.  It is the best
BBS software; so, it would only be correct to use the same naming
logic.  ABSOLUT SpitFire: A perfect name for my BBS.  So, my BBS was
reborn under a new name and a new look.

   Since my early days of a XT and an Everex Evercom 2400 baud modem,
I have grown to three nodes, three USR Dual standards, two Intel
486DX/33's and a 486DX2/66.  My user base has grown to over 600
callers, and I have 3 gigabytes in hard drive space with two CD-ROMs
online.

   By far my greatest BBSing experience so far was Mike Woltz's visit
to my home.  It was the most incredible experience to work on
SpitFire 3.5 with Mike in the flesh and watch the software grow and
develop.  Hopefully, the future holds many more GREAT BBSing
experiences for me and everyone else in the SpitFire family.


͸
  NEWLY REGISTERED SPITFIRE SYSTEMS 
;

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

The Free Press BBS............................207-286-1831...38400 BPS
Ken Gomes, Sysop...........................................Saco, Maine

Taft BBS......................................210-688-3145....2400 BPS
William H. Taft HS, Sysop...........................San Antonio, Texas

Dave's Room BBS...............................910-423-8851...14400 BPS
David Koons, Sysop........................Fayetteville, North Carolina

Compu-Response................................703-425-3591...14400 BPS
Victoria Coffman, Sysop..........................Springfield, Virginia

GBW BBS.......................................302-658-1026...57600 BPS
GBW International, Sysops.........................Wilmington, Delaware

Dim Bulb BBS..................................319-347-????...14400 BPS
Jason DeVries, Sysop...................................Aplington, Iowa

Starship BBS..................................619-373-2936....2400 BPS
Daniel Toy, Sysop..........................California City, California

Herman's Electronic BBS.......................519-451-6401...14400 BPS
Kevin Garrod, Sysop............................London, Ontario, Canada

Abyss BBS......................................39-50-17-89...14400 BPS
Ganet Jerome, Sysop.................................Versailles, France

The Wizard's Realm............................708-669-0624...14400 BPS
Scott Hoffman, Sysop.................................Huntley, Illinois

Landmark Research.............................813-442-6726...19200 BPS
Landmark Research, Sysops..........................Clearwater, Florida

The Nightwalker BBS...........................515-287-3111...14400 BPS
B & B Enterprises, Sysops.............................Des Moines, Iowa

Alien's Workshop..............................316-943-7956....9600 BPS
Matthew Kennamore, Sysop...............................Wichita, Kansas

LT'S Place...............................011-8253-470-6283...14400 BPS
Luther Harp, Sysop.........................................APO Address

Last Chance Cafe..............................219-747-6395...19200 BPS
Ira Robinson, Sysop................................Fort Wayne, Indiana

The Morning Train BBS.........................713-860-0751....2400 BPS
E.L. Morton, Sysop......................................LaPorte, Texas

Psuedo Board..................................606-342-8001...14400 BPS
Miles Boyd, Sysop....................................Elsmere, Kentucky

Springs Valley Online.........................812-936-7321...28800 BPS
Bill Crowder, Sysop...............................French Lick, Indiana

CPAssist BBS..................................504-447-4497....2400 BPS
Stephen Varvaro, Sysop............................Thibodaux, Louisiana

Bare Bony Facts BBS...........................903-945-2062...14400 BPS
Lois Rasure, Sysop.........................................Dike, Texas

More Byte for the Buck........................603-585-3326...16800 BPS
John A. Wells, Sr., Sysop...................FitzWilliam, New Hampshire

RedLine BBS...................................505-438-0985...19200 BPS
Ric Barela, Sysop.................................Sante Fe, New Mexico

PO Box........................................713-776-3226....2400 BPS
Lee Bryant Sanders, Sysop...............................Houston, Texas

The Ghost BBS...........................9662-671-9244,,,44...16800 BPS
Dr. Hesham Zaki, Sysop............................Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Jeddah Club BBS.........................9662-654-7341,,,44...14400 BPS
Abdulraman Al-Zahrani, Sysop......................Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

The Dragon BBS................................219-456-2814....2400 BPS
Joshua Bowsman, Sysop..............................Fort Wayne, Indiana

Shareware Shoppe.........................0-82-333-690-3309...14400 BPS
Cary Conover, Sysop........................................APO Address

The Truck On In BBS.......................Unknown Phone...Unknown Baud
Bill Wigley, Sysop..................................Tacoma, Washington

Chuck's Playground BBS........................716-659-8738...14400 BPS
Chuck Root, Sysop.....................................Morton, New York

The Wonderland BBS............................910-484-0153....9600 BPS
Dan Wells, Sysop..........................Fayetteville, North Carolina



   In addition, there were 2 new private SPITFIRE BBS Systems
registered.  These private SPITFIRE BBS's included registrations
from: Greeneville, Tennessee and Boise, Idaho.

   There were 14 registrations for whom registration information
was incomplete.  These included BBS's in: Rome, Georgia; Bad  
Homburg, Germany; Lenoir, North Carolina; Lawton, Oklahoma; 
2 in Dubuque, Iowa; Lakewood, Colorado, Warrenton, Oregon;
Spencer, Iowa; Nashville, Tennessee; Scottsboro, Alabama;
Lapeer, Michigan; Little Rock AFB, Arkansas and Port Hope,
Ontario, Canada.


   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.

