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After returning to the Startup menu, you should select
MODULE EDITOR (MEDIT). The Module Editor is what you will
use to define what messages boards are active, what file
bases you want to implement, the bulletins you will display,
as well as describing which online programs you will make
available to the users.
Starting Out
-------- ---
One of the most popular attractions on any board is the
messaging sections. It is here that users can write
electronic mail back and forth to each other. Because of its
importance, lets configure this section first. Select
MESSAGE BASES from the MEDIT main menu. When you do so, a
new menu will pop on the screen: ENTER THE EDITOR, LOAD
PREVIOUS SETUP, SAVE CURRENT ENTRIES, PRINT OUT ENTRIES, and
RETURN TO MAIN MENU. Select ENTER THE EDITOR.
Once you've selected to enter the editor, yet another
screen will appear; a rectangular one filled with a list of
information. These items are what define each message board
you will be using. Select MESSAGE BASE NAME from the list.
This will be the display name of the first message board.
One thing to remember, whatever message board appears first
in the list will be the first message board that will load
while using the BBS. You will probably want to make the
first board a public, no specific topic board in which
everything can be discussed. Some possible names include:
THE PUB, THE LOUNGE, CATCH-ALL, GENERAL MESSAGES,
ROUNDTABLE, and so on. Choose one that suits your
preference.
Now you will want to define the security settings of
this board. This will depend on two things. If you want ALL
users to be able to read and write messages here, just leave
the securities and FlagSets as they are. You probably won't
want to do this, however, since this would allow new callers
to write messages (some might be offensive). So, you will
need to set these according to the information you entered
in CEDIT for new user settings (those print-outs come in
handy).
After entering the security for this board, select
MESSAGE TYPES from the menu. This allows you to decide what
kinds of messages to allow. The possible types are:
PUB ....... Public messages only.
PRIV ...... Private messages only. Messages may only
be read by the SysOp, moderators, or the
sender/receiver of the message.
BOTH ...... Allow both public and private messages
ANON ...... Allow public or anonymous messages
Choose the one which best fits your needs.
You should now select MAXIMUM MESSAGES. If you are
using floppy disk drives, messages can clog your drive very
quickly. Or, if you're using a hard disk drive, you might
want to automate the "clean up" cycle to rid your disk of
outdated messages. To accomodate this, AppleNET message
bases have an option called MAXIMUM MESSAGES. What it does
is "cycles" messages once this maximum counter is reached.
For instance, if you set the MAXIMUM MESSAGES to 20, there
would only be, at most, 20 messages in this board at any
given time. There can be less, but not more. What happens if
someone tries to write message number 21? AppleNET will
delete message number 1, then save message 21. The numbering
will still go onward, but the lowest (and oldest) message
will be deleted to save disk space. AppleNET will allow you
to retain up to 999 messages in each message board, and with
45 message boards, it's possible to have 44,955 active
messages (enough to keep ANYONE busy)!
One nice feature about AppleNET is that it allows you
to share the responsibility of running a BBS with other
people. This removes some of the burden from you. To do this
in the message boards, you simply assign up to two people as
moderators for each board; MODERATOR ONE and MODERATOR TWO.
To assign these people as moderators, just type in their
name as one of the two possible moderators.
The next item you will need to supply is the TAG NAME.
The tag name is simply the ProDOS name you will give a
directory. This name will be added to the message directory
specified with CEDIT, so it will actually be a SUBdirectory
off of the message directory. This directory will be used to
store all messages dealing with this message board. EACH
MESSAGE BOARD WILL NEED A DIFFERENT TAG NAME! Remember this,
or else you'll run into some VERY strange results. Keep tag
names simple. For instance, THE LOUNGE could be THE.LOUNGE,
or LOUNGE. AppleNET uses tag names to identify where
messages go for each particular message board.
NOTE! If messages exist in a message board, do NOT
change the tag name without using a disk utility program to
change the name of the directory as well. Otherwise it will
not be able to find the messages.
Don't worry about creating the directories you are
specifying with the tag name. There is a special program to
do this for you (so you won't have to create 30-45
directories one-by-one).
Once you have entered all of the information for this
message board correctly, press {ESC}. Instead of being
returned to the Editor menu, a large rectangle will appear,
in which your newly-created message board will be listed.
Below the box are a list of commands. These are Apple
Commands. To use them, you hold down the Apple key or the
Option key (only on the newer IIe's and the IIgs) and tap
the letter you want. The commands are:
APPLE-A ... Add a new item to the end of the list
APPLE-C ... Copy the currently highlighted item to
the end of the list
APPLE-D ... Delete the currently highlighted item
APPLE-I ... Insert a new item in front of the currently
highlighted item
APPLE-S ... Sort (alphabetize) all of the items in the
list (must have at least 4 items to work)
Before you try these, press {ESC}. You will now return
to the Editor menu. If you want to return to the list of
items, select ENTER THE EDITOR. As long as you have at least
one item in the list, you will be presented with the item
menu. If there are no items when you enter the editor, you
will automatically be prompted to create a new item.
If you wish, you may continue adding message boards to
the list, giving each one new information. Up to 45 items
may be active at any particular time.
Once you have created all of the items you want, return
to the Editor menu and select SAVE CURRENT ENTRIES. This
will store all of your information in a file called
MEDIT.DATA. If you would like a printout of all the items
in the list, select PRINT OUT ENTRIES from the menu. Now
that everything has been saved, you can move on to each
other module in the editor: FILE DIRECTORIES, ONLINE
PROGRAMS, and BULLETINS/ARTICLES. Pressing {ESC} from the
Editor menu will not return you to the main menu. This is to
prevent you from backing out before saving any information
you might want saved. To return to the main menu, select
RETURN TO MAIN MENU.
Editing each other module's data works in exactly the
same manner that the message board editor worked, only you
will be supplying appropriate information with each. If you
ever want to load a setup that you have already created,
select the module to work on from the main menu, then select
LOAD PREVIOUS SETUP. This will load all pertinent
information about this module into the editor and allow you
to alter it. To put those changes into effect, you will need
to re-save it, otherwise the old setup will not be changed.
Set-by-step instructions will not be given on editing
the information in the modules other than the message
boards. Instead, a list is provided explaining what each set
of information does, how to use it, and what to expect from
it.
SPECIAL NOTICE: If you do not wish to implement a
section, such as file directories or bulletins, simply
delete any entries (using the item editor) and then save the
module information with no items in the list. This will
inform your users that the section is inactive. You should
follow this procedure with EVERY module you do not wish to
implement, or else there is potential danger that the board
will malfunction. In other words, it's a good idea to select
SAVE CURRENT ENTRIES from each module FIRST, before entering
new items. This will ensure that the program will recover
properly.
File Directories
---- -----------
File directories are, simply stated, places on your
disk in which you store files. These files are available for
users to receive over the phone line using a protocol called
Xmodem. The file directories are also used to store any
files sent by the user TO your computer. You have complete
control, via security settings, over who can send or receive
files from each directory.
FILE BASE NAME is the name of the file base. This will
be displayed to the user.
UPLOAD SECURITY is the level needed in order to send a
file to this file base.
UPLOAD FLAGSET is the FlagSet settings needed in order
to send a file to this file base.
DOWNLOAD SECURITY is the level needed in order to
receive a file from this directory.
DOWNLOAD FLAGSET is the FlagSet settings needed in
order to receive a file from this directory.
MODERATOR ONE \
> Not implemented
MODERATOR TWO /
STORAGE DIRECTORY is the COMPLETE ProDOS pathname in
which to store files for this file base. Unlike the message
board tag name, you will be required to enter the FULL path.
Online Programs
------ --------
Online programs are BASIC programs which are located in
the external files directory (specified in CEDIT). If you
are planning on adding online programs, you should see the
appendage on setting them up properly.
PROGRAM NAME is the name of the program which is
displayed to the user.
ACCESS SECURITY is the level needed to run this
program.
ACCESS FLAGSET is the FlagSet settings needed to run
this program.
PRODOS NAME is the actual ProDOS name of the file as it
appears in the external files directory. Do not enter a full
ProDOS path. Enter the file name only.
Bulletins and Articles
--------- --- --------
Bulletins and articles are text files which the user
has the option of reading. Bulletins can range from price
lists to tutorials to event listings to just about anything
you want the user to be made aware of. All bulletins should
be stored in the bulletin directory (specified using CEDIT).
BULLETIN NAME is the name of the bulletin or article as
it is to be displayed to the user.
READ SECURITY is the level needed to read this
bulletin.
READ FLAGSET is the FlagSet settings needed to read
this bulletin.
PRODOS NAME is the actual name of the file as it
appears in the bulletin directory. Enter the name of the
file only. Do not enter a full ProDOS path.
Once you have correctly set up the different module
information for your board, you are almost ready to go
"online", or accept calls! To continue, you should return to
the Startup program by selecting QUIT THIS PROGRAM from the
MEDIT main menu. Once you have done so, select APPLESOFT
BASIC from the Startup menu. This will allow you to run
another program.
At the Applesoft prompt (]) type "PREFIX" to make sure
you are in the correct directory (the destination directory
you made when first installing AppleNET). Then type:
]-DIR.CREATOR
This will run a program called, obviously, DIR.CREATOR.
What this program does is reads the information you entered
using CEDIT and MEDIT. More specifically, it reads all of
the directory information you provided. Once it does so, it
will attempt to create every directory you will need
(besides file directories) to run the BBS. These include the
all message board directories (if any), the bulletin,
external files, and file enclosure directories, and so on.
If, at any time, the program is unable to create a specific
directory, it will alarm you of this and the program will
stop. If the program displays UNABLE TO CREATE, you will
need to enter:
]-STARTUP
And then return to the configuration or module editors
to correct the directory information.
If the program ends without displaying the UNABLE TO
CREATE message, you're all set to go! You are just minutes
away from going online!
All that are required now are two things. First, if you
are supporting file directories, you will need to create
each directory individually. There is no program to automate
this process, since directories can exist on any drive, and
may be "buried" into several other ProDOS directories. You
may either do so from the Applesoft prompt, or you may load
up your favorite disk utility program and create them.
The second thing you will need to do is to copy any
pertinent bulletins or online programs to the bulletin and
external files directories (assuming you defined some in the
module editor). Use your disk utility program to do this.
You probably won't have the bulletins pre-made at this time;
nor will you have online programs. You should load up a
word-processor and create them. Online programs deserve a
special section all their own, since they require a small
amount of modification to allow them to work properly. Refer
to the appendage dealing with online programs for more
information.
Make sure, if you are using an external modem, that it
is turned on and (if using floppy disk drives) that all
needed disks are in their proper drives. Now select APPLENET
BBS from the Startup menu. Now is the time when you find out
if everything works (and it is also the time at which you
"cross your fingers").
Assuming everything is in place, a screen should appear
signifying that the modem is being initialized. If not, an
appropriate message will appear on the screen and the
program will stop. If you get an error message, you should
go back and carefully see that you have placed all files
where they belong and make sure that you have properly
configured your BBS.
Once the initialization process has finished, another
segment of AppleNET will appear. This is called the
"wait-for-call sequence". This is where AppleNET will be
while waiting for a call. You aren't limited to just waiting
for calls, however. In the middle of the screen are several
options: LOCAL LOGON, SYSTEM STATISTICS, CALLER LOG, PAGE
BELL TOGGLE, CALLER ALARM TOGGLE, and QUIT THIS PROGRAM. The
current date and time are displayed in the upper-left and
upper-right corners of the screen. Near the bottom of the
screen is the system status registers: STATUS, PAGE BELL,
and CALLER ALARM.
Try selecting SYSTEM STATISTICS. A screen full of
information should appear. This set of information is for
your own reference. It lets you know everything that has
been going on with your BBS. You can find out how many
accounts have been created, who last called, file transfer
counters, and much more. After viewing the list, press
{RETURN} to go back to the wait-for-call screen.
Now select PAGE BELL TOGGLE or CALLER ALARM TOGGLE. You
will not be presented with a new screen. Instead, the status
line on the bottom of the screen will change. The page bell
is the beeping noise heard when a user attempts to page you,
or chat (type back and force) with you. The caller alarm, if
on, will produce a telephone-like ring whenever the system
receives a call. Note, however, if the system is rebooted or
re-loaded, these options will both be set back to their
default settings (page bell on, caller alarm off). Turning
the page off will allow you to be uninterrupted by the page
bell.
If you chose to keep a caller log (when using the
configuration editor), the CALLER LOG option will become
available. If you're just starting out, the caller log will
be empty, since you have received no calls. The caller log
allows you to see who was on your system and when, as well
as how long they stayed online. Selecting CALLER LOG will
give you two options: READ and CLEAR. If you enter "R", it
will attempt to display the caller log. If you enter "C", it
will erase any current caller log and start a fresh one.
This is useful to unclutter the log. Press {RETURN} alone in
order to return to the wait-for-call screen.
If you ever wish to go back to the Startup program, you
may select QUIT THIS PROGRAM. It will automatically load the
beginning program.
Try selecting LOCAL LOGON from the wait-for-call
screen. This has the same effect as a phone ring would. You
will enter the BBS. Immediately, the WELCOME file will be
displayed and you will be prompted for your full name. You
will need to enter the name you specified as your system
name (in the user editor) in order to logon (use) as the
system operator.
When prompted, enter your password. Note, however, that
the letters you type will not be displayed on the screen.
Instead, as asterisk will appear for every key. This will
happen to any caller as well. It is done for security
reasons so that anyone standing behind the user's back
cannot see what the password is.
As soon as you enter the password, you are now in the
system! A short dialogue will appear telling you such things
as the amount of time left, the last caller, and so on,
after which the file NEWS will be displayed. You are now
able to actually use the BBS! Congratulations!
To manuever around the BBS, simply press the letter
corresponding to the items listed in the menu. You may
actually press a key while a menu is being displayed and
AppleNET will interpret the keypress properly. This feature
is called "hot-keys". Neither you nor any caller will be
required to wait for a menu to be completely shown in order
to access a particular section of the BBS.
The keys presented in the main menu are:
Key Action
--- --------------------------------------------------
M Access the messaging section of AppleNET
F Access the file transfer section of AppleNET
B Access the bulletin display section of AppleNET
O Access the online program section of AppleNET
T Display the caller's time statistics
U Online utilities (password change and user list)
H Help with the main menu commands
G Initiate the logoff routine
? Re-display the menu