                             EXCELSIOR! BBS V0.977
                             Demonstration Release
                               January 27,  1993


    This is our fifth demo release since our original  on August 15, 1992.
    Many changes have been made  since the first release.  EXCELSIOR!  now
    supports  its own FIDO  Mail processor allowing the most powerful FIDO
    features to be used.  The BBS also supports multiple languages as well
    as  multiple  keymaps.  Please  read the  "FEATURES.LIST"  included in
    this archive  for a list of  most of the  features the current version
    supports.

    This is a copywritten program, all files distributed with this archive
    are (C)opyright 1992-1993 Sycom Design Software, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.


    Quick Setup.
    ------------
    Account #1 (SysOp) has already been pre-defined for this demo release.
    First CD  into main the  BBS directory  (where bb, maint, & config are
    located).  Next,  run  the  program called "config"  this  allows  you
    to set up all data to your specfications.

    The "MAIN BBS"  gadget should contain the  path where you want the BBS
    to  be installed to  (i.e. "DH0:BBS/"), the  other directories will be
    created  inside  this dir  (i.e. "DH0:BBS/DATA",  "DH0:BBS/TEXT", etc)
    unless  you specify a  path (i.e. "DATA:").  The  install program will
    attempt  to create these  paths, but cannot create illogical dirs.  DO
    NOT ATTEMPT TO INSTALL THE BBS TO THE CURRENT PATH ON DISK.

    To start the BBS, CD  into main BBS directory,  run the program called
    "MASTER".  This  controls all activity  on the BBS and will display to
    you all lines in use.  Using  the SYSOP LOGIN  gadget will  auto-login
    account #1 (the SysOp account).  You should use the command EA to edit
    your account (#1) to your specifications.

    The following commands can be used for sysop accounts:
    EA    Edit a current user's account.
    EG    Edit an accessgroup template.

    AL    Add a message/file subboard (in message or filebase).
    EL    Edit a specific subboard.

    ?     Lists menu of available commands for the current area.
    ??    Lists list of available "GLOBAL" commands.
    @     Lists of all available Sysop commands.


    EXCELSIOR!'s  ARexx  port is constantly running, and each node has its
    own port.  All ARexx doors should first use "OPTIONS RESULTS".

    All  DOS/SHELL  programs  need to access the "ECOM" program in the "C"
    directory.  This  load-and-stay-resident  (LSR) program  should be run
    in your user-startup  file  if you plan on  using the  Online shell or
    any DOS program (shell doors).

    Here is a  list of some of the  popular % switch statements that allow 
    you to pass  system variables into the argv[] arguments of a DOS door.

    %1      Users System Alias            %11      Login Time
    %2      Users Real Name               %12      First Call
    %3      Street                        %13      AccessGroup
    %4      City                          %14      AccessGroup Title
    %5      State                         %15      Sysop Comments
    %6      Zip (Postal)                  %16      User ID #
    %7      Country                       %17      User Serial #
    %8      Voice/Home Phone #            %18      Node #
    %9      Data/Work Phone #             %19      User_Alias (With "_")
    %10     Computer                      %20      Path To Users Directory


    MAINT is an external program, usually  run from DCRON, located in the
    EVENTS  directory.   It  allows  you to  automatically  "clean up" the
    system.  It  takes  care of "weeding out" inactive users, deleting in-
    active posts  and files, automatically converting and testing archives
    for each area, and other functions.  It supports these arguments:

    -b         Configure all Fido Base's to XMAIL config file.
               (this is for registered systems only)
    -f         Ignore file base.
    -l         Log all actions to the bbs.
    -m         Ignore message base.
    -o         Display output to shell.
    -u         Ignore userlog.


    BBSCOM can be also be run from DCron (EXCELSIOR!s event scheduler) to
    access and control different nodes automatically.  Some arguments are:

    -a "x-x"   Accessgroup range (broadcast).
    -b         Send broadcast to nodes.
    -c x       Closedown line #x (dont answer calls).
    -d x       Dump user on node #x (clear line).
    -f "name"  Change senders name (ium & broadcast).
    -h         Show no header (ium & broadcast).
    -i x       Send IUM to node #x.
    -m "mess"  Message to send (ium & broadcast).
    -o x       Open line #x (answer calls).
    -w         Show who is online.


     DCRON used by permission from Matt Dillon.
