
Tuesday 04-Oct-94 06:00:31

--1750--

WN> I, personally, don't care for CNet. I've been on several CNet-based
WN> BBS's and they all look the same i.e. those cryptic menu choices
WN> at the bottom of the screen like: PFiles, GFiles, Base, etc.

Since CNet can allow each caller to chose what language-text, and
menu-keystrokes, he wants:
1) English
2) French
3) German
4) Italian
5-255 (whatever you like)

Why not extend it more....
5) Similar to DLG cmds
6) Similar to Excelsior cmds
7) Similar to BBX cmds
8) Similar to Starnet cmds
9) Similar to TransAmiga cmds
10) IBM-like cmds
11-255 (whatever you like)

Or would you *still* not be happy with the cmds you have been using
for years, on whatever other BBSs you are used to calling?

--1751--

GM> Thanks for the response Bill, I appreciate it!.... one thing though, I
GM> think you are speaking of actually loading and unloading a port, whereas
GM> I'm talking about changing an existing (loaded) port's status to "online"
GM> after Trapdoor is unloaded and releases the serial port, thereby giving
GM> CNet the control over that port.

Let's start using the correct terminology for "loading/unloading a port" VS
"turning serial I/O ON/OFF".  They are *NOT* the same things.

GM> Same thing with the port going "offline"
GM> (and releasing the serial port) prior to TrapDoor being re-loaded and
GM> taking over the serial port again. I'm just taking a stab here, but I
GM> remember in a script I saw somewhere this line: (well, as close as I can
GM> remember it, anyway)

GM>    address cnetrexx "modem 1" (maybe it was "modem 0", though)

GM> Does that look familiar at all?  I can't find that darned script anywhere,
GM> I must have deleted it.  But inside it the comment about that line was
GM> that it took the port offline without unloading it.  Any ideas?

Page 222 describes the MODEM arexx cmd...
MODEM 0 : Totally close the serial port.
MODEM 1 : Open it.
MODEM 2 : Stop all I/O, but keep the port open.

From an arexx script executed from DOS-script:
> address value "CNETREXX" || port  (<- port is the port # you wish to effect)
> 'modem' 0

From an arexx script run online CNet:
> 'modem' 0

--1752--

NS> BB> C> when someone goes to download some of the decriptions are wrong, it
NS> BB> shows
NS> BB> C> another files descriptions, I have no idea why....

NS> BB> Do you store your sub's data-files in RAM:?

NS> BB> After a crash or reboot, those RAM files are gone.
NS> BB> CNet has no choice but to use the older disk-based ones.
NS> BB> Needless to say, newly added files, and older deleted files, will
NS> "throw
NS> BB> off" CNet's idea of where file descriptions are located.

NS> BB> CNet can't find things that don't exist.
NS> BB> (Those deleted RAM data-files.)
NS>
NS> I had this problem ONCE.. I figured out how to overcome it.. what I did
NS> was create a work directory in my S: directory, and within that a T dir

NS> SYS:S/
NS>      /WORK
NS>      /WORK/T

NS> Then I just re-assign T: to S:WORK/T.. saves RAM problems and file
NS> deletion, as CNET seems to use the T: directory for almost everything..
NS> Works fine for me..

You can assign "T:" to any ramdrive, any harddisk, any dir, you like, anywhere.
(Although, I think "inside dir s:" "inside subdir work" "within subsubdir t" is
a rather odd choice.)  "dh0:t" would have done it.

But how does that effect the "sub's data-files" we are discussing here?
I hope you aren't telling CNet to store THOSE files in "t:" too.
They are VERY important.  They contain the data for all your files.
They are not "temporary" files.
"T:" (regardless of where you put it) should be used only for "temporary" files
that can be used and disgarded regularly.

--1753--

BM> I'm not going to prentend to be happy to get a reaction out of Ken, or god
BM> for bid confuse him into believeing I really am satisified with this
BM> 'support'.

Who is asking you to "pretend to be happy"?  Don't pretend anything.

But you can "help" or "you can make it worse".  Your choice.

I wonder which one this is do....

On Mon 12-Sep-1994 11:33p, Shawn Mcneece said to Dave Anderson:
SM> thats close to CNet.I refuse to buy  their software no matter how shitty
SM> Ken & Jim treat me as a PAYING beta tester.

Post 1000 msgs like Shawn's, if you wish.
Will that "help"?  You?  Me?  Ken?  CNet?  Shawn?  Who?

I've just never been the kind of guy that feels, "If I scream how unhappy I am
1000 times, I'll feel better".  Some people do.  Not I.

Take the logical approach instead...
Post exactly what the problem is.  Post some REASONABLE, FEASIBLE solutions.
Not "I'm going to force Ken to speak!".  You can't.  You haven't.  You aren't
going to.  Good luck with your continued trying.  (And your rather odd approach
at doing so.)  I hope it works.

--1754--

It's been 382 hrs, 39 minutes (16 days) since I've been able to
successfully callout and connect with Future World via Trapdoor.

Before that, all was fine.   100s of successful connects.
Afterwards 100s of attempts, 0 successful.

Others seem to be having problems also.  The system is now marked
"DOWN" in the latest nodelist.  (Jim is having that corrected back to
"ONLINE" for the next nodelist release.)

Here's my TrapDoor log when I try and connect...

> 4-Oct-94 22:33:15  Connection made at 14400 Bd
> 4-Oct-94 22:33:32  Begin of session
> 4-Oct-94 22:33:33  EMSI-PUT: EMSI_INQ
> 4-Oct-94 22:33:34  EMSI-PUT: EMSI_INQ
> 4-Oct-94 22:33:35  EMSI-PUT: EMSI_INQ
> 4-Oct-94 22:33:36  EMSI-PUT: EMSI_INQ
> 4-Oct-94 22:33:39  EMSI-PUT: EMSI_INQ
> 4-Oct-94 22:33:40  EMSI-PUT: EMSI_INQ
> 4-Oct-94 22:33:40  Carrier lost
> 4-Oct-94 22:33:40  Session connect time 0:25
> 4-Oct-94 22:33:40  Hanging up modem
> 4-Oct-94 22:33:40  Already hung up
> 4-Oct-94 22:33:40  Call failed
> 4-Oct-94 22:33:40  Initializing modem
> 4-Oct-94 22:33:42  Waiting for call

Whenever Jim manually has his TrapDoor call my system, all is fine.
But I can't callout and connect with him.  Can you?

What could be causing that?

--1755--

CD> MC> WILL be a free one.  The version number will be 3.5  He is working on
CD> bug

CD> So 3.5 is half way to 4.0.. and ANOTHER upgrade..??? shit!

You can't assume that 3.5 is 1/2 way towards 4.0.
Who knows how many 3.51 3.52 3.53 or 3.94 3.95 3.96 updates will occur between
v3.0 and v4.0?  And where the bulk of the new features will be added.  No one.
None of them are completed and released yet.

Was 2.5 half-way to all the new features in 3.0???
I wish it was that easy.

--1756--

To: Marlin Schwanke @ 1:202/1112

Does anyone have any plans on writing/releasing a text-file that
answers questions like:

1) In the 3,500,000 bytes of executables and docs known as UUCP117, what are
   really the only things I need to use get my "TrapDoor and CNet v3.05c
   Fidonet BBS" to receive a few newsgroups, too?

2) For those of us that think in terms of Fidonet.  Fill in the blanks:
   A nodelist is to Fidonet what a <blank> is to Usenet.
   A Fidonet address is to Fidonet what a <blank> is to Usenet.
   A FrontDoor (like TrapDoor) is to Fidonet what a <blank> is to Usenet.
   Fidonet Echos are called <blank> in Usenet.
   Compressed Fidonet mail-packets are called <blank>.
   Tossing, bosses, zones, networks, points, nodes, feeds, polling, bundles.
   I know that not everything is going to have a UUCP<->Fidonet equivilent
   term, but anything will help me better understand this.

 3) What is the MINIMUM config'ing that UUCP117 would need to do
    something simple like:  Dial ONE site, receive my 3 newsgroups,
    toss them into CNet's own msg bases, re-feed 0 sites.  Am I
    correct in assuming that (for those purposes) a massive amount of
    stuff in UUCP117.LHA is never used?

I really just need UUCP117 explained in how it relates to CNET, not to
any other BBS software, or other shell-readers, UNIX, or all those
other things in UUCP117.LHA.

--1757--

JA> Well, the 1-100 and 5-100 DOES have something to do with it. I would like
JA> it to simply number messages when they come in, and then say 5 is a
JA> response to 1, like that, AND THEN import all 5 new messages, and either
JA> THEN or at maint it'll delete the first 5. You won't have to worry about
JA> OLDEST, as the first 5 WILL be the oldest.

It depends on how you define "oldest".
CNet currently allows either or both:
> "The *thread* has had no responses in x days."
> "Each response is y days old."
(Unfortunately, x1 must equal x2, currently.  I'd love to set those at 2
different numbers.  They definite 2 very different things.)

I would also like to avoid things like:
> "This sub has 100 msgs, number 27832-27932."  Ugh.

Who wants to type "R 27845,27852,27857" instead of "R 1,9,14".
(One typo and you are reading the wrong msgs.)

Or are you suggesting every msg base be fully renumbered at every amaint run,
too?

Time, time, time.

> Msg bases set at x msg limits, always stay at exactly x msgs.

I'd love to see the feature!  But *ONLY* if it can be implemented without
causing a great slowdown on systems (like mine) that have >89,000 msgs online
(and growing quickly).

--1758--

RW> I've got to admit - you bring up a LOT of good points.

I hope the moderator feels that way, too.

RW> BTW, what is the story with CNet and RIP graphics?

CNet can send'em fine.  Callers can view'em fine.  (Point&click works, too!)

In order for the SysOp to view them, you'll need to run a RIP-term.
(The SysOp will be able to view them directly on the CNet-screens in a future
release.)

RW> Any kind of database
RW> doors available for CNet - some with some real search and delimiting
RW> commands instead of some of the other "simplieifed" database type of set
RW> ups?

Hmmm.  There are "quite a few" CNet doors out there (to put it mildly).

99% of the ones I run, I've authored myself.  So I've lost all track of the
massive # of other ones that are out there.  Perhaps someone will post some
info about other CNet database-doors.

The 2 that I've authored are just simple things like:
List data on each line.
Search each line.
Display the matching line.
(Like the c:Search cmd does.)

And the other is...
List data in paragraphs like:
> ---
> This
> is one
> paragraph
> ---
> Here's
> another
> ---
Search each paragraph.
Display the whole paragraph if a match is found.

Both support full "? * #? | (grouping) [range-range] % ' ~" wildcards.

--1759--

BS> I don't like CNet because it has a confusing board hierachy.  It's not
BS> laid out "flat" like PCBoard where you can join a conference and have
BS> both messages and file areas at the same time.

You can mix/match/separate msg areas and file areas anyway you like with CNet.

BS> It's not laid out "flat" like PCBoard...

Which do you like?  If you call a BBS with 500 echos and usenet groups...

1) All 500 grouped in 1 long, long, long list.  You have to scan all 500 area
titles everytime you need to find the 1 you want.  And even to toggle areas ON
and OFF.

2) The AMIGA IBM MAC ATARI areas are all in nice little "groups".  The SOUNDS
GRAPHICS UTILITIES PICTURES are also in nice little "groups".  As many groups
as you need.  As many areas within each groups, as needed.  Nested as many
levels deep, as needed.  (Although 2-3 is enough for me.)  It works just like a
DOS hierachy directory structure.

With CNet you can use either 1-2, but I'd much rather use #2.
(The majority of Amiga-BBS software doesn't allow #2 AT ALL, let alone BOTH.)

You like #1?  How do you find anything???  Do you also have your personal
harddrive set-up with 0 subdirectories, too?  And everything in root?

--1760--

ZB> I think that what you forget is that a BBS should be *easy* from a users
ZB> standpoint, no matter how difficult it is from a sysop's.

I think a BBS should be easy/fast/powerful, not just "easy".

And easy/fast/powerful from *BOTH* the user and the sysop's viewpoint, not just
"the user's".  Your opinions different.  That's OK.

ZB> 'Tis why I like 4D-BBS so much.  Sure, it is hard to configure from a
ZB> sysop's POV.

Other BBS software like CNet is *simply* to configure:
1> Point and click "installer" installation.
2> Point and click from within initution-windows to set-up many things.
3> Point and click right into windows *ONLINE* for many others.
4> Edit simple, human-readable ASCII text-files.
Why make it "hard".  It doesn't have to be.  It's called "correctly, cleverly
designed software."  (#3 is VERY slick and has to be seen to be believed.)

ZB> The *other* reason I love 4D is it comes with no default menus.  You have
ZB> to make your own.

Oddly, I'd rather have a BBS INCLUDE a default menu set.  Or better yet 2 sets,
or 5, or 10 different sets.  Most come only with 1.  4D comes with *0*???

ZB> I hate BBS systems that are all identical.

But you can't control that.  You can only control *YOUR* system.  So why worry
about whether or not 100 other BBSs look alike or different???

Some people like them similar, so they don't have to remember 20 different full
sets of cmds.  Others like'em all different.  CNet allows you to have either
one, or both, or all 20 (or more).

--1761--

JG> Bill, you've logged onto my BBS before, so I'm rather puzzled at your
JG> lapse.  You did so when I was running a Paragon system, again when I ran
JG> Amiga Hovel out of my barracks, and again a year later when I was running
JG> SuperBitMap in Spring Valley.

Your system is just 1 of 100s that I call.  So you can imagine how difficult it
is to try and remember them all.  (And years later, no less.)

What am I thinking of?  I recall an odd "F" "N" "=" "A" "N" or some such odd,
hard to remember, key-sequence, just to view new files.  I just didn't care for
it.  And 0 SysOps changed it.  I asked a few and they stated it could NOT be
changed even if they wanted to.  From what I understand, *years* later, DLG did
become flexible enough to allow it to be changed.  I would have hated to wait
those years, though.

Those are NOT the exact keystrokes, but it was something VERY non-mnemonic.
I like things like:
N is for NEW
F is for FILES
M is for MESSAGES
B is for BYE
O is for OFF
Or SOME KIND of similar letter-word association.

Of course, if you only allow A-Z (26) cmds per menu, you quickly run out of
common-sense type choices.  Or even with "a-z A-Z" (52) choices.

Some of my CNet-BBS menu prompts allow over *300* different cmds.  0 conflicts.
(You, of course, can use all 300, or just the 1-10 that you need, or want to
use.  Nothing is "forced".)

--1762--

MC> Being that CNET is probably the most widely pirated bbs...

What proof do you have of that?  If true, that's something the BBS author and
authorities need to address.  Not me.

MC> I might also note that this list of
MC> yours was originally made up from a nodelisting so I wouldn't use it for
MC> much of a comparison.

Huh?  It was *NOT* taken from a nodelist.  Nodelists don't even mention the
Amiga BBS software in use, anyway.  How could your claim even be possible???

--1763--

JD>  BB> - Bill "Mr. BBS" Beogelein, author of over 100 CNet doors/tools. -

JD> Someone else already asked this, but I missed your answer: Why did you
JD> have to write over 100 tools (I'm not asking about the doors) for CNet?

The line reads "100 CNet doors/tools", not "100 tools" "100 doors".
I've lost track of how many of each that I've done.  But the total is upto 118,
combined.  And growing fast.

JD> Is it THAT incomplete??

Of course not.  I like to add things.  It's very easy to do with a BBS like
CNet.  Anybody that doesn't need (or like) my many doors/tools, doesn't have to
run them.  I'm NOT offend.

It's OK to be curious about CNet even though you don't run it yet.  It's OK to
be curious about all the doors and tools that many people have written for it.
It's OK to ask questions.  Please continue.  I'll try and clarify as many
things as possible for you.  Ask away.

--1764--

GS> Let's talk about CNet for a couple minutes.

I hope the moderator continues to allows everyone to ask questions.
And everyone to answer them, too.
Many people are interested.  But a few determined users are bent on STOPPING
this discussion NOW, by any means necessary.  They don't want you to know the
facts, or the opinions of others.

GS> I helped a sysop a while back
GS> set up a mid 2 version (2.5 or so) with FidoNet.

From December *1992* ???
An unbelievable # of new features have been added to v3.05c since then.

GS> Noww, how does CNet 3.x handle FidoNet?  Does it have an internal tosser
GS> now and front door or what?  I know a person interested in installing a
GS> BBS, but he was wanting to do a serious mail setup (over 200 bases and
GS> more like 500 from 4 or 5 networks).

CNet's has it's own Tosser.  It's just a small executable, so you can run it,
or replace it with another one of your choice.  I use CNet's own.

CNet (like most Amiga BBS software) uses TrapDoor, or JamMail, or any
front-door you like.

I'm not sure what the limit is on the overall # of msg areas, but (as is
usually with a BBS like CNet) it's most likely some place between 16777216 and
4294967300.  And you can neatly "group" areas together, if you like.

Call a few of the giant 10-20 line CNets like:
> 408-848-6681 running *1700* Usenet/Fidonet msg echos
> 312-850-0112 running *2000* Usenet/Fidonet msg echos
(Those totals are quite old, so they might even be BIGGER by now.)
Ask those SysOps why they picked CNet (out of >50 different BBS
packages) to run their giant BBSs.  Some people think it's just a
coincidence.  I don't think so.

I'm not sure what a new *50-line* BBS has on it.  But it too is running CNet.

GS> ...from 4 or 5 networks).
GS> Can CNet do this without any extra
GS> work at all (including addressing for netmail from each of these
GS> networks)?

The set-up is simple point & click.
(If you need to do 1000-5000 areas, you can run a "bulk area creator" prg.)

Online, to address netmail, it's just "name@111:222/333" regardless of
the # of different networks you have set-up.

Run the free CNet demo and check things out for yourself.  Let
everyone know how you feel.

--1765--

When looking at the largest known list of Amiga BBSs in the world
(WABL) (over 1150 BBSs), I wonder why so many SysOps buy and run
certain BBS software, but very few run others.  Does anybody know?
(We're talking about some drastic 10-20 fold differences here!)

> Searched 1190 BBSs in 'WABL!Oct94.txt'.
> Systems running between 10 and 9999 copies
> of the same BBS software...
>     AE: AmiExpress     =  15
>     BX: BBX            =  20
>     CI: Citadel        =  16
>     CN: C-Net          = 346
>     DL: Dialog Pro     = 222
>     E!: Excelsior!     =  65
>     MA: Max's BBS      =  40
>     SK: Skyline II     =  10
>     ST: Starnet/MEBBS  =  50
>     TR: TransAmiga     =  23
>     XE: Xenolink       =  90

--1766--

MF> bulletins would get shown, but only once). Then I added two more lines and
MF> one of my users suggested I put a "Last 10 Callers" thing in, to see who
MF> was calling from where and all that good garbage.

Mike, I don't mean to address this at you, but just generally speaking...

"Last 10 callers" seems to be one of the popular log-in pfiles around.
Many different authors have written one.
Many different BBS packages have them.

I never understood the point.  Should I really care that 10 people (that I
don't know) called the BBS before I did?  Or that they called from Michigan,
New York, and Florida?  Or that they were online 12/26/17 minutes?  Or that
they D/Led 3/8/0 files?

Who cares???  What does that really mean TO ME?

Do people wonder about those things?  I hope there have been at least 10 people
who have called before me.  I hope they call from various states.  Should
everyone live in the same state???  I hope they stay online x minutes.  I hope
they D/L x files.  Do I really need to see all that?  Should I be writing it
down, or something?

You can always see if your users are REALLY interested in a pfile with this
simple test:
1) Remove it from your log-in screen.
2) Place it into an online cmd.  ("TOP10" in this example.)
3) Keep track of how many people REALLY executed it.
I bet it is EXTREMEMLY few.  What does that tell you?

--1767--

DL> I'm having a little difficulty with the chat.snd on my system.  The OS
DL> says that the file is an invalid iff hunk, and then brings up the sound
DL> prefs gadget.  It used to work fine! Am I missing a file somewhere?

Unfortunately, the prg that plays the chat.snd file, has the same name as the
sounds-prefs-gadget prg.  So CNet doesn't know which one to run.

Search BBSTEXT for "chat.snd" and change (both lines) to reflect the
full-paths.  (It'll also help the system find them quicker.)

I changed mine to:
{$0 run >nil: <nil: CNet:c/Sound SysData:LogIn.snd 16000 v55 q}
and
{$0 run >nil: <nil: CNet:c/Sound SysData:Chat.snd 7000 v45 q}

DL> David Lund
DL> David Lund
DL> --- CNet/3
DL>  * Origin: Star Palace BBS - 817 377-0307 (1:130/408.1) (1:130/408.1)

Do you want your name twice and your Fidonet address twice, at the end of every
msg?

--1768--

BB> If I want to capture some text, and I open a capture buffer, it gets
BB> pointlessly filled with tons of /-\|/-\|/-\|/-\|/-\|/-\|/-\|/-\|
BB> characters at the end of *every* screen.  Ugh.

And it's not just capture-buffers that full up.  Even just using my term prg's
scrollback-buffer and seeing it getting pointless filled with
/-\|/-\|/-\|/-\|/-\|/-\|/-\|/-\| characters, is a waste.

TY>         ie:    4!
TY> It will scroll through the file without any twirly prompts/more prompts
TY> popping up.

I use "!" often.  But then I lose ALL screen paging.  Ugh.  Not a solution.

TY> I understand what you're talking about, but if a user captures something
TY> on my board, it's not up to me to make sure their captures look clean and
TY> all.  If they capture, they should expect to have some cleaning work to
TY> do.

The less work the better.  "No extra work at all" would be great.

TY> But just for you - I added the "SCUZ-SOFT CONTROL PANEL" so that users can
TY> dissable the twirly-wait-icon thingy.

I don't think it was "just for me".  I bet MANY people will like that feature
turned-off.  In 2 weeks would it be possible to mention how many people have it
set to ON/OFF or DEFAULT?  I'd really like to know.  Maybe I'm the only person
on the planet that doesn't see a point to all those /-\|/-\|/-\|/-\|/-\
characters.  Are they really that "pretty"???  I can sit at home all day and
watch a line spin around wildly, offline, if I like that kind of thing.
It's just NOT why I make 100s of phone calls per month to BBSs.

--1769--

DC> I wish there were a couple of other Amiga BBS's in town that could
DC> joinlink with mine w/o hefty LD bills, but alas, I'm all alone in a
DC> sea of beemers...

JB> You can link with the MajorBBS in your area, if they have paid the extra
JB> $200 or so for the feature. (LMAO)

Is this MajorBBS prg a specific MajorBBS<->CNet add-on module?
(If so, who's the author?)

or

Is this MajorBBS prg a specific MajorBBS<->MajorBBS prg?
(And MajorBBS's linking is already compatible with CNet's joinlink.)

--1770--

BD> Is there an easy way to check the validity of GIF and IFF files other than
BD> viewing them?

By "validity" do you mean #1 or #2:
1) Check that they are, in fact, GIF or IFF files.
2) Verify that they are fully intact, undamaged, usable GIF or IFF files.

Both can be done.  #2 is over my head, but I bet the folks in the PROGRAMMING
Echo can help you.

#1 can be done by doing a few hex-dumps of GIF or IFF files and looking at the
1st few lines.  ("TYPE FileName.gif OPT H")

Also, there's a prg called "GIFinfo".  I've added it to my
cnet/config/archive/viewer listing.
When callers [E]xamine a GIF file, they now see #B instead of #A:
A) Unknown file type.

B) GIFInfo V1.13  GIF File Scanner
    1992 by Christophe PASSUELLO, All Rights Reserved.
   SIG  Width  Height  Colors  Palette  FileName
   ---  -----  ------  ------  -------  --------
   87a   640     480     256   24 bits  tsas2804.gif

Who has a similar prg for IFF files?  (That gives as much info about them as
humanly possible.)

--1771--

BB> Yet another file (ugh) added inside each of 1000s of archives.
BB> Very few BBS can run c:version on archives online.
BB> Very few people are going to think to run c:version on archives
BB> offline.
BB> You can't have an archive with 2 (or more) different version numbered
BB> executables in it.

DC> Sorry, but I don't spend every waking moment trying to find every negative
DC> thing I can think of.. that's not healthy thinking in my book... leads to
DC> severe depression and eventually paranoia. Shortcomings?

I sure wouldn't suggest ANYONE "spend every waking moment" like that.
(I know I don't.)

But I see absolutely nothing wrong with listing a handful of good points, and a
handful of bad points, about a suggested new feature.  I had hoped that's what
we were doing here.  No?  Or is it "only mention the good, not the bad"???  I
hope not.

So far, the bad greatly out-numbers the good.

DC> BB> You can't have an archive with 2 (or more) different version numbered
DC> BB> executables in it.

DC> And what's that BBS ad you put in all your archives... yet ANOTHER file
DC> (ugh)

So do you want 1 additional file or *2* additional files in 1000s of archives?
(I've actually seen 5-10 BBS ads in some archives.)

Or are you saying the $VER:" file should "REPLACE" the BBS ad?
Good luck trying to convince 1000s of SysOps of that idea.  I wish you much
success.

--1772--

SI>   Anybody got any idea how to open up a Port Capture from AREXX??

SI>   ...is there a putuser or something that can be used, or even a plain
SI> Arexx Command...      the manual doesn't list one...         ...so
SI> anything you guys can tell me would be appriciated...

I haven't seen that one being done.  But I'd love that as a new feature.
I mentioned it to Ken ages ago.  (But I don't think too many other people saw
the power of it.  Please mention it to KEN!)

What were you planning on using it for?

It would have wide-spread powers:
1) Auto-capture online confs and joinlink confs.
   Currently, you can either leave the buffer open 24 hrs.
   (Pointless, because no one is there to close and save it.)
   OR
   You have to make sure someone is there at all times to open/close/save
   every discussion.  (That's not possible.)

2) Run an amaint event that would capture all the output of a
   "SCAN SINCE -7" cmd.  Automatically generate "new files this week" archive,
   WITHOUT a need to run 3rd party prgs.

3) Use #2 to create user-lists, nodelists, n/g/pfile scan-lists, and pfile
   output, WHO-ouput, etc.
   Anything that could be done online, could be done with an event and saved
   to a file for later vieing or D/Ling by folks that wanted to.

4) Trigger open/close/save buffers based on the time, date, # of users online,
   certain activity, user's age, anything.
   (Currently, you can do that on a per-user basis only.)

D> Being as this is a user priviledge flag, I wonder what would happen if you
D> enabled it while the user was online? I'll have to try that...

Did you get a chance to try that?

I hope we aren't confusing the 2 things:
1) Each user's capture-text-at-login flag.
2) CNet's pulldown-menu marked "Capture open/close".

It's pretty easy to toggle #1.  But I don't think it'll have any
effect until the next log-in.  (After all, it is a "capture at
*login*" flag.)

We need to do #2 under software-control.
Any ideas?

--1773--

E> Well, i was wondering, is there any way to edit C-Net's code, so
E> it can run irc?  That is without completly reprogramming it...

AD> YES.
AD> --- CNet/3
AD>  * Origin: Amiga Underground (207)/882-7787/5991 USR V34 (911:6610/0)

"Yes, you wish to know also"
or
"Yes, it can be done"
How?

I regularly call a CNet site that has IRC access.
But it is messed up bad.
Running IRC in just a straight, plain, ASCII mode would be great.

Who is the author of the IRC door that CNet uses?
(I assume it is a door, of some kind.  No?)
What lanuage is it written in?  Is the author interested in fixing it?
Is the source code available?  Can I get a copy?
Was it designed for CNet v3.05c?

E> Well, i was wondering, is there any way to edit C-Net's code...

I wouldn't suggest "editing CNet's code".

--1774--

S> Any suggestions/complaints are greatly appreciated.

I hope you mean that.

S> The NEW Message scanner AT LOGON needs some serious work. This is one of
S> the main reasons my system (The Wolf's Lair!) is not NETWORKED. But if Ken
S> is able to fix this .. I would seriously consider it.

S> The problem is that when a user logs on they are OVERWHELMED by new
S> messages.

I certainly wouldn't let that be the *MAIN* reason to not network at all.
(Or *ANY* reason.)  You can always join just a few echos or newsgroups.
Or 1000s.  (Just make them default to "DROPPED", if you like.)
But don't void all networking instead.  That's not the "solution".

S> 10) The User SHOULD HAVE A CHOICE of reading the LOCAL subs OR the
S> NETWORKED       subs. This is the most important feature I'd like to see
S> changed. The User     could use the regular -> R <- for local subs, and ->
S> N <- to newscan the networked ones.

If Ken decides to break things down like that, it should at least be:
NETWORKED, LOCAL, USENET.   (Three very different things.)

S> 7) A NON-ABORTABLE help screen should appear on logon NO MATTER what

Why make it totally NON-ABORTABLE?
If a user wants to abort info that he already knows, let him.

And why "NO MATTER WHAT"?
Help-screens should be based on, yes, you guessed it, the user's help-level
setting (EP;1).  That's what it was invented for.  Why do you want it ignored,
instead???

S> 6) Users should have the ability to DROP/ADD subs RIGHT from the new scan
S>    prompt. THIS IS CRITICAL, cause the average Joe has no idea how to
S>    drop/add subs.

How would you "ADD" areas?  Dropped areas aren't going to appear in the list at
all.  How would you "ADD" those?  Areas with "no new msgs" are also NOT in the
list.  How would you "ADD" those?  How would you "ADD" any areas???

S> 5) Never underestimate a user's LACK OF PATIENCE. Murphy's Law Of BBS
S> Losers.
S>    IF at first the user doesn't succeed h/she will JUST PLAIN GIVE UP!

What is fix #5?

S> 4) The Browse command needs to be simplified. You have no idea how many
S> users
S>    use browse, and try over and over again to read Messgage #1 just by
S> hitting
S>    "1" instead of "R1". Sheeeeeesh. Now is this totally confusing or what.

Does your prompt clearly state "[R]ead" or "R#" or "READ#" or "R4 means read 4"
or something?  What?

S> And NOW The # FIX that needs to be implemented in the New Scan At
S> Logon...
S> New users should not see a message stating there are no new
S> messages/files online.

Great idea.  But *HOW* do you want that done?  I'd like to see:
1) The SysOps sets a config value to "x days".
2) All 1st-time callers will see msgs more than x days old as "new".

I don't know if you are suggesting that EVERY msg online be "new".
(I have more than 89,000 here!)
Or that that text-msg "nothing new" just be dropped.

S> Please Give This TOP TEN list to Ken!!

I sure wish you would have addressed that list to "KEN PLETZER".
I don't know if he's reading this echo TODAY, but it would have at least
allowed him to later "READ TOME" and see all your suggestions.

Please keep'em coming.

--1775--

GG> Can anyone suggest the numberof thelines to be examined in the BBSTEXT
GG> file and also, what other files may need to be looked at?

Look for line #s in BBSTEXT starting somewhere around line #1673.

If you temporarily use a new, v3.05c, default BBSTEXT file, do your problems go
away?

Do you have different $$$ value sets for each level?
Are you testing this online with an acct having that access level?

Do you have several different accting schedule sets?
If so, do you have an event set-up to turn on the correct set?
Set #2 isn't going to occur if you don't SPECIFICALLY turn it on with an event.

--1776--

> Hydra (or other 2-way protocols)
Contact any of the IBM/Fidonet systems that use it to trade mail packets.
Tell them to send you a copy of their logs.  Please post it here.  Thanks.

HR>         Let me pound this through your skull:
HR>         Sending and recieving a file at the same time is gonna take almost
HR> exactly the same length of time as sending it, then recieving it. yes, you
HR> will get 1650 cps. In order to send those two files in half the time, you
HR> would have to get 3300 cps. i am telling you, this protocol is not gonna

I was shocked to hear about 2-way protocols myself.

I thought surely they would work like this:
1) 99% efficiency if sending only
2) 99% efficiency if receiving only
3) 50% efficiency if sending and receiving AT THE SAME TIME.

Nope.  It's:
1) 99% efficiency if sending only
2) 99% efficiency if receiving only
3) 99% efficiency if sending and receiving AT THE SAME TIME!!!

Send 500K, while receiving 500K, and use no more time that if you were just
sending 500K.  I couldn't believe it.  But it's true.

Now do you see why it should be a part of CNet?  (Or at least allow the
end-user to add it.)  Why do you think everyone is ranting and raving about it?
Because it'll give us a 5% speed improvement???  No!

2-way protocols have been around for about 7 YEARS on the Amiga.
Longer on the IBM.
I'm not sure why everyone is waiting until 1994 to use them.

And Ken's waiting until "who knows when" to add it.

It would have to be (by far) the single greatest revolution to come to Amiga
BBSs this DECADE!  You won't hear me make a statement like that too often.
(And yes, other Amiga BBSs are already using it, as we speaking.)

Can TrapDoor use it yet?  What is everybody waiting for???

--1777--

S> You may want to quit that color change after the number so it
S> doesn't blead into your address like it did.

Since CNet allows everyone to set their colors to different ones, no one can
ever be sure what is (or isn't) readable on msgs echos via Fidonet all over the
world.

One person's "readable RED text over BLUE", might be "LIGHT GREEN on DARK
GREEN" and barely visible here.

Best solution...
Keep colors to a minimum.
But REVERSE text is *ALWAYS* readable, no matter what.

(Underlined too.)

--1778--

CB>  Except an interface that is user friendly right "out of the box". All
CB> too
CB> many C-Net sysops use it this way, and like it or not, in stock
CB> configuration C-Net is at best annoying for even experienced BBS'ers to
CB> use
CB> and at worst incredibly frustrating, rediculously cryptic and damn near
CB> impossible for the beginning BBS'er.

Are you more concerned with forcing OTHERS to modify their BBS, or what YOU can
do with it?  I'm more concerned about myself, and my BBS, and making it clear
for my callers.  You can't force the other sysops to modify their BBSs, even if
you wanted to.  Why try?

CB> set up thier own custom configuration.  Or maybe just totally remove those
CB> cryptic menus from the package entirely!  That seems to be the major
CB> complaint against C-net.  Why allow this to go on?  Why force the Sysop to
CB> remove the offending menus?  Why not fix the problem at the source?

Because 100 different people might have 100 different viewpoints of what is
"best", "clear", "simple".  The author has his, too.

I think you are misunderstanding how ridiculously simple it is to change a
menu, a prompt, or a cmd with CNet.

If even that is too much "extra work", I'll be more than happy to give you all
my menus.  Just copy the files and drop'em right in place.  I bet 50 other CNet
SysOps would also be more than happy to give you copies of their menus too.
Pick any one you like.  Simple or complex.  You can even use'em all at once, if
you like to give your callers many different choices.

If several of my UNIX callers state they are used to "RX" and "SX" cmds for
U/Ling and D/Ling.  I just add'em onto the list.  I do NOT have to remove the
regular U/L and D/L cmds to do it.  Takes about 2 seconds.

--1779--

DW> JF> How about having the direct access supports have an option to read
DW> JF> files.bbs for file descriptions?  This would GREATLY increase the
DW> CD-ROM

DW> I think you're confusing Direct Access (Exchange) Bases with regular
DW> bases, because no actual file-item-data files are created in an Exchange
DW> (Direct) Access base. When you use the Scan command, the files are listed
DW> in "directory" fashion, NOT in CNET fashion.

DW> However, if the files have COMMENTS attached to them, then these comments
DW> will be displayed in the file listing.

I think he means, he wants to:
1) Use a CD-ROM  (You can't write file comments to it.)
2) Use it as direct-access.
3) When a user types SCAN or DIR, a designated text-file is displayed
   (different for each sub), that is a file-list with filenotes (and
   anything else too).  Sizes, dates, colors.
   Leave off the "----rwed" flags, times, etc.
   Set it up any way you want.
4) CNet's regular SCAN or DIR would be disabled for that sub.

JF, does that sum it up?  It sounds handy to me.

But then again, I'm still waiting for the same thing, but for the LIST cmd.
("LIST" would display my own text-file, not CNet's sub-listing.)  I thought Ken
was going to add that feature ages ago.  What happened to it?  Am I overlooking
it?

I'd like to see them both.

In the meantime, are there work-arounds for either of those ideas?
Keep'em coming...

--1780--

AP> I have heard that there will be a 3.1 ROM for the 500 soon, and was
AP> wondering if this would change how CNet works??  Things work very well
AP> with the 2.01, but they (my computer store) say that the 3.1 adds some new
AP> abilitys.

You are running 2.01 or 2.1 now?  They are NOT the same.

If you are at 2.01, I would definitely suggest 3.1 ASAP.

As for "how it directly effects CNet"....
Hmmmm.  I don't know if you'll see too many big changes there.
3.1 fixes many bugs over 2.1.  Some might help in a CNet and non-CNet area.
3.1 adds some new stuff, too.  Speeds up a few things.

I bought 3.1 for by A3000 for 3 (and only 3) reasons:
1) Month after month passes and no one knows who is going to take over CBM.
   Or when WB4.0 will be released.
   Or if *ANY* is OS will ever be released.
   Or if *ANY* Amiga will ever be built again.
   (I hope they will.  But we just don't know.  Many promises.)
2) I was still running a *DISK-BASED* WB 2.1 OS.  (No ROM chips at all.)
3) 3.1 had been "coming soon" for ages.

I didn't want to get left out.
I did NOT buy it for "bug fixes", or "improvements", or "CNet improvements".

All I can say is "CNET v3.05c and WB3.1 are fully compatible".

AP> As you are "Mr. CNet" <Grin> I thought I should ask you.

It's probably best to ask A LOT of people, and weigh the pros and cons based on
many different viewpoints.

AP> Oh Yes... Thanks for your Help in the Past.

No charge.

--1781--

MF> Don't get me wrong, I like Cnet. I looked at a lot of different BBS
MF> packages before settling on Cnet, and I still look at every package I can.

Same here.  But there are still users here that are NOT really interested in
anything regarding other BBS packages.  As long as they can STOP you and me and
everyone else, from talking about them also.

MF> These opinions are entirely my own. I have no ties to Perspective
MF> Software, nor do I stand to gain anything from my views.

Same here.  I've never signed any non-disclosure agreement with any of the MANY
programs I've beta-tested over the years.  I've never agreed to praise them, or
encourage, or discourage their purchase.  I take $0 of the profits.
I can switch software at any time, of my own free will.

I can afford any BBS package ever made.  But I chose a very economical one
instead.  One called CNet.

MF> I have no
MF> intention of arguing in the "my BBS is better" war. I think all BBS
MF> systems have their shortcomings, but that when it comes right down to it,

Why does it have to be "a war" of any kind???
Let's hear their "shortcomings" and their "great features".
No war needed.  (Mike, I've NEVER seen you WAR about anything, so I don't know
why you are concerned about it.)

Surely there must be some room *between* #1 and #2 that we can all live with:
1) I must war!
2) I have no comment!

Maybe someplace like:
> The opinions I post are my own.
> The facts I post are 100% accurate and fully verifiable.
> If I accidently post an error, I welcome correction, so that I have the
  accurate info.

That's the way I've *ALWAYS* done it.  Hopefully the moderator will continue to
allow BBS d-i-s-c-u-s-s-i-o-n-s as long as we all follow those rules.

--1782--

JB> This is a MajorBBS add-on that has nothing to do with the abilities of
JB> CNet, nor does it require anything special on CNet's end.

So, summing up, are you saying...

> Any MajorBBS (that has also purchased the MajorBBS<->MajorBBS joinlink
> module), can also JoinLink with any CNET without any other problems.

I think I heard something like that before.

Does that mean MajorBBS has chosen to use CNet's linking methods/structures?
Or that CNet chose to use MajorBBS's?

I'm not complaining, I think that kind of compatibility is GREAT!  I just sure
wish we all knew about it, so we could actually use it.

Can CNet's also joinlink with many other IBM systems too?
(That we also don't know about???)

How many times have you successfully JoinLinked CNet and MajorBBS?

--1783--

V> I mailed my rego card 4 months ago and was wondering how long it takes to
V> get some feedback.

Veg, it is probably much quicker to call the support BBS and just get your
license # directly.  313-255-2466 USA

Probably faster/safer than waiting for international mails.

(It will cost you the price of a phone call, of course, but it is WELL worth
added speed.)

V> I'm not around>. I tried sending some fidonet netmail but as CNet is doing
V> something funny with the zone gating <?> I cannot send routed netmail to
V> America =o(.

I wouldn't suggest sending your license # back and forth via routed Fidonet
mail.  It passes through MANY systems that could easily obtain a copy of it.
(And/or get lost.)

--1784--

BT> BB> I thought many IBM systems even had limitation of less than 20
BT> characters
BT> BB> for Fidonet tagnames.  (Regardless of whether they are used for
BT> Internet
BT> BB> newsgroups or Fidonet Echos.)

BT> Nope, it's a limitiation of the FSC protocol.  It's 38 is memory serves.
BT> I'd have to dig out the technical stats.

Please do.  Thanks.  CNET allows only 20.  If you can post the ACTUAL FSC
quote, I'll see that Ken gets it.  (And a wrist-slapping for not (AT LEAST)
giving CNet the FSC limit.)

What would be considered ideal?  About 50 characters?

I have *NOT* been able to confirm this, but I have a feeling that the big
re-write (that Ken has been hard at work on) isn't going to have any kind of
limits on anything.  Namely...

Need 200 character tagnames?  Use a pointer and correctly allocate the memory
and it can be 200 characters!  (Or 2 million.)

Ken as *NOT* confirmed that.  I'm just guessing.  But after the next CNet
release we may NEVER see another post of any kind that says, "Hey, can we get
the limit increased a little?".  Period.

--1785--

BB> I don't consider "append a comment" the same as "a full msg thread with
BB> all of its features".  (Maybe you do.  But I don't.)   Why limit things?

RA> How lame a method to add a reply to a file.
RA> Ahaha..  I don't think CNet has anything to worry about with that BBS
RA> program.

I think you are right.  We are comparing apples and oranges when we try and
compare the new breed of super BBSs (like CNET and E!) to all the other
"normal", old-style of BBS software.  They just aren't the same.  (No matter
how far you stretch your imagination.)

A very small percentage of the people in this echo get furious when I make a
statement like that.  Oh well.  I didn't write *ANY* of the BBS packages out
there.  So don't blame me if you chose one BBS over another.  The choice is
yours, nobody elses.

--1786--

BB> have moved up to a newer, non-beta long, long ago.  Many bugs fixed, and
BB> new features added.

SH> Is one of these bugs the missing 19.200 baud-option ? ;-)

Where is that occurring?  While using CNet's term?  While running
config/modems/idle-baud?  Both have 19,200 along with all the others in CNet
v3.05c.

SH> Now i have not to wonder any more. Mike Fitzgerald said the same - that i
SH> have to update to a newer version, but how ?

BB> - Bill "Mr. BBS" Beogelein, author of over 100 CNet doors/tools.

SH> How can i get these doors/tools ?

By calling:
BB> - CNet-BBS v3.05c Beta-Tester, 1:2410/207, 1-810-473-2020

A few are file-requ'able.  File requ "FILES" for a list.
File requ "BBvers" for a list of version #s in the latest releases.
(That's automatically updated each Wednesday, extracting the actual version #s
from the actual prgs in use.)

SH> thank you for help ...

No charge.

SH>                       ... Stefan
SH> --- CNet/3
SH>  * Origin: Fido: 2:240/2130.17 (2:240/2130.17)

One more thing... CNet puts your address in the origin-line automatically.  No
need to put it in your "EL" screen, too.

If you are already running v3.03, then v3.05c is a FREE update for you.
Readily available at sites all over the world.
(You'll still need that license #, of course.)

--1787--

CJ> BB> "Last 10 callers" seems to be one of the popular log-in pfiles around.
CJ> BB> Many different authors have written one.
CJ> BB> Many different BBS packages have them.

CJ> BB> I never understood the point.

CJ> I think you answered your own question. You confess to the last ten
CJ> callers prg's being one of the popular prgs around. Looks to me like it
CJ> just isn't popular with you.

Mainly because I don't understand the point of it.  If you could tell me why
you like it, or why 100s of callers like it, I might realize that I've been
missing out on something wonderful all these years.

CJ> Many of these prgs now support network calls and it serves
CJ> to illustrate to the callers the activity level of the board overall
CJ> including human callers and network calls combined.

I'd love to see things like:
> This system has had x human callers and y network callers overall.
But "Last 10 callers" doesn't tell you that at all.
It just lists the last 10.  (10 out of 10000s isn't a real good sampling-rate
cross-section.)

CJ> I also find it interesting where the calls have come from.....

> "Wow!  We got a call from Boston, we got a call from Boston!!!!"
You mean that kind of stuff???
With the massive # of calls some systems get, I bet those SysOps couldn't care
less about the 1,382 calls from Boston, or any city.  Callers call from where
they call from.

Now if you could do something like....
> Online, the system draws an slick, white ANSI-dot map of the world.
> A red dot is placed on it based on *EVERY* (not just 10) caller's location.

Now you got something there.  A valuable instant, graphic representation of
your full user-base, worldwide, without reading a single number.

"Last 10 callers" is 1970's BBS technology.  This is 1994+ stuff.

Anybody care to do a pfile like that?  (Or just draw the map for it?)

CJ> If you know how you can always skip those unwanted screens anyway.

Sometimes you can, sometimes they are force on you.  (And "just never call that
BBS again" isn't a good solution.)

--1788--

EC> If anybody has ANY information that they think would be of help to me in
EC> setting up FIDO or related NETS on a CNET BBS running on a (for now)
EC> unacceleated 2000 w/ 3 nodes...I have the registered v. of trapdoor, but I
EC> canot figure it out (I guess that I am kind of a moron!)

Elliot, do you have access to any of the many CNet echos?
I'm sure you'll find many people willing to help there.

Once there, make a post containing as much info as possible regarding your
exactly questions, how far have to gotten thus far, version #s, etc.

Just address the msg to "ALL".  I'm sure someone will help.  (They always do.)

One of the many advantages to running a very popular BBS like CNet is you have
500-1000 different sites that might be able to help you out.  (Imagine the poor
people that run BBS software that only have 13 sites in whole world.)

I wish you great success.  Fidonet can seem overwhelming sometimes.  Hang in
there.

--1789--

BB> And it's not just capture-buffers that full up.  Even just using my
BB> term
BB> prg's scrollback-buffer and seeing it getting pointless filled with
BB> /-\|/-\|/-\|/-\|/-\|/-\|/-\|/-\| characters, is a waste.

TY> Well, perhaps I'll do some fancy work to reverse that effect.. I take it
TY> scroll back buffers understand what a backspace character is?  I'll see
TY> what I can do.  Meanwhile, just turn it off.  I am also going to make it
TY> configurable to the point where you can customize the display - so you
TY> could have it show a set of DOTS, and then erase them with a backspace
TY> (good for non-ansi users).

How about some adding *USEFUL* (not just cosmetic) stuff instead?

Like:  show "x%" at each prompt.

Make the more prompt work like c:more's prompt....
> q or ctrl/c .... Quit
> h .............. Help
> /string ........ Search for string (case sensitive)
> .string ........ Search for string (not case sensitive)
> n .............. Find next occurence of string
> CTRL/L ......... Refresh window
> < .............. First Page
> > .............. Last Page
> %N ............. Move N% into file
> b or  BackSpace  Previous Page (Less)

Or maybe just a few of those things.  (I could list many more.)

Powerful stuff.  And yet so many programmers waste so much time making
cutesy, spinning cursors instead.  Ugh.

--1790--

Mike Fitzgerald@1:360/11

Using CNet v3.05c and UUCP v1.17beta4, I'm trying to get UUCICO to dial-out.

(Neither Getty, nor TrapDoor are running during this test.)

Here's my "UUlib:l.sys" file...
> school any SER: 19200 ATDT5551212      ogin: name      sword: word

From the CLI I type "uucico -sschool -x9".
(UUCICO should call out to "SCHOOL", with a debugging level of 9.)

The modem lights flicker.  NO number is dialed.  The receiver is NOT even
lifted off the hook.

UUCICO will display...

> uucico: debug level set to 9
>
> uucico log for 'serial.device/0' starting Fri Oct 14 10:19:45 1994
>
> (10/14-10:19:45) uucico,AmigaUUCP,- Startup V1.17-beta
> Beg-Reset
> End-Reset-2
> Opening outgoing line SER:
> *** carrier data len 1
> (r1/1)
>
> READ: \rWrote:  \rAT\r
> Wrote:  A
> Wrote:  T
> Wrote:  Z
> Wrote:  \r
> dialing ATDT5551212
> Wrote:  ATDT5551212\r
> Inline: *** carrier data len 8
> (r8/8)
> \r (0 c=13)
> Inline: AATT\r (2 c=13)
> Inline: AATTZZ\r (3 c=13)
> Inline: ** wakeup **rcv
> \r (0 c=13)
> Inline: *** carrier data len 5
> (r5/5)
> \n (0 c=10)
> Inline: OOKK\r (2 c=13)
> Inline: \n (0 c=10)
> Inline: ** wakeup **timeout
> ** wakeup **timeout
> ** wakeup **timeout
> ** wakeup **timeout
> ** wakeup **timeout
> ** wakeup **timeout
> ** wakeup **^C
> Beg-Reset
> ** wakeup **timeout rcv
> ** wakeup **^C
> (10/14-10:20:04) uucico,school,- Abnormal Termination, code 10

What am I doing wrong?

--1791--

BB> Unfortunately, the prg that plays the chat.snd file, has the same name
BB> as
BB> the sounds-prefs-gadget prg.  So CNet doesn't know which one to run.

MF> Gee, the one that came with my CNet/3 was named Soundplay.

It was changed to that in some of the newer releases of CNet to directly avoid
that conflict/problem.

I like the "full-path" solution instead.
It works even if you have 13 different executables all named SOUND (or
SOUNDPLAY) in your current path.

Loads slightly faster too.
(The whole path-list doesn't have to be searched to find it.  I have 19 dirs in
my path-list.)

1) SOUND method.                   (Bad choice, might cause conflict.)
2) Copy SOUND over other SOUND prg (You can't never run the other SOUND prg.)
3) SOUNDPLAY method.               (Better, could still cause trouble.)
4) Full-path method.               (Faster, 0 conflicts are possible.)

--1792--

BB> Does that mean MajorBBS has chosen to use CNet's linking
BB> methods/structures?
BB> Or that CNet chose to use MajorBBS's?

JB> Neither.  CNet's JOINLINK has no role in this whatsoever.  The sysop of
JB> the MAJOR board logs on to the BBS normally, and goes into conference and
JB> establishes the link.  We made an account called <Orion Link> so when
JB> people did a WHO, it made something like sense.  It is TOTALLY done on the
JB> MAJOR bbs end.

Jon, thanks for clarifying that.

Doesn't that mean that MajorBBS can really JoinLink with *any* BBS software?

If so, I'd love to see CNet have that feature too.
(Of course, *NOT* removing the current JoinLinking features either.)

Also, MajorBBS appears to need "manual" connections.  But I don't see why CNet
couldn't do the same thing, but in an automatic-mode.  (Similar to CNet's
current auto-joinlinking.)

Does MajorBBS prevent CNet's "WHO", "ROOM", "HIDE/MUFFLE" features from
working?

There are more than 93,000 BBS online today.  It would be great if CNets
weren't limited to JoinLinking just with other CNets.

(More than 95% of the BBSs in my area are *NOT* CNets.)

--1793--

Regarding the problem of archives that each have 5-10 BBS ads inside them...

DC> I'd like to see a stripper or
DC> something that adds a line to the existing BBS.ad w/ your BBSname, number,
DC> and net addresses...hmmm.. I'll see what I can throw together this
DC> afternoon..

That's *DEFINITELY* the best way to handle the multi-BBS ad problem.

Could we all throw together some unofficial standards and see (and hope)
SysOps abide by them?

Things like:
1) The BBS ad-file in the archive will always be called "zzzBBSes".

2) Your BBS ad-file will always be called "s:MyBBSad".
   (s:MyBBSad.# could also be supported as 1-9 different ads, 1 picked
   at random.)

3) #2 will always be APPENDED onto the end of #1.

4) The resulting archive will always contain just 1 BBS ad-file.

5) The overall size of #2 will be x lines, or y characters long.
   (whichever is less)
   (Perhaps x could be 1, and y could be 79.)

6) We agree to never delete the file mentioned in #1, only to
   'append' onto it.

7) The first line of #1 always contains the phrase "APPEND YOUR BBS
   INFO HERE..." to identify it as an append-ad-file type.
   (If the file doesn't contain that phrase, it is deleted and
   restarted from scratch.)

8) If #1 ever grows to more than z bytes, it is deleted and restarted.
   (Perhaps z could be 10K, or so)

Any other ideas/changes/comments?

- Bill "Mr. BBS" Beogelein, author of over 100 CNet doors/tools.
- CNet-BBS v3.05c Beta-Tester, 1:2410/207, 1-810-473-2020

--1794--

Here's what Jim Selleck himself has to say as of 19-Oct-94...
JS> The IBM rumor is just not true.  Ken DOES plan to create and IBM version,
JS> but not until CNet 4.0 for Amiga is released.

Help spread facts, not fiction.

--1795--

R> Does anyone know the getuser for the ORIGIN/DISTRIBUTION line from a
R> subboard?  And/or the SCAN FILLER or NETWORK SETTING....

Unlike earlier releases, v3.05c can't get that kind of info with simple
'getuser' calls.  It now stored in a pointer.  But it *CAN* be done.  It's
tricky.

"Peter Klein (Pmk)" is the tricky-pointer-arexx-getuser god.

R> I need this info for a cnet-specific file-network i'm working on...

Details?

--1796--

I hope you are welcoming tips and suggestions for your October 1994
CNet-BBS newsletter...

All of your guide-gadgets are messed up.

> @{" Notes from our Editor           " link BUTTON0}
                                       ^ space needed here

--1797--

So many callers here forget to update their FINGER file.

Often still in place from their first call here long ago, I'll find:
> Do you run a BBS?  If so, what's the name and number?
> Not yet, but I will be soon.

Even though their BBS has been online for months/years.

Please take a minute to type "EF" at any prompt and update your info for all
to see.

Thanks.

P.S. Ken, I think it would help if the "FINGER" cmd started out with something
like "As of 20-Oct-94...".  (The date would reflect the date/time stamp on the
finger-file.)  So we could see just how old (or new) the user's info really
is.

--1798--

Jerry Ferris @ 1:212/2002

What software are you using to get CNet to automatically read (and reply) to
msgs in the FILEFIND Echo?  (Does it work with CNetToss?)

--1799--

The tosser-log should show #2, not its current #1:
1> MATRIX: 12046 bytes (John Doe-->Bill Beogelein) IMPORTED
2> MATRIX: 12046 bytes (John Doe@1:2410/215-->Bill Beogelein) IMPORTED
                                 ^^^^^^^^^^

--EOF--

Sunday 23-Oct-94 08:39:55

-Bill "Mr. BBS" Beogelein, 810-473-2020, 2-line HST 14.4k USR-DS, 1:2410/207

