On The NeST 2

Concern about the cost of online time prevents many from joining the comms bandwagon.
Harry Sideras reveals some tricks to keep the cost to a minimum.

Following a few months of keen interest, dabbling in the world of Bulletin Boards has a reputation for coming to a rapid halt as soon as the dreaded phone bill arrives.

While this was certainly the case in earlier days, when there was online message reading and no networking of messages between BBS's, the emphasis in recent years has been on automating user connections - the packing of pre-selected message areas for immediate downloading when you log on and the bulk transferring of messages and files from BBS to BBS overnight so there's only the nearest board to call.
Combined with the reductions in call charges and generally increased line quality to support faster modems, the threat of a large bill is much reduced - but every little helps, doesn't it? :-)

We've already addressed some methods of cutting down online time in our introduction last month.
Primarily these concerned collecting messages into a file that could be downloaded and, after disconnecting, importing the result into message-reading software. The method employed also made the BBS compress the message packet prior to transfer, using either the ZIP or LZH archivers, so that the size of the file, and thereby both the downloading time and the need for disk storage space, is more than halved. Some BBS's also allow you the option to have your messages packed after you log off, saving you having to wait for online packing while the time ticks on. After only a few connections, though, it becomes clear that more parts of the process can be automated and our terminal software can help us do it.

Reasons to be cheerful (part 1)

Teddy Term's Dial Directory dialog contains an option to automatically learn the keys you enter when you log on to each Bulletin Board to get you to and through each stage. Because Teddy Term always tries to create a logon script you may already have one saved from an earlier connection.

Selecting Edit within the Dial Directory dialog shows you several entries in the bottom corner, with the last text sent from the BBS and the response that was made. Typically this will end after your name and password has been given, despite further script entries being available - this is a limitation in Teddy Term that went unfixed before development ceased. To extend the script you need to review the events that occurred online and enter the script responses in the correct sequence.

View your most recent capture buffer within the Terminal, either from the popup menu options or by pressing Alt-v. Ensure that you're viewing the unstripped buffer with all the VT52 control codes sent by the BBS still in place. Locate each point where you had to respond with a keypress and make a note of the last ten characters sent by the BBS and your response, including whether you needed to press the return key afterward. The return key is emulated in the script by the vertical line character, as shown in the screenshot. Due to the limited number of scripted responses available in Teddy Term you may choose to create several Dial entries for each BBS. The first may be limited to downloading new messages if you have no message packet to upload, the second may only relate to uploading your responses, leaving further message collection until later, while a third may try to do both and end before you log off so that you can explore other areas of the board online. By tailoring your scripts to this degree your automated responses maximise the speed around the board, while maintaining freedom to do more when you need to.

System-wide macros

You'll notice over time that the Sysop posts announcements for you to read when you log on - either information on new features of the board or periods of unavailability. All good Sysops recognise how these can disrupt scripts and will usually terminate announcements with a consistent trailing message, such as "Press any Key".

Messages of this type, which require no action beyond a random keypress to acknowledge their presence, can be catered for by using the Auto Macro settings of your terminal, available from the popup in Teddy Term's main terminal screen. Ensure that you cover possible variations of capitalisation and trailing dots and they'll intervene in your logon scripts without causing them to stall.

If you do have to write online messages, Teddy Term's ability to send text strings by pressing a function key save you time and hassle. Prior planning and combining more than one function key can make your messages both quicker to write and more readable.

Number change

The phone number of Ad Lib BBS changed just as the last issue went to press. The new number is 0191 422 9495 with Frank Charlton taking over the Sysop duties.