
   
                                                   The Vulcan Embassy BBS
                                                              version 2.0
                                         Copyright 1990, Timothy M. Garay

   
                                 SETUP.TXT
                                ===========

          Welcome to The Vulcan Embassy BBS version 2.0!!!  This program 
   (like its predescecor version 1.0) was written in GFA Basic 3.07 then 
   compiled using the GFA Basic Compiler version 3.02E.  This program is 
   SHAREWARE.  You can make as many copies as you like and give it to 
   anyone you want.  If you use this program please send a donation for 
   my efforts to this address:   
                    TIMOTHY M. GARAY
                    729 THORNWOOD BLVD.
                    ELYRIA, OH  44035
   You can also call the original Vulcan Embassy BBS at (216)-365-7702 
   which is up 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.  It can handle 
   300/1200/2400 baud.  If you would like a copy of the source code to 
   this program please send $20 to the above address.  Thank you for 
   using this program and please let me know of any suggestions or 
   problems you might have!
   
   
   SYSTEM SET-UP:
   ==============
          This program will run on an Atari ST system with any memory 
   size (the more the merrier!), baud rate, printer, disk space, and now 
   any modem (non-hayes compat as well).  It will also run on a 
   monochrome monitor.  You can set up the system however you desire, 
   putting most all the system files and directories anywhere you want.  
   The whole program is just one file called VE.PRG, everything else will 
   have to be provided by yourself in the way of data files.
          If you wish to use a RAMdisk and folder to RAMdisk copy program 
   (I have a very good one available called TMG_COPY), they should work 
   with no problems.  However, I cannot be responsible for any RAMdisk 
   that might not be compatible for some reason.  I definately recommend 
   a resettable RAMdisk program.  You should put a copy of the resettable 
   RAMdisk program on the system disk in Drive A but NOT the folder to 
   RAMdisk program!!  This will be of great convenience should the power 
   blink off and on or the system locks up and you need to press RESET.
          You will also need file transfer shells if you wish to use 
   upload and download capabilities.  The VE can use just about any 
   shell by just setting the name of the shells and the necessary 
   commands in the CONFIG section (to be discussed later).
          You can have up to 10 separate file directories on any disks 
   with any pathnames.  You can also have up to 14 message bases, each 
   can have any number of msgs with each msg taking up 4830 bytes.  
   Remember to set aside plenty of space; the msg bases start out at 0 
   bytes and will work their way up to what ever number of msgs you have 
   set times 4830.
          You have the option of having an Electronic Mail section.  This 
   file will continually grow with the addition of each emsg.  Also, the 
   MEMPASS.DAT file which contains the passwords, UD.DAT which contains 
   the file descriptions, USERLOG.DAT wich contains a listing of who has 
   called (if the printer has been turned off), and the VEBBS.DAT file 
   which contains any BBS phone numbers will grow with time and 
   additions, beware of their sizes to prevent problems!
   
   
   BOOT-UP FILES:
   ==============
          There are two types of files, BOOT-UP files, and SYSTEM files.  
   Boot-up files are those which are used and are loaded only once and do 
   not need to be on the system disk.
          First thing you will need is a Boot-up disk.  This disk should 
   contain all the files that are to be copied to RAMdisk and all the 
   boot-up files.
               LOGON1.SCR is a 40 column text logon screen
               LOGON2.SCR is an 80 column text logon screen
               LOGON3.SCR is the B/W Vidtex Graphic screen
               LOGON4.SCR is the Color (ST Only) Vidtex Graphic screen
               LOGON5.SCR is the VT52 graphic screen
          Any and all of the logon screens can be on the disk, the 
   program will immediately load those that are there.  You can set those 
   that you wish to support in the CONFIG section.
               MAIN.SCR is the main menu screen
               TRANS.SCR is the logoff/file transfer menu screen
               CARGO.SCR is the file section menu screen
               HELP.SCR is the help screen
               BLACK.SCR is the blacklist screen
               SECR.SCR is the security section screen
               IDENT.SCR is the small identify line
          All of these files MUST be less than 32767 bytes in length or 
   the program will crash when it tries to load them!  All these items 
   should be present on the boot-up disk or else they will not be loaded 
   and you will not be able to see them.
          The file VE_MCMDS.DAT is the file that contains the commands 
   that should be sent to the modem when the program is first run.  These 
   should be done so that the modem will NOT automatically answer the 
   phone.  A standard text editor can be used to enter these commands 
   into the script file.  Other things to think about is how long to wait 
   for a carrier, speaker on/off, etc...
   
   
   SYSTEM FILES:
   =============
           The system files must be on the system disk(s).  After boot-up 
   and running the VE.PRG the program will load all the boot-up files 
   that are present.  It will then ask you for the current time and date 
   (the currently set time and date will be displayed, if they are 
   correct then just press [RETURN] for both).  At this prompt take out the 
   boot-up disks and insert the system disks.  All but one of the system 
   files can reside on a Hard Drive or a RAMdisk.  The one that must be 
   on the A: drive is the CONFIG.DAT.  Also, the temporary file created 
   for the on-line games will be created on drive A:.  The system disks 
   should remain in the drives all the time.
          If upon running the program the CONFIG.DAT file is not found in 
   the root directory of the drive A: system disk then you will be taken 
   directly to the CONFIG menu to set up your system.  Every time a user 
   logs off or you choose save in the config menu the CONFIG.DAT file 
   will be saved to disk.  This file is VERY important as it contains 
   information on paths of system files, msg number ranges, active 
   sections, and many other pieces of information.  You may desire to 
   make copies of this file periodically.
          MEMPASS.DAT is the file that contains all the user passwords.  
   When a new user logs on his password is immediately saved to this 
   file, you can however, set what a new user has access to and what he 
   doesn't in the CONFIG section.  This file is also VERY important and I 
   definately recommend that you make back-up copies of this file 
   regularly!!!
          BASEA.MSG through BASEN.MSG and EMAIL.MSG are the msg bases and 
   the email data files.  Remember that their sizes are variable!
          USERLOG.DAT contains a list of people who have called the 
   system, what time they logged on and logged off, what menu items they 
   selected, etc...   This is just an output file for your own 
   information.  This file is only created when the printer is off.
          UD.DAT is the file that contains all the file descriptions for 
   download.  VEBBS.DAT is the file tht contains the BBS phone numbers 
   that users have entered.  Both of these files will also grow 
   unbounded.
          NEWS.DAT and NEWSDATE.DAT files are for the bulletins.  
   NEWSDATE.DAT only contains the date that the NEWS.DAT file was put up 
   for viewing ("last updated").  The NEWS.DAT file contains the BBS 
   bulletin in standard ASCII format.  This file must also be less than 
   32K in length.
   
   
   ON-LINE GAME FILES:
   ===================
          Because the on-line games are now stand-alone program modules, 
   it is impossible to tell what files will be used/needed/created by 
   them.  Hopefully (depending on future on-line game creators), all the 
   files will be kept in the on-line game directory that you set in the 
   CONFIG section.
   
   
   END NOTES:
   ==========
          This pretty much covers the initial set-up of your BBS system.  
   All the menu screens are to be in ASCII form (unless you plan to have 
   a VT52 only system).  As will be seen in the CONFIG section you can 
   have any keypress for any of the menu items (ie. 'A' will take you to 
   the logoff menu, '&' will take you to the news section, etc...)  Some 
   example data files are provided for you to examine (the ones used on 
   the original VE BBS) with the exception of the MEMPASS.DAT file.  I 
   encourage you to make your own menu screens and logon screens.  As of 
   this time no way has been found to decipher if you "really" have a 
   drive B: or not, sorry for the inconvenience.  If you would like to 
   keep the files you may already have (ie. MEMPASS.DAT, msg base files, 
   etc...) from version 1.0 a program is included to convert them to the 
   version 2.0 format.  Thank you and please read all the doc files, even 
   if you already read the version 1.0 files; so many new changes!!
   
   
   
                                                           THE AMBASSADOR
                                                         TIMOTHY M. GARAY

