
    =========================================================================
    ---/\------/\------------------------------------------------------------
    --/ /\----/ /----------------Express Times-------------------------------
    -/ / /\--/  \------------------------------------------------------------
    -\  / /--\/\ \------" For The BBS Express ST! SysOp "--------------------
    --\  /------\ \----------------------------------------------------------
    ---\/--------\/----------Issue 16, 12 December 1992 ---------------------
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    =========================================================================

    =========================================================================
    ---'-*--,----.--- * -- -----'------ -- * ----.----- * -,--.- * --' * ----
    ------ ---*----,-- ----,-------.--- * -,--'----- * --- * C&R Systems ----
    --, ---,---..------ * -----'---- ---------    '   ---,-  would like to --
    --------'----------'---'--- ---------,'      -+-   --- wish all off you -
    ---- * ------'--- ------- ---*-.------        |     -- a safe and happy -
    --'--,-------             ------------       / \   .  - holiday season! -
    ----------         V    F  -------,--       /  '\     --- * -,----,---.--
    ------'--           \~~/    --,-----       * . o \    --- Rich & Candy --
    --- *,---   +       ( o)    ------ .      /  /    \     -- * ---'.-------
    --'------    \_/----_\_\*  ----          /   '  O  *       - * -,----*---
    ----.-*--     |-___-|.     ----         /o  o  *    \     ---- * - ------
    ---------  D_/ |    /\    ----        */ / .    \  O \    -- * ---,--.---
    ---- * ---     ^   ^  W  ---   .      /  *  |  '  *  .\   ----- * -------
    --'- *  ----            -- --        / '   O     o  \ o\    -----.-'--*--
    -------.---- * -----,--------       /_/___/__/|__\__'\__\     ---------  
    -----*-------------,---- * -----    ___      |||      __     ------ * ---
    ----'------*--- ---- *  --.----,-   8-8     MMMMM    /\_\      --.--'-*--
    ---- * ---'-------*----' * -- * --      .            \/_/     -',--- * --
    ------------------ * -------------- * ------*-----          ------*------
    =========================================================================

    Express Times is a publication for System Operators (SysOp's) of BBS
    Express! ST.  Material contained in this edition may be reprinted without
    permission except where noted.  Reprinted articles must remain unedited
    and contain reference to Express Times, with issue number, name and
    author included at the top of each article reprinted.  Opinions presented
    are those of the individual author and do not necessarily reflect the
    opinions of the staff of Express Times.  BBS Express! ST is a Bulletin
    Board System program for Atari ST computers marketed by C&R Systems, P.O.
    Box J, Blue Ridge Summit, PA  17214.  This publication is not affiliated
    with Atari Corporation.

    C&R Systems BBS may be reached at 717-765-8623 and is operated 24 hours a
    day with a US Robotics HST Dual Standard modem at 300 to 14.4 bps.
    Support BBS's are listed later in this publication.

    Express Times is published by C&R Systems.  Submission of articles is
    encouraged and may be made directly to the C&R BBS or at any of the
    Support Boards by F-Mail to Rich.  Unless otherwise noted, articles are
    authored by Rich Sanchez, C&R Systems.

    =========================================================================

           ===========================================================
           =  Express Times was a concept originated by Dan Miller,  =
           =  SysOp of Daniel & Company BBS, 619-568-6447, Palm      =
           =  Desert, CA.  Our thanks go to him for his permission   =
           =  to continue the use of the title "Express Times".      =
           ===========================================================


    ======================================================
    ==============  New NEWS About BBS Express! ST       =
    ======================================================
    
    
    C&R RELEASES SINCE THE LAST ISSUE OF EXPRESS TIMES:
    === ======== ===== === ==== ===== == ======= ======
    
    1.  PDX_ALL.DIR, 27,427 bytes, 7 Nov 92:

        List of files available on the PDX_xxx disks.

    2.  BBS_178E.LZH, 85,100 bytes, 8 Nov 92:

        Described in Express Times Issue 15.


    3.  BBS_179C.LZH, 85,371 bytes, 12 Dec 92:

        This version of BBS.PRG has the following changes:

           A.  The common "-33 sysdata.dat file not found error" fixed.
 
           B.  Users exceeding time limits are now logged to callers log.
 
           C.  Time limits in message bases are checked more often.
 
           D.  Erroneous prompt while copying files in the SIG's is fixed.
 
           E.  Bug in the move or copy a message has been fixed.
 
    4.  Additionally, 29 Express related files were added to C&R BBS.
    
    
    ======================================================
    ==============  ISIS Network Update                  =
    ======================================================
        
    1.  ISIS is a networking program which works with BBS Express! ST as
    well as some of the other BBS programs for the Atari ST (It has been
    used with UBBS and Ratsoft BBS).  The development BBS for ISIS is
    Quantum Thump BBS at 512-795-9175 in Texas.  The author is Marc Ferrari,
    his voice number is 512-795-9875.
    
    2.  As of this date, the ISIS network has 51 nodes connected.
    
    3.  ISIS continues to be tested with the FidoDoor messaging system.

    =========================================================================
    
    
    ======================================================
    ==============  Games Updates                        =
    ======================================================

    1.  STellar Chaos Version 1.52 was recently released.  It is stated that
    this version of the demo no longer limits the number of players to 8.

    2.  Continental Battles Version 5.0.1 was released on 1 Nov 92.  The game
    originally by James Kliest apprears to now be handled by Shawn Zweers.

    3.  Iron Coffins Version 2.0 was released on 12 Oct 92 as Shareware.
    This popular Script game by W. Penningon is impressive and is not
    compiled.

    4.  Final Frontier Version 1.54 was released on 15 Sep 92.  There were
    actually two versions of 1.54 released, the first one having a bug in
    it.

    5.  NHL Schedule program Version 4.0 was received at C&R BBS on 17 Oct 92
    (NHLV4.LZH).  The program contains the entire 1992/93 regular season
    schedule of the NHL.  The "C" source code is included.

    6.  Conquers by Shiraz Baboo was released on 14 Sep 92.  This RISK like
    strategy game looks good, however, there appears to be a few bugs in it
    which needs to be fixed.


    =========================================================================
    
    
    ======================================================
    ==============  File SIG Ordering                    =
    ======================================================
    
    1.  A recent discussion with a SysOp was the order in appearance of
    files in the Express File SIG's.

    2.  Express shows files in the order in which they appear on the drive.

    3.  If you start with an empty drive and begin to add files to the File
    SIG's, then the files will appear in that order.  However as you delete
    files, new files added may now fill the resulting empty sectors.  This
    article is not intended to be a lengthy topic of what is known as file
    fragmentation, and there has been much written about the subject
    elsewhere.  Hard drive de-fragmentation as well as periodic hard drive
    testing is something ALL SysOp's should be concerned with.

    4.  The files in the Express File SIG's do not become fragmented with
    normal use, however, the SIG's may in fact become fragmented through the
    course of deleting and adding files.

    5.  Some SysOp's like to have files appear alphabetically or in some
    other order.  There are a variety of programs and methods available to
    sort the files.  Sortie from T2 Ltd is one public domain program which
    will sort the files alphabetically or in an ascending date order.  Some
    defragmention programs also sort files in alphabetical order which
    increases hard drive access speeds somewhat.

    6.  We were curious as to what speed increases could be expected if the
    files in the SIG's were sorted alphabetically.  We conducted a variety of
    tests on a few File SIG's.  We arranged a File SIG in REVERSE
    alphabetical order (worst case?) and then in alphabetical order.
    Conducting a variety of tests showed that accessing the files were in
    fact faster if they were in alphabetical order.  The best speed increase
    we could come up with was a three percent increase in displaying the
    files.  That speed increase may be substantial to some SysOp's...

    =========================================================================


    ======================================================
    ==============  In Closing                           =
    ======================================================
    
    1.  We continue to work on the new Express manual in spite of equipment
    problems, being out of town a lot last year and just general lack of
    time...

    2.  No articles were received for this issue of Express Times.

    3.  C&R Systems wishes you all a happy and safe holiday season!

    Rich Sanchez
    C&R Systems
    
    =========================================================================
    
    
              +-----------------------------------------------------+
              |           BBS EXPRESS! ST SUPPORT BOARDS            |
              +-----------------------------------------------------+
              |  Waynesboro, PA  717-765-8623 C&R Systems           |
              |  El Cerrito, CA  510-235-1235 ST Synchronicity      |
              |  Dallas, TX      214-251-1175 The Psychlo Empire    |
              |  Darien, CT      203-656-0134 Terrapin Station BBS  |
              |  Oshawa, Ontario 416-571-6965 Assassins' Grove ST   |
              +-----------------------------------------------------+

