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The Magic City Micro BBS, version 4.1
Shareware $39.95
Copyright 1984 - David M. Alden
GO AHEAD, COPY THE DISK
-----------------------
Make a BACKUP copy of the MCM BBS disk. We'll be making changes
as we go, so plan to work on only a backup copy. Store the original
somewhere safe.
INTRODUCTION
------------
Thank you for your interest in the MCM BBS, a shareware BBS that
is user supported at $39.95. This documentation is intended to get
you started. Additional documentation (along with on-line support) is
available for registered MCM SYSOPs.
This system was written for people who are somewhat interested in
how their Apple works - people who know how to use ProDOS and who have
an introductory knowledge of Applesoft BASIC. It's a very flexible
BBS because you can customize it to meet your requirements by making
simple changes to the program code. If you've ever considered writing
your own BBS from scratch, this is a much easier way to go!
By way of reference material, I recommend Osborne/McGraw Hill's
APPLE II USER'S GUIDE and Addison-Wesley's BASIC PROGRAMMING WITH
PRODOS. Neither of these books is overly technical; yet they can
answer 99% of the Applesoft programming questions one could run into.
EQUIPMENT & SOFTWARE
--------------------
To begin running a Magic City Micro BBS, you'll need the following:
o An Apple ][+ //e or //gs
o An Apple Cat modem, or
o A super serial card and Hayes-type external modem, or
o An external modem connected to the //gs modem port
o A ProDOS clock card unless using a //gs
o And at least 1 disk drive
DISK ORGANIZATION
-----------------
The key to the MCM BBS is ProDOS' tree structured directory. Your
system comes configured for use on an Apple with 2 5.25" floppy disk
drives. All system files, mail, and downloads reside on disk 1. Disk
#2 is reserved for your bulletin board(s). You have the flexibility
of moving sections of the board to different disks to gain maximum use
of your hardware.
A complete directory of all files on the disk (even those hidden
away in sub-directories) is as follows:
Volume: MCM 3 Sep 87
Filename Blocks Type Modified Created Length
PRODOS________________________ 32 SYS 30-MAR-87 26-FEB-86 $3C7D
BASIC.SYSTEM__________________ 21 SYS 10-DEC-86 26-FEB-86 $2800
BDS___________________________ 1 DIR 29-AUG-87 18-JUN-87 $200
CNV_________________________ 1 DIR 29-AUG-87 22-JUN-87 $200
C.SUBJECTS________________ 1 TXT 21-JUN-87 22-JUN-87 $DE
C.0615114926______________ 8 TXT 22-JUN-87 26-JUN-87 $D36
C.0615115104______________ 7 TXT 22-JUN-87 26-JUN-87 $BE9
MKT_________________________ 1 DIR 29-AUG-87 22-JUN-87 $200
M.SUBJECTS________________ 1 TXT 24-JUN-87 26-JUN-87 $2E
M.0624094841______________ 8 TXT 29-AUG-87 26-JUN-87 $DDA
APL_________________________ 1 DIR 29-AUG-87 22-JUN-87 $200
A.SUBJECTS________________ 1 TXT 26-JUN-87 26-JUN-87 $2
B.MENU______________________ 1 TXT 29-JUN-87 29-JUN-87 $106
LIB___________________________ 1 DIR 29-AUG-87 18-JUN-87 $200
UL__________________________ 1 DIR 29-AUG-87 26-JUN-87 $200
DES_______________________ 1 DIR 31-JUL-87 31-JUL-87 $200
DES_________________________ 1 DIR 29-AUG-87 31-JUL-87 $200
POST.OFC______________________ 1 DIR 26-JUN-87 18-JUN-87 $200
UTILS_________________________ 1 DIR 29-AUG-87 26-JUN-87 $200
SETUP_______________________ 1 BAS 26-JUN-87 26-JUN-87 $174
TOOLKIT_____________________ 9 BAS 12-JUN-87 26-JUN-87 $EE1
FREEWRITER__________________ 23 SYS 17-NOV-84 26-JUN-87 $2AF8
FW.INSTRUCTIONS_____________ 5 BAS 20-JUN-87 26-JUN-87 $7C5
PRINTER_____________________ 8 BAS 20-JUN-87 26-JUN-87 $D8F
BBS___________________________ 36 BAS 2-SEP-87 29-AUG-87 $4572
STATS_________________________ 1 TXT 26-JUN-87 26-JUN-87 $6
USERS_________________________ 1 TXT 26-JUN-87 26-JUN-87 $75
MCM.DOCS______________________ 27 TXT 31-JUL-87 31-JUL-87 $332C
KALLERS_______________________ 3 TXT 26-JUN-87 18-JUN-87 $26B
NEW1__________________________ 3 TXT 11-JUN-87 18-JUN-87 $304
NEW2__________________________ 3 TXT 24-JUN-87 18-JUN-87 $25C
MAIN.MENU_____________________ 1 TXT 12-JUN-87 18-JUN-87 $14E
STARTUP_______________________ 4 BAS 2-SEP-87 2-JUL-87 $5D7
Blocks free: 58 Blocks used: 222 Total blocks: 280
Number of standard files: 23 Number of subdirectories: 10
-----------------
: NOTE: : RE: MODEMWORKS STARTUP
-----------------
The MCM BBS uses a specialized extension to BASIC that is called
ModemWorks. ModemWorks adds modem-specific commands to Applesoft BASIC, and
is ideal for this system. All the ModemWorks files that you'll need are in
a subdirectory named /MW. The STARTUP program on this disk selects that
directory, and runs the ModemWorks INSTALL program. You'll be prompted for
your modem and slot. Then type:
]PREFIX /MCM
and start the MCM BBS by typing:
]-BBS
For more information about ModemWorks contact:
Living Legends Software
P.O. Box 4313
La Mesa, Ca. 92044
(ModemWorks version 2.0 sells for $59.95).
PROGRAM SETUP
-------------
The file "BBS" is the bulletin board program. You can make one change now
if you'd like to call your BBS something other than "The Magic City Micro!"
Go ahead, be creative! To accomplish this change, boot up your computer with
your regular ProDOS disk and exit to Applesoft (] prompt). Then remove that
disk and put your MCM BBS disk in the drive. Now, reset the prefix. Type:
]PREFIX /MCM <RETURN>
Next, load the BBS into RAM. Type:
]LOAD BBS
And, list line 30 by typing:
]LIST 30
You'll see: 30 NA$ = "the Magic City Micro!"
You may now re-type the name to be anything you want, for example:
30 NA$ = "MY BBS - KEEP AWAY!"
Now, save the program back to disk by typing:
]SAVE BBS
MAKING THE ONLINE DISKS
-----------------------
These are the 2 disks that you'll use to run the BBS. Using a ProDOS
formatting program, FORMAT a disk named /BDS for drive 2. Your drive 1 disk
should be named /MCM.
Use a program that copies ProDOS files and COPY all the files under the
BDS subdirectory to your /BDS disk. This will set up the disk for your
bulletin boards. Note that there are 3 subdirectories (/CNV, /MKT, & /APL)
contained within /BDS -- make sure that your copy program copies each of
these subdirectories and each of the files contained within them. You should
see 6 files and 3 subdirectories copied. Check your disk against the list
of files above.
The remaining files are those required on the /MCM disk. To conserve disk
space, you can delete PRODOS and BASIC.SYSTEM since you'll probably boot your
system from the Modemworks disk. You may also delete the /BDS directory (and
the 3 subdirectories and 6 files contained within) from /MCM now.
----------------
: NOTE :
----------------
In running a BBS, you'll do lots of copying and backing up of files. If
you don't already have a good utility program that will batch copy (ie. use
wildcards; copy all the files within a subdirectory; etc.), plan to get one.
Recommended choices include Glen Bredon's Prosel; ECP by Don Elton; and Copy
II Plus by Central Point.
CREATING BULLETIN BOARDS
------------------------
Program lines 800-899 allow callers to select the board that they wish to
view. The code is commented to give you a model to work from in setting up
your own boards. Here's how it works ...
Line 815 contains BD$ -- "OQCMAS". You might recognize these as bulletin
board selections: LogOff; Quit; Convention; Market; Apple; & Sysop's. Let's
say you'd like to add a board called "Finance" -- just insert an "F" after
the last letter in the command string: "S" (Put the "F" inside the closing
quote). Now, BD$ will equal "OQCMASF".
-----------------
: HARDWARE NOTE : DISK DRIVES
-----------------
For those who'd like to relocate the disk that will store the bulletins,
note PR$(2) -- it sets the root directory of the /BDS disk. If running on a
hard disk, PR$(2) might be equal to "/HARD1/MCM/BDS/". Note the preceeding
and trailing slashes (/).
Line 820 directs the program to the correct line for the board selected.
Our new Finance board adds a 7th character to the command string (BD$), so
we'll have to add a 7th line number to the GOTO list. If we skip 5 line
numbers between each board setup, line 861 will be next. Put a comma (,) 861
to the end of the line numbers on line 820.
Now, type in a REMark line identifying the new board:
]860 REM ** Finance Board **
(you can put Control-J's before & after the
astericks to create blank lines for spacing)
Then, type in line 861:
]861 BP$ = "Finance" : B$ = "F." : PR$(1) = PR$(2) + "FIN/" : GOTO 930
And, save the BBS to disk -- that's all the programming it takes to open
a new board!
CREATING THE BOARD subdirectory
--------------------------------
If your boards are all on a floppy in disk 2, the Finance board will need
a subdirectory called: /FIN/. Use your copy program to create the new
subdirectory.
You'll need one file in it to begin operating the new board, it'll be
called "F.SUBJECTS". You can create this file with a word-processor because
it's simply a zero (0) followed by a carriage return. Then, save the zero as
a file named /BDS/FIN/F.SUBJECTS to disk.
One last step while you have the word-processor running: load in
/BDS/B.MENU and add the new Finance board to the list of system boards. You
can alter the appearance of this menu to your liking!
-----------------
: NOTE :
-----------------
For your convenience, a public domain word processor is included on the
MCM disk. You can find Freewriter in the UTILS directory. Written by the
author of Applewriter, it's a very useful program for maintaining the small
text files of your MCM BBS.
UTILS
-----
Two other programs reside in the Utilities subdirectory. SETUP writes a
new USERS file and STATS file -- useful if want to set up a new, empty list
of calls and callers.
TOOLKIT is a very basic database program that allows you to access user
records to change security levels, etc. You can also add new users and print
a list of users with this program. If you want to delete a user, just change
his first name to EMPTY. You might also want to change the password and
delete any mail addressed to that PO Box in the POST.OFC subdirectory.
-------------
: NOTES :
-------------
1. SETUP will overwrite your existing USERS and STATS files.
2. Set the prefix to /MCM prior to running SETUP or TOOLKIT
CHAT
----
The chat mode is controlled by (of all things) your joystick! Center
for "armed". Left to disable chat. Right to force chat. The joystick
position is read everytime the main command prompt is encountered. To
force the chat mode, or respond to a callers chat request, time your
positioning of the joystick to "be ready" just before the main command
prompt comes up.
(Note that a more elegant chat control is being written by an MCM
Sysop. It will be available for downloading from the "home board" by
registered Sysops).
TO QUIT THE BBS
---------------
Do a Control-Reset, then type:
]FRE
]&FRE
YOUR TURN!
----------
This concludes the initial MCM BBS documentation. Additional information
is available to registered users in the form of Tech Notes and on-line
bulletins. If you haven't done so already, I urge you to register as an
MCM SYSOP by mailing the shareware fee, $39.95*, to:
SofTools, Inc.
1550 South Dixie Hwy; Suite 208
Coral Gables, Florida 33146
| *If you are registered with Living Legends Software as being an owner
| of ModemWorks, your cost for the MCM BBS is only $20. The disk that
| you receive will _not_ contain any ModemWorks files if you request
| this pricing.
Upon hearing from you, I'll mail you a disk which contains the latest
version of the MCM BBS. And, your access level at the MCM - SofTools, Inc.
BBS will be adjusted to provide you with access to the "MCM Sysops Assn".
You'll find bulletins, program code, a directory of MCM systems, and a
discussion forum where you can get your questions answered. It's a great
place for MCM Sysops!
Sincerely,
Dave Alden, author
The Magic City Micro BBS
(305) 661-3802
300/1200 data