Turbo BBS/Telecommunications/Shareware
From: Doug Wokoun (aa384@cleveland.Freenet.Edu)
Date: 08/28/91-08:32:29 PM Z
From: aa384@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Doug Wokoun)
Subject: Turbo BBS/Telecommunications/Shareware
Date: Wed Aug 28 20:32:29 1991
Taken from: ST Report online magazine, issue #732 (August 9, 1991):
> Turbo Board BBS ST STR Review Turbo BBS (Shareware version 1.0)
=============================
SYSOP INTERVENING... PLEASE STAND BY...
by Doyle C. Helms
BBS. Bulletin Board System. I use one everyday (mostly commercial
on-line information systems, Delphi & GEnie) and I also use The Bounty BBS
(Home of STReport). The Bounty was my first encounter with the TURBO BBS
software. The system software was/is easy to understand for new users and
fast and efficient for the old hands. What about setting up and operating
your own BBS? I have heard horror stories about set-up and board
maintenance of other BBS software and I was a little ambivalent about
doing it myself. Then TURBO BBS appeared on Delphi one day recently and I
thought what the heck, I'll give it a shot. Now the saga begins...
Let me start out by saying that I have NEVER EVER set-up a BBS
before( I have done some SYSOP work on a small local board though) trying
this program so this overview is from a greenhorns perspective. I set-up
and got the board running with minimal difficulty with ONLY the small doc
file included with the downloaded file. I can't wait to get the 150 page
manual and then lookout GEnie <g>.
The shareware version is a little over 224K and WELL worth the
download time. After de-arcing (the proper paths were already set-up via
the folder option in LZH) to my newly cleaned drive partition, I of course
did not read the docs but dove right into the program. After the main
title screen informed me that it could not find the configuration file I
then went to the docs(dosen't it always happen like that? <:)) double chin
grin with a pointy head<G>>. I digress. Where was I? Oh yea, after reading
the small doc file, yes SMALL, you get a more in depth manual with
registration, to see what I needed to do to get this thing running.
First off, the docs say to modify the TURBO.OPT file to match your
current system set-up. This involves loading the file into a word proces-
sor (very difficult huh?).
Partial example of the TURBO.OPT file:
HST BAUD(Rates available: 300, 1200, 2400, HST, 19.2)
........
........
\TURBO\ MAIN BBS DIRECTORY
Explanation of above:
Change the HST setting to reflect the MAX baud rate of your
system/BBS. If you have only a 300 baud modem the change the HST to 300.
\TURBO\ is the directory from which the TURBO program will be run.
There are MANY more options which you the SYSOP set-up to configure
the board to your and you users needs. There are other options like when
to turn the SYSOP CHAT TIME ON and OFF. This is so you will not be awaken
at 2:30 am by a frustrated user with a question like "Is this board a 24
hour system?" REMOTE SYSOP ACCESS is another ON/OFF option. The many op-
tion choices should suffice most anyones need.
After revision of the TURBO.OPT file you then execute a program
called SYSGEN.TOS. The manual states that "SYSGEN will read the TURBO.OPT
file, and will check the drives that you have specified as being online.
If you have created a BBS directory and various system subdirectories,
SYSGEN will also create them for you on all drives specified in
TURBO.OPT". After the program checks out the .OPT file and verifies the
settings, you will then be asked for the number of passwords/users to al-
locate space for. Adding new parameters for additional users is very easy
later on if your board grows beyond your original set-up. The maximum num-
ber of passwords is 2000. SYSGEN will then create the appropriate data
files and save them to your specified path. You are then questioned as to
the number of message bases to create. You are limited to 64. An ample
enough number. Each message base may have up to 500 messages in each. Once
again the appropriate data files are created and saved automatically. Fur-
ther set-up includes the space to allocate for E-Mail, the number of
download categories (asking a name for each, e.g. GRAPHICS, DTP etc.).
Initial start-up.
Run TURBO.PRG. TURBO BOARD will create a window at the top of
the screen displaying the status of the board while the system is in
operation.
Lot: Turbo Board ST Ver 1.0 Off: Page On
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Name: Age: 0 Ph: Ca:
0-0
Dla: 0 Dba: 0 Dd: 0 Du: 0 Dl: 0 Ul: 0 Mai: 0 Fml: 0 Fnt: 0
Fre: 6604123 Mes: 0 MiS: 1295 Ni: 0 No: 21 Si: 0 So: 61 9600 8N1
Fun: Fil:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Where:
Lot: displays the logon time of the current user.
Off: shows the logoff time of the last user.
"Page On" or "Page Off" will be shown at the far right of the
firstline, depending on the status of the Chat mode. You will see a an
inverse "-Chat-" printed if the user had called the SysOp for chat.
Name:is the current user's name.
Age: is the current user's age.
Ph: will contain the current (or last if no one is on) user's phone num
ber.
Ca: is two numbers. The first number is the total number of Callers
since the system was initialized. The second number is the number
of Calls since booting.
Dla: stands for Download access, and is the file access level.
Dba: is short for the Database access level.
Except for MiS, No, and So, all data explained below is 'since booting',
not since the system was initialized (first created).
Dd: the number of Database file that have been downloaded (read).
Du: the number of Database files that have been uploaded.
Dl: the number of file downloads.
Ul: the number of file uploads.
Mai: is the number of E-Mail messages entered.
Fml: shows the number of Fmail messages entered.
Fnt: is the number of Fnet messages that have been entered on the BBS.
The next line contains:
Fre: the free upload space available on drives allocated to Turbo Board.
Mes: the total number of messages entered.
MiS: the total number of messages currently in the system.
Ni: the number of Fnet messages added to the message bases during the
last run of the Fmailer program. (Number in)
No: the number of Fnet messages waiting to be sent. (Number out)
Si: the number of SAFs (Stand-alone Files) that have been received from
the FNET mailer.
The far right entry shows the current Communications port (RS-232)
settings.
This information is available to you the SYSOP on the HOST system
only, the user cannot see any of this info.
TURBO BOARD is now in the "waitring" state. This means the system is
awaiting an incoming call or some action by the SYSOP.
At this point you the SYSOP must log yourself into the system for
your password set-up the first time you use it just like a caller would
do. No, you don't have to call yourself from another computer <g>. Just
press <RETURN>. You will then be cued like a regular user would be as to
user number/name and password. In this initial procedure the board will
assign you a user I.D. and let you choose your password. After this info
is recorded you are ready to become THE SYSOP!
You would now press the F1 key to enter the SYSOP mode. To view the
SYSOP command menu just press <RETURN> again. You then go through another
small procedure to identify yourself as a SYSOP with all the perks that go
with it<g>. I will not define this procedure due to the fact it may be
sensitive in a way I'm not familiar and I don't want to be blamed for
anything going wrong. The "procedure" is VERY simple, so your not missing
anything by me not telling you.
In the next installment I will go into detail about the setting up of
your initial download databases(you wouldn't want to start-up with an
empty board would you?) and a few of the other features of this fine
shareware product.
The following is from the included doc file accompanying TURBO_SW.
Turbo Board's NEW Features over FoReM ST 2.3:
-Conference Fmail (in any message base)
-Ability to View, and Type Fmail arc files
-Improved Message Editor (also R-emacs support if you so desire)
-ARC(V6.02) LHARC, and ZIP verbose listings
-TYPE a text file from any ARC or LHARC file
-LZHdl.LZH in the ARCtools (ZIPdl.ZIP still under developement)
-Integrated MSDOS style CLI/BATCH shell for running Batch files
-FULL BinkleyTerm mailer support (Pcommand not needed)
-Much easier when editing User Passwords
-Local Sysop Inactivity Timer
-Keyboard Lock feature
-Option to set Snoop mode on bootup
-New Scan file commands, does all the List commands + more!
-External program hooks, Executive, Chat.prg, Survey.bat, Syspas.bat,
Fmail.bat, Logon.bat, and many other new batch files
-Backup command in Email base while reading Messages
-Greetings message can be entered at logoff by registered users.
-Sysop can now have a No-window VT-52 option if he chooses
-Help key for Function key assignments displayed
-Undo key will attempt to abort any file transfer in progress
-Any alternate CHAT program can be used by the sysop if he so chooses
-Improved (greatly) paging control ( *More?(Y/N/C) prompt)
-Ringback working for long distance callers
-Many bugs that were present in FoReM ST are eliminated in this program
(you sysops know what they were...)
-MSH program NOT needed for the Doors programs
-Program size approx 200K, saves memory, and doesn't loose any!
-Faster execution than FoReM ST on initialization, and operation
-Smaller Window Size, frees up 2 lines on the Window
-PLUS all the features of FoReM ST, including FULL F-net and Crossnet
support (+ Conference Fmail support, Forem doesn't have this)
-Fidonet message bases, are under developement, but Binkley and Fidodoor
work just fine. Also the FIFO program is Fully Compatible with our BBS.
-This board is FoReM ST data file compatible, meaning that all the data
files that you use for FoReM will work on this board.
THE SYSOP HAS NOW RETURNED CONTROL TO YOU...
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE...
Application for ///Turbo Board Ver 2 Upgrade ___________________
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ___________________
___________________
SYSOP'S REAL NAME :_______________________________________________
STREET ADDRESS :_______________________________________________
COUNTY/CITY :_______________________________________________
STATE/PROVINCE :________________
COUNTRY :________________
ZIP/POSTAL CODE :________________
PRESENT SERIAL # :________________ (Both lines of TURBOKEY.DAT)
________________
VOICE PHONE NUMBER :________________
BBS PHONE NUMBER :________________
BBS NAME :_______________________________________________
FNET NODE # :________________
FIDO NODE # :________________
$29.95 Version 2 Turbo Key Registration, Printed V2 Addendum
and Version 2 Release Disk
__ $ 6.00 Air Mail to USA
__ $25.00 Express Mail to the USA or Canada Only
__ $12.00 Air Mail International
$__.__ Total
- USA and International - All prices in US Dollars ($)
- Canadian Residents, Use CDN $ instead
- Ontario Residents please add 8% PST (No GST unless you want to add it)
- Canadian Packages sent 1st Class Post
- USA and International sent Ground, unless Airmail or Express paid
** DUE TO AN INCREASE OF N.S.F. (BAD) CHEQUES, WE WILL NO LONGER ACCEPT
PERSONAL CHEQUES UNLESS THEY HAVE BEEN CERTIFIED. ALL UNCERTIFIED
PERSONAL CHEQUES WILL BE RETURNED TO SENDER.
Please make out your Certified Cheque or Money Order payable to:
BITBLIT SYSTEMS
Send your Completed Order Form with payment to:
Bitblit Systems
1580 Liveoak Dr
Mississauga, ON
Canada
L5E 2X6
American and Foreign residents, remember to check for correct postage.
Comments:_________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
-------------------------------Cut here ----------------------------------
--
Doug Wokoun / / | If you don't
(aa384@cleveland.Freenet.Edu) [o]-[o] | stand for something,
||| L (((( STe )))) | you will
Atari / | \ S I G \___/ | fall for anything.
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