Kudos!! Greg has been instrumental in making sure this program is as bug free as possible. He has offered ideas and suggestions that have been very helpful. Thanks Greg! Without David's programming abilities and doing most of the work in the text version of the System Editor, the GEM version would have been a nightmare. You would not believe what all is involved in this thing. A lot of the routines in the text version was transported over and minor modifications done. This archive should contain the following files. These files should be placed in the same location as SYSEDITG.PRG. After setup is complete, you will need to copy the below files to their proper folder. SYSEDITG.PRG G = GEM SYSEDIT.RSC Goes in the same directory that SYSEDITG.PRG is ran from. SYSEDIT.DOC PROTOCOL.DAT Goes in \DATA\ folder COMMAND.DAT " " EVENTS.DAT " " MASKS.DAT " " MACROS.DAT " " PROMPT.DAT Goes in \TEXT\MENUS0 folder This is the GEM version of the System Editor. I have made every effort to ensure that this program is bug free. I am not responsible for any damages, loss of data, income, etc. due to the use or misuse of this program. You accept it as is. First thing you should do is backup your data. The files you should backup are listed below. If you are creating a New BBS, then don't worry about these files. TRANS.DAT PROTOCOL.DAT MASKS.DAT MACROS.DAT EVENTS.DAT COMMAND.DAT USERS.DAT USERS.IDX Any files related to a Message Base that you intend to edit. These files are listed below. xx refers to the number of the base. MTOPxx.TXT BASExx.TXT Mxx.DAT Mxx.IDX Any files related to a file area that you intend to edit. These files are listed below. xx refers to the number of the file area. FTOPxx.TXT Fxx.DAT Fxx.IDX This program has been tested and at the time of this writing, there are no known problems with maintaining data integrity. Backing up the files just ensures you that you can restore the files in case of problems. Now, run SYSEDITG.PRG. You will be presented with a dialog box. After you press Return or click on OK, the program will load some files and then present you with a menu. You will need about 265K of free memory in order to run this program. *** Entries are Menu headings ** Entries are Menu selections * Entries are submenu selections *** File *** ** Load TRANS.DAT When you select this option, you will be presented with a file selector if the program does not find TRANS.DAT. This will allow you run the program from another drive. Use this option also for reloading the TRANS.DAT file in case you want to start over. If you are setting up a new BBS, when the file selector appears, just select OK and it will automatically step you through the program to create a new BBS. ** Save TRANS.DAT When you select this option, you will be presented with a file selector. This will allow you to save TRANS.DAT. The file selector will default to the drive SYSEDITG.PRG was ran from but, you can save it to anywhere you want. Just make sure you save a copy of it to the drive/folder that contains the BBS program. ANYTIME you make changes, you need to Save the TRANS.DAT file. You will be asked if you want to save the file before you Quit if you have not already done so. *** Edit *** ** Message Bases This option will take you to another menu where you will have several options. * Edit Message Bases This option will present a dialog box where you can edit the available Message Bases. This option will start you at Message Base 1. Below is a description of each field of the dialog box. All items deal with the currently selected message base only. Name - This is the name of the Message Base. This is the name that will be displayed to the user. Maximum Messages - This is the maximum amount of messages you want to have in the message base. Once the message base reaches this amount of messages, it will roll over. If you assign 50 message slots and the program reaches 50 messages in the base, the first message will then be deleted and the next message (# 51) will take it's place. The higher the number of maximum message you assign, the larger the data file. Maximum Lines - This is the maximum number of lines that a user can enter as a message. Anything past this point becomes an Extended message and will be saved in the EXTENDED folder. The higher the number, the larger the data file. If you edit the Message Base and change the maximum number of lines, you will be asked if you would like to Reformat or Convert the Message Base. See below under Reformat 1 Base for full details on this. Minimum Age - The user's age must be at least this age before he/she can enter a message base. Group Number - This tells the program what group this message base belongs to. In other words, say you wanted all the message bases related to the Atari computers grouped together. You assign number 1 to all message bases dealing with Atari computers. Now, the user selects from a menu and selects Atari Computers which you have assigned the number 1 to. The program then displays all available Message Bases assigned to group 1. Sort of a Category and Topic sort of thing. This feature will be in a later version of Transcendence. At the moment, you can ignore it. ** You may enter On or Off in the following fields or you can click on them with the mouse to toggle them On or Off. Upper or lower case is accepted. Remote Message Ops - This will tell the BBS whether or not to allow Remote Message Ops. Not used at the moment. Anonymous - This tell the BBS whether or not to allow anonymous messages. Alternate Message Header - This tell the BBS whether or not to use an alternate header for message status (if available) or not. With the use of variable tags, you can design your own headers in a text file that includes Message number, Status, etc. Whatever you want. Allow Any Name - This tells the BBS whether or not to allow the user to post a message using any name he/she wishes. Obviously this should be a very controlled privilege and should not generally be used. There may be Message Base that this would be allowed but, not usually. Allow ESC codes - This tells the BBS whether or not to allow the use of ESC codes in a message. VT52 text and graphics use ESCape codes to control text color, background color, etc. With this off, the program will weed those codes out. Allow Variable Tags - This will allow the use of variable tags within a message base. Variable tags are used in the text files you create also. For instance, if you wish to post a message and each time a caller logs on and reads that message, if you place the variable tag for the user's name in the message, then the user's name would appear in the message and it looks as if it is a personal message to that user. Next - Takes you to the next Message Base. It will grey out and become unselectable when it reaches the last Message Base. Previous - Takes you to the previous Message Base. It will grey out and become unselectable when it reaches the first Message Base. * Reformat 1 Base This will allow you to reformat, convert or restore a single Message Base. You will be presented with a list of the current Message Bases to choose from. Select the Message Base you wish to reformat. The Dialog box for editing a Message Base will appear. Edit it as you wish and select Exit. You will then be asked if you wish to Reformat, Convert or Restore Original Message Base and then asked if you are sure. Here is your chance to abort. All .DAT & .IDX files that apply during a Convert will renamed to .DA & .SP. The data is then taken from these files and converted to the new format. The program will not delete these backup files. You will need to copy them to another place and/or delete them before you do another Conversion on that message base. Reformat - Choosing reformat will zero out all messages. You will then be asked if you wish to set all the user's counters. If you choose to do so, the user's counters will be reset to 0. A dialog box will appear displaying the status. Convert - This will allow you to convert a Message Base. It was designed to allow you to change the Maximum number of Lines allowed without having to reformat your Message Bases. If you have your Max. Lines set to 20 and later on wanted to change it to 10, then choosing Convert would take all messages and convert them to the new line length. If the messages are longer than the Max. Lines, then they will become Extended Messages. If not, then they will remain the same. If a message is already Extended, then it will remain that way. Every attempt to save your information has been offered. Restore Original - This will allow you to restore the Message Base settings back to original. If you did a Convert, the .DAT & .SPD files are backed up. By deleting the .DAT & .SPD files and renaming the backups (.DA & .SP) to .DAT & .SPD, you can restore your original settings and Message Bases. You will need to do this in advance since you will only be asked if you wish to restore the original after you have been asked for the new data for that Message Base when you select Reformat 1 or All Bases. The program will then do some calculations based on the info you provided and if they match up, then all is ok and you will be notified that the restore has taken place. If not, then you will be notified that the numbers do not match. You can also do a restore on a Message Base if you have Reformatted it. This will only work properly if you backup the .DAT & .SPD files before you reformat them. Just delete the .DAT & .SPD files and replace them with the backups. I will give you a quick example. I have Message Base 1 setup for 50 messages and 15 lines. One day I decide that I want to reduce it to 25 messages and 10 lines. I want to save the messages so I select Convert. Now, later on, I get complaints and decide to change it back. I can still keep the data by doing a Restore Original. I grab the M1.DAT & M1.SPD files and move them to another place (I want to keep them) and I rename M1.DA to M1.DAT & M1.SP to M1.SPD. Now I go into the System Editor and select Message Bases and select Reformat 1 Base and the Edit dialog box appears. Now remember my original settings were 50 messages and 15 lines so, I enter these numbers into the appropriate fields and select Exit. The program will then ask if I want to Reformat, Convert, or Restore Original. I select Restore Original and then YES. The program calculates the numbers and finds everything to match up and tells me my Original Settings have been restored. I now have my original Message Bases back and my users are happy. Any messages entered after the conversion and before the restore are lost. * Reformat ALL Bases This will just step through each Message Base and offer the same functions as Reformat 1 Base. * Edit A Base This is basically the same as Edit Message Bases except, it will display a list of the Message Bases so that you can choose a starting point. If you wanted to edit Base 20, then it would be a pain to start at 1 and have to Next your way to 20. * Delete a Base This will allow you to delete a Message Base. You will be presented with a list of Message Bases and asked which one. You will then be asked if you want to delete that Message Base. Selecting No will abort. Selecting Yes will delete the Message Base and renumber the bases. ALL file associated with that Message Base will also be renumbered so that MTOPxx.TXT, etc. will stay with that base. After it renames the files, it will then adjust the user's accesses to that base. * Insert/Add a Base This will allow you to Insert or Add a Message Base. You will be presented with a list of available Message Bases. Enter the position you wish to put this base. If you wanted it to become Message Base 2, then you would enter 2. You will then enter the data (See Edit Message Bases above). You will then be asked if you want to do this. The program will then modify and create the necessary files. If you Inserted the base, then all bases above it and all the files that go along with it will be renumbered. The user's access to that base will be adjusted. They will be given the basic access of Enter, Read and Post. * Reset Message Counters This will allow you to set all the user's counters to a value that you enter. You will be asked if you wish to do this before it does it. Make sure you read the dialog box that ask you for the value. Depending on which selection you choose, it will ask for settings differently. ALL Counters - This will allow you to reset all the user's counters in ALL the message bases to a specified value. One Counter - This will allow you to reset the user's counters in 1 base. You will be presented with a list of Message Bases to choose from. You then enter the desired number to set it at. Some Counters - This will step through each Message Base and ask for the desired number to set the user's counters to. ** Email This will allow you to Rename your Email Base or Reformat it. Rename - Just that, it allows you to rename your Email Base. Nothing special to do or know. The Max. Messages & Max. lines will be greyed out. Reformat - It allows you to rename your Email Base and change the Max. Messages and Max. Lines. You will be asked if you are sure and if you choose YES, then it will zero out all your data. ** File Areas The File Areas are basically set up the same as Message Bases. You will have the same options as the Message Bases except for Reset Message Counters. The options work the same as in Message Bases except, Reformat 1 or All Areas will not create Extended file descriptions. This is due to the fact that the BBS program does not use Extended file descriptions. The user can only enter the amount of lines of information that you set up. Since there are no extended file descriptions, if you Reformat or Convert a file area and have chosen a lower amount of lines for the description, then they will be chopped off. * Edit File Areas - This allows you to edit the files areas. Below is an explanation of the fields located on the Edit screen. Name - This is the Name of the File Area. This is the name that the users will see when they make their choice as to what File Area to go to. Folder - This is the name of the folder that will hold all the files associated with that File Area. The files that are uploaded and the description files will go here. You will be asked if you want the program to create this folder. If it is already there, then there will be no problem if you say YES. Maximum Lines - This is the maximum number of lines that will be allowed for entering a description. If it is set to 15, then only 15 lines of description can be used. You don't want to have too many lines but you also don't want to have too few lines. 10 - 15 lines is generally enough. In the File Area where I have ST Reports and Znets, I have it set to 15 because the contents of that issue usually run about 11 lines. Minimum Age - This is the minimum age of a user that is required in order for them to enter into the File Area. 0 = Any Age. Upload Level - This is what level the uploads will default to if the user that uploads the file does not have the privilege of choosing/setting the upload level. The user must have this File Access Level before he/she can see it. If he/she cannot see it, then they cannot download it, etc. I have all my files default to 255 when uploaded. This means that only I or anyone with that access level (generally only those with sysop access should have this level) can see it until it has been validated/released by me. I do this by changing the level of the file. Group Number - This is the same as Group Number under the Message Bases. It just groups File Areas together. If I have all the Atari File Areas set with group number 1, then when the user chooses Area 1, then he/she will be shown the File Areas under that group. As stated before, this is not a feature in Transcendence at this moment and for now can be ignored. The below settings can either have the words On or Off typed in them or they can be toggled On/Off by clicking on them with the mouse. It does not matter if you type it in upper or lower case. Remote File Ops - This tells the BBS that Remote File Ops are allowed. Not used at the moment. The below settings with the exception of Auto-Compress will tell the BBS to ask for this information when a user enters the description of a file that he/she uploaded or when the description of that file is being edited. Anonymous - This tells the BBS that a user can upload a file anonymously. Ask Computer Type - This tells the BBS to ask for the Computer Type. If you have the COMPUTER.DAT file in the DATA folder, then that file will be displayed. Otherwise, they will be able to enter in anything they want. Ask Monitor Type - This tell the BBS program to ask for Monitor type. They will be asked if it is Color, Monochrome or both. This will let a user know if the program requires a certain monitor. Ask File Type - This tell the BBS to ask for the type of file. It was designed for asking whether or not the file is a Utility, Application, Game, etc. You can use it for whatever you want. If the file TYPE.DAT is in the DATA folder, then it will display it and the user will choose from this list. Otherwise, the user will be able to enter in any information they want. Alt. File Header - This tells the BBS to look for FHDRxx.TXT (xx = File Area number) and display it. This is the header information where it tells all about the file. It includes things such as Filename, Filenumber, Uploader, Date of Upload, etc. You can create this file using any of the variable tags and put in the information you want. If it does not find this file, then the built in header will be used. Auto-Compress - I can't remember. David, fill in here. Next - This will advance you to the next File Area. Previous - This will take you to the previous File Area. Exit - This will exit the editing of that File Area. Follow any prompts that may appear. * Reformat 1 Area - This allows you to Reformat, Convert or Restore Original File Area. If you do a Restore, you WILL need to know the amount of lines you allowed in the old file area files. * Reformat ALL Areas - This will step you through each File Area and offer the same options as Reformat 1 Area. * Edit An Area - This will display a list of File Areas to choose from. This allows to select a starting point other than 1. * Delete An Area - This allows you to delete a File Area. All File Areas and their associated files will be renumbered from that point on. * Insert/Add An Area - This allows you to Insert/Add a File Area. If you Insert an Area, then all File Areas and associated files above the point in which you inserted it will be renamed. ** Command Tables This will allow you to setup your Command Tables. This is where you define what commands will be available to the users. These are the commands that available from the Main Menu, File Menu and Message Menu. You will need to know what the Function names are. These are the Built in BBS Procedures. You should have an example COMMAND.DAT file already. You will be presented with a menu. You will have the option of Edit Command tables and Reload Command Tables. * Edit Command Tables - This will allow you to edit the Command Tables. Below is a description of each field. Keystroke - This is the keystroke that is required in order to activate that function. Status - This will tell the BBS whether or not this command is On or Off. If On, then the user will ne able to select it. If Off, then they will not be able to select it. Use the mouse to toggle it On or Off. Type - There are 4 types of Commands. Select this field with the mouse and you will be presented with a menu to choose from. It will then insert that information into the field. Internal BBS Procedure - These are the commands that are built into the BBS. Example: If you want the user to be able to page the Sysop, there is an Internal BBS Procedure called CALLSYS that will allow the user to do this. It just tell the BBS that the name in the Filename field is the name of a built in procedure/command. Text/Menu/Script - This tell the BBS that the name in Filename is the name of a file and that it should display it to the user. This file can be a simple text file, a text file that is a menu or a script file. The BBS will know the difference. External Module - David, fill in here. External BBS Module - Fill in here also. Filename - This is the name of the built in BBS procedure, drive, path and filename of a Text/menu/Script file or module. For a text file, you would enter something like 'G:\HANDLES.TXT'. This would display the file if the user chose this command. Reaction - This is what the BBS will send out due to the user selecting this command. If the user chooses this option and I had it set to view the file 'G:\HANDLES.TXT' and that file displayed the handles and Real name of the user, then I would want a reaction of 'View Handles'. This appears if the user has Hotkeys selected. Access - This is the Command Access Level of a user that is required before the user can access this command. If I wanted only users with a Command Access Level of 10 or higher to access the online games, then I would put 10 here. Parameters - This is where you would place any parameters that needs to be sent to an external program. If you wanted this command to run ARC.TTP and you wanted ARC.TTP to compress a file, then you would pass on something like '-a COMMAND.ARC G:\DATA\COMMAND.DAT'. Now you will notice the days of the week and On At and Off At. This allows you to have this command only active certain days and certain times of the day. If you only wanted to have this command active on Monday - Friday, then you would select it with the mouse to toggle it On/Off. If it is highlighted, then it is on. Now you can set the times of the days you have it active for. Say you wanted this command active from 6:00 am to 1:00 pm, you would enter in 060000 and 130000. The program will automatically take you past the ':'. Just type in the numbers. This allows for a lot of flexibility in your commands. To have it on at ALL times, then it must be set to 'On At: 00:00:00' and 'Off At: 00:00:00'. If you have it set to 'On At: 01:00:00' and 'Off At: 01:00:00', then this is the same as having it off. You can have the same keystroke activate different commands at different days. In the example above, I had this keystroke display a text file from Monday to Friday. Now, say I wanted this keystroke to allow the users to play online games on Saturday and Sunday. I would put in the information and highlight Saturday and Sunday ONLY. A keystroke can basically activate different things at different days of the week and different times of the day. DO NOT have the same keystroke activate different commands at the same time. You can have it set up for different days or the same day and different times. Whew! I hope you got that. Daily Schedule - Selecting this button with the mouse will pop up a dialog box. You can enter the 'On At' and 'Off At' times and it will turn on ALL days and set these times in ALL the 'On At' and 'Off At' times. It is just a shorter way of enter the information if you want the command active at the same time and on ALL the days. Exit - This will exit you out of editing the Commands and you will be asked if you want to Save COMMAND.DAT. Cancel - This will exit you out and not change any information. All information you entered will be lost. Change Tables - You have 3 tables/menus to enter commands for. This allows you to switch to one of those tables. You will have the choice of Main, File and Message. Find Key - This will allow you to search for a particular keystroke. Lower or uppercase is acceptable. Print Tables - This will allow you to print out your Command Tables. You have three methods of printing them out. Print Commands Only - This will only print out the top portion of the Command Tables. The Schedule will not be printed. If you just want to know what you have each keystroke setup as, then use this one. Print Commands With Schedule - This will print out ALL information on the command including ALL days and On and Off times. Print Commands With Partial Schedule - This will print the Command data and the Day and Times that you have the command active. For instance, I have the command only active on Monday. The program will print the command data and 'Monday On At: 00:00:00 Off At: 00:00:00' instead of all the days and times as with the above option. Command Summary - This will bring up another dialog box that will display a summary of the Commands for the currently selected table. It will display the Keystroke, Filename and Reaction. It will display 8 commands at a time. Click on the arrows to page up or down. If you click on a filename field, you will be taken back to the Command screen and the command you selected will be displayed. * Reload Command Table Data - This gives you the option to Reload the data from disk. This is useful if you decide you want to restore all the information back to original. This is only handy if you have not Saved any of the changes. When you Exit the editing, you are asked if you want to Save the data, if you choose NO, then the information is not saved but, the changes are still in memory. In order to restore the information back to original in memory you will need to reload the data (if you haven't saved it to disk). ** Macros If the Macro file is found when the BBS runs, it will allow the users to use Macros. This allows the user to define a key to store test in, a sequence of keystrokes, etc. If I did a certain sequence of keypresses a lot, I could setup a macro to do this for me. I would just press Control-A and the Macro Number and the contents of that Macro would be inserted at the point that I am currently at. This option will allow you to Reformat/Define the number of Macros and their length or Delete them. * Reformat This will allow you to Reformat/Define the number of Macros for each user and the length of each Macro. I have mine set at 10 macros with 20 characters each. You will be asked for the number and the length. If the file is found, it will notify you that the file exist and ask if you want to overwrite it. The program will display the current record it is on. * Delete This will just delete the file. It will ask you if you are sure. ** Events An Event to the BBS is a program that is to be executed on a certain day and at a certain time of the day. You can run any program. There are several programs that are designed to be ran with Transcendence as Events. One such program is called Cleanup. It is designed to help the Sysop by searching for duplicate users, Archive files, etc. Now, if you wanted to run this program each night at a certain time, then you could set it up as an event. This option will allow you to do several things. * Edit Event This will allow you to edit an existing Event. Below is a description of the Edit Event screen. Anytime you Exit the edit screen, you will be asked if you want to save the data. If you select no, then it will not save it but, the changes will remain in memory. Filename - This is where you enter the Drive, path and filename of the program to execute. Example: G:\MODULE\CLEANUP\CLEANUP.TTP. Parameters - This is where you would pass on any parameters/info to the program that is going to be executed. If you have ARC.TTP setup to run each night and you wanted it to ARC your TRANS.LOG file, then you would pass on these parameters. '-a G:\DATA\TRANSLOG.ARC G:\DATA\TRANS.LOG'. Priority - This is where you tell the BBS how urgent it is to run this program. 0 (zero) turns the event off. 1 is Low priority. This will tell the BBS that if a user is online, then don't bother with it. 2 is Medium priority. This will execute the program with the user still online. It will tell the user to stand by and then execute the program. 3 is High priority. This will decrease the user's amount of time left online for that call. If the user logs on and has 1 hour for that call and the event is take place in 15 minutes, then the user will only have 15 minutes for that call. The program will then start warning him that an event is going to take place in so many minutes. You determine that in the General Setting. Refer to Warn Events activating in: under Edit Settings. Page 2. When the user's time is up, it will log him/her off and execute the event. Only the user's time for that call is reduced. His/Her overall time is not affected. 4 is After each call. This tell the BBS to run this program after each user has logged off. Modem Info - This is used to send information to the modem before the execution of the event. If you wanted the modem to be taken offhook or Auto Answer disabled before that event was executed, then you would type in the appropriate information on this line. After the execution of that event, then the modem is reset to the default setting you have in your MODEM.DAT file. The selection of days of the week and the times of the day for the event to run is works the same as explained under Edit Commands. It just tell the BBS to execute this event anytime between On At: to Off At:. This just means that if you have it set to Low priority and a user is online at the time the event is to be executed, then when the user logs off and the time is before the Off At time, then the event will still be executed. Daily Schedule - This works the same as explained under Edit Commands. Next - This will take you to the next event. Previous - This will take you to the previous event. Exit - This allows you to exit the editing of the event and it will ask you if you want to save the data. * Reformat Events This will zero out all the event information. You will be asked if you are sure you want to do this. * Extend Events If you have 3 events setup and you want to add a 4th one, then you would select this option and enter in the number of events you want to add. In this case, you would type in 1 since you only want 4 events and already have 3. You MUST do this if you want more events than you previously defined. You would then Select Edit Events and select Next until you reach the last event. There should be no data in any of the fields. * Delete Event This will allow you to delete an event. You will be asked which event to delete and then asked if you are sure. When you delete an event, all other events are pulled up. In other words, if you had 4 events and you delete event number 2, then event 3 will become event 2 and event 4 will become event 3. * Reload Event Data This allows you to reload the data from disk. This is in case you change your mind about the changes BUT, you have not saved the data yet. ** Drives This will allow you to edit the drives and paths that information is stored on. You can define up to 32 drives to hold the BBS files on and the folder in which that information is located. The BBS program will search for the drive with the most free space to store files on. This is done with some files the first time they are created and some file are done everytime. Example: When the BBS first creates the file description file, it will search for the drive with the most space to create F1.DAT and F1.IDX for file area number 1. Now, each time a file is uploaded, it will search for the drive with the most space to store that file on but, the description for that file will still be written to the drive that F1.DAT and F1.IDX was created on. If you only have drive G setup for the BBS's use, then just type in G. If you have drive C,D,E & F setup for the BBS's use, then you would enter CDEF on the drives line. You could have each folder that holds certain information on a different drive. Take a look at the drives screen and you will see what I mean. All folder information may be entered in upper or lowercase. Data Files - This is where data files such as USERS.DAT, TRANS.LOG, etc. are stored. Message Bases - This is where all the Message Base and Email files are stored. File Areas - This is where all the File Area folders and information is stored. Text Files - This is where all text files are stored. These are file such as MAINMENU.TXT, LOGOFF.TXT, etc. Backups - This is where all files that are backed up by the BBS are stored. Module Routines - This is where files such as ARC.TTP, XYZ.TTP, XFER.TTP, etc. are stored. Fmail/Fmessages - This is where all Fmail and Files for Fmessages are stored. Fmail is just Email with a file attached and Fmessages are just messages in the Message Bases with file attached. Temporary Files - This is where files such as Informer files are stored. Main BBS Folder - This is where all the folders and information above is stored. If you wanted ALL files associated with the BBS in the folder TRANSBBS, then enter TRANSBBS here. Cancel - This will exit the screen and not ask you if you want to save the data or not. All changes will be lost. Exit - This will exit the screen and ask you if you want the program to create the folders for you. ** Userlog This allows you to Reformat, Increase or Decrease the Userlog. * Reformat - This will zero out ALL the information on ALL the users. You will be asked if you are sure you want to do this. * Increase Userlog - This will allow you to have more users than you initially set the BBS up for. Use this if you have filled up your userlog. * Decrease Userlog - This will allow you to decrease the number of users that you initially set the BBS up for. If you set it up to handle 200 users and you find that it is too much, then use this option to decrease it. The more users you set the BBS up for, the larger the file will be and the longer it will take to search for the user when he logs on. This option will search for the first slot with information in it from the end of the file. When it finds information in a lot, then it will stop and tell you how many slots you can decrease the log by. Enter any amount up to that point. After you have entered the amount, the program will create a Backup file called USERS.DA and USERS.ID. This is so that the BBS can copy the information from the old file to the new file and to allow you to have a backup in case you ever want to restore that information. ** Reformat Masks This will allow you to reformat your MASKS.DAT file. If it is found, then it will inform you that the file exist and ask if you want to overwrite it. ** Cleanup This allows you to set parameters for the Cleanup program. The Cleanup program is a program that you can run as an event to do certain BBS maintenance functions. Questions which contain a triangle to the left of the question may be toggled using the mouse or, you may enter the word Yes or No. It doesn't matter if it is upper or lowercase. Delete Email after xx Days - This tells the program to delete any Email after it has been there xx number of days. If you want the option activated, enter in any number higher than 0. You will want to leave the receiver enough time to read it. Delete Fmail after xx Days - This is the same as Email but for Fmail type messages. Delete Fmail file also - This tells the program that when it deletes an Fmail message, to delete the associated file also. Archive File Areas - This will tell the program to go through the File Areas and Archive any file that is not an ARC or LZH file. Archive with ARC/LZH - This will tell the program what compression method to use when Archiving the File Areas. Clicking on this field will bring up a dialog box in which you can choose ARC or LZH. You may also type in ARC or LZH. Delete Inactive user after xx Days - This tells the program to delete any user that has not logged on in the last xx Days. Provisions have been made in the User Editor to un-delete a user. This will only work if no other person has logged on as a New user and taken this slot. Backup TRANS.LOG file each night - This tells the program to backup TRANS.LOG each night and start over with a fresh file. The file will be moved to the BACKUP folder. Re-run Transcendence each night - This tells the program to re-run itself each night. This will help keep down any memory problems you may have and to help keep memory clean. Reboot computer each night - This tells the program to reboot the computer each night. This will clear out memory completely and help keep things clean. You will need to make provisions for the BBS to be able to be auto-booted after the reset takes place. ** Edit Settings This option will present you with a menu. The menu contains selections for the five pages of settings. You can start at any one of the five. You can advance to the next page or go back to the previous page from any of the pages. I have tried to arrange text entry fields together on the first couple of pages and On/Off selectable fields together on the last couple of pages. ANY field that has a triangle beside it (on the left hand side), is mouse selectable. Some fields are a combination of text entry/mouse selectable. In other words, you can either select it with a mouse and it will display the status such as On or Off or, you can enter in the words On, Off, etc. These fields are usually found on screens where there is text entry type fields. Page 4 & 5 of the settings are mouse selectable only fields. Below is the page number and a description of each field on that page. ** Page 1 BBS Name - This is the name of your BBS. Sysop Password - This is the password that will be needed if the user has Sysop Access. Whenever the Secondary Password is asked for, this is the password that needs to be entered. It is also the password that is used when Local Security (explained later) is On. System Password - This is the password that is needed when you have Private BBS (explained later) turned On. Last Caller - This contains the Handle of the last caller to the BBS. Last Run Date - This is the date the BBS was last ran. Keep Last How Many Callers - This is the number of how many callers the BBS will track as who's called the BBS. When the user selects the command of 'Who's Called'. He will see this many callers. Password Echo Character - This is the character that is echoed back to a user when a password is entered. You want it to be a character that is recognized by all computers. You may want to use something like '.' or '*'. Idle Baud Rate - This is the Baud Rate that the modem idles at. In other words, the Baud Rate at which the modem starts at when a user logs on. Min. Baud Rate - This is the minimum Baud Rate that you will accept from a user. If you don't want 300 baud callers, then enter 1200 here. Max. Baud rate - This is the maximum Baud Rate you will accept. Default Country - When a user is asked for his/her Country, if they press return, this is what the BBS will default to. New User Mask - This is the mask that will be applied to ALL New Users. A user is considered New if he/she does not have an account on the BBS and answers Yes to the question of whether or not hey wish an account on the BBS. Guest User Mask - This is the mask that will be applied to Guest users. A user is considered a Guest when he/she does not have an account on the BBS and answers No to the question of whether or not they want an account on the BBS. Verified User Mask - Fill in here. Idle Timeout - This is the amount of time that elapses when no interaction to the BBS has taken place by a user. After this amount of inactivity has taken place, the BBS will automatically log the user off. He/She will be warned before hand. ** Page 2 Calls Today - This just displays the number of calls the BBS has received today. You can enter anything you want here or leave it as is. Calls Total - This is the total amount of calls the BBS has received since it was created. Enter what you want here or leave it as is. The next 3 questions deal with Fido networking. This information will be given to you when you join. If you are not going to use Fido, then this information does need to be entered. Just leave it at 0 or blank. Node Number - Node Name - Node City- Send Feedback to User # - This will allow you to redirect Feedback to any valid user. Normally this is set to you number but, if you wanted to go on vacation and had a remote sysop handling things, you could tell it to redirect all feedback to that user number. Local Dial - Fill in here Long Distance Dial - Fill in here Area Codes - These are the area codes that are acceptable when the BBS does a Long Distance Dial? Chat On - This tell the BBS what time to start allowing the users to page you. Chat Off - this tell the BBS what time to stop allowing the users to page you. Initialize Modem Every xx Minutes - This tells the BBS how often to send the modem initialization string to the modem. Warn Events activating in xx Minutes - This will tell the BBS when to start warning a user that an event is about to take place. Upload File Area - This tells the BBS what file area to send ALL files to. This was designed to allow the Sysop to have all files sent to one area and then decide where to put them when validated. This setting works hand in hand with 'Uploads go to Sysop File Area' on page 5. One will not work without the other. This number (and File Area number) must be higher than 0 if this function is going to be used. BBS Operation Hours - This is the time that the BBS will be active. If you only want the BBS active from 10:00 pm to 06:00 am, then enter 22:00:00 in On At and 06:00:00 at Off At. If it is to be active ALL the time, then enter 00:00:00 in both fields. ** Page 3 Lock Baud At - This tell the BBS to lock the Baud settings in the computer to a certain baud rate. This is only needed if you have a high speed modem that changes the baud rate of the modem but, the rate at which it transfers data to the computer is always the same. Auto-Informing Messages to User # - This works the same as Feedback goes to User #. Any Informer messages goes to this user. Default Window Size - This is the default size of the window when Transcendence is booted up. These last 2 pages only have fields that can be toggled On/Off with the mouse. If it is highlighted, then it is On. ** Page 4 RTS/CTS - This tell the BBS to set RTS/CTS On. This is only used for high speed modems. If you have TOS 1.0, you will need a file called TURBOCTS in order for this function to work properly. If you have TOS 1.4 or above, you will need a file called TOS14FIX. The latest version is 2.0. Only 1 of the next 3 settings will be able to be chosen. Use UL:DL Ratio - This tells the BBS to base the number of files a user can download on the number of files the user uploads. Use MSG/DL Ratio - This tells the BBS to base the number of files a user can download on the number of messages the user enters or replies to. Use File Points - This tells the BBS to base the amount of bytes the user can download on the number of bytes the user uploads. Allow Remote Sysops - Fill in here. Screen Saver - This tell the BBS to activate it's built in screen saver. Allow Handles - This tells the BBS whether or not to allow handles. If Off, the user's handle will be the same as their real name. Show VT52 Codes - Fill in here. Snoop Mode - This tells the BBS whether or not to have Snoop Mode default to On or Off when it is booted up. Printer Echo - This tells the BBS to echo everything to the printer. You can use a lot of paper this way. If you want to generate a lot of paper to recycle, then be my guest. Disk Log - This tell the BBS to send all Log information to TRANS.LOG in the DATA folder. Printer Log - This tells the BBS to send all Log information to the printer. Fido - This tells the BBS that you are Using Fido. Local Security - This tell the BBS that anytime the BBS is access from the keyboard, that it should ask for the Sysop Password. This is to help prevent those that come over to your place and decide they want to get at some information. This applies to access to the BBS, Sysop Functions (Dos commands) and the System Editor. Term At Logon - This tell the BBS to ask for the terminal type each time a user logs on. Hard Drive - This tell the BBS that you are using a HD for the BBS. New User Email - This will force a New User into Email when they apply for an account on the BBS. Warn Low Space - This tell the BBS to warn you when you are getting low on disk space. Printer Bells - This tells the BBS to ring the printer bell also when it rings the system bell. This is handy if you have your monitor off and the system bell is sounded. You will need to have your printer on of course. Post? During QuickScan - This will tell the BBS to ask the user if he/she wishes to post on that base during a QuickScan. If the user has QuickScan Message Bases turned on and comes to the end of the new messages, then the BBS will ask them if they wish to post on that base before it proceeds to the next base. Acknowledge Local Call - Fill in here. Settings, New User - This will force the user into the Settings menu. This is where they set a lot of their defaults that is to be used by the BBS while they are online. Color Toggling - This will tell the BBS to cycle through the colors when Screen Saver is activated. Ring Back Local - Fill in here. ** Page 5 Ringback Long Distance - Fill in here. Auto Verify Local - Fill in here. Auto Verify Long Distance - Fill in here. Uploads go to Sysop File Area - This will tell the BBS that all uploads should go to the File Area defined in Sysop File Area. This goes hand in hand with that question on page 2. Visual Alerts - This will cause the screen to flash anytime the system bell is rang. This is to help the hearing impaired and those that may have the volume on their monitor turned down. Inform New Logon - This tell the BBS to inform the user set in Auto-Informer Messages to User # on page 3 that a new user has logged on. See Passwords Locally - This tells the BBS whether or not to allow passwords to be seen locally. Inform of Bad User Logon - This works the same as Inform New Logon except it informs the person that a user that has been flagged as Bad, has logged on. Questor LZH Mode - This tell the BBS that you are using the LZH programs written by Questor. These program require information passed onto them in a certain way. If you are not sure, then run the LZH program without any parameters passed onto it and if it is a Questor program, then it will say so at the top. Private BBS - This tell the BBS not to allow anyone onto the BBS unless they have the proper password. This is the System Password. There may be times in which you only want to have certain users be able to logon. *** Misc. ** View Settings This option will allow you to view your General settings and give you a synopsis of your Message Bases and File Areas. Except for the Message Base and File area displays, you will be presented with the dialog boxes that appear when you edit your settings. The 'Next' button is the default exit button so all you have to do is hit return to go to the next page. ** Set Screen Colors - This will allow you to set the colors that the screen will be at while the BBS is running. Use the mouse to increase or decrease the numbers. + will increase and - will decrease the numbers. The colors will change as you adjust them. Cancel - This will exit without setting the colors and return you to the settings before you entered this screen. Reset - This will reset the colors to what they were before you entered the screen but, it will remain at this screen. Exit - This will exit the screen and accept the changes. ** Baud Rate Editor - This will allow you to set up certain times of the day that the different bauds are allowed. Enter 00:00:00 in both fields to allow this baud at all times. Cancel - This will exit without accepting the changes. Exit - This will exit and accept the changes. That is about it. I hope I covered everything. If you find a problem with this version of the System Editor, then leave feedback to Wayne Watson or David Brown on any of the support boards. I am Sysop of Support Line 2. If there is something left out of this documentation, or you find something wrong, please let David or me know. Wayne Watson Support Line 1 - 1-502-897-1582 David Brown's BBS Louisville KY. Support Line 2 - 1-803-879-4186 My BBS Greer SC. Support Line 3 - 1-502-245-0386 Robert Goodwin's BBS Louisville KY. Support Line 4 - 1-407-699-7391 Greg Xynides' BBS Winterpark FL.