        ͻ
                                                    Ŀ
              K E E P I N G   I N   T O U C H        
                      
            SPITFIRE Monthly Support Newsletter      
              for registered SPITFIRE Sysops!        
                        April 1994                   
           Compliments of BUFFALO CREEK SOFTWARE     
             Buffalo Creek's BBS * 515-225-8496      
               38400/19200/9600/2400/1200 Bps        
                          2 Nodes                    
                                                     
        ͼ 
          
                    Edited by Jacque Shipley
       The Mother Board BBS - (515) 986-3464 - 57600 Bps
                Sysop Of The Month by Walt Crede
      Roam This Fertile Land -  (515) 288-8755 - 2400 Bps
         Newly Registered SPITFIRE BBS List by Ann Woltz
                  Other Contributions As Noted


                     H A P P Y   E A S T E R !

ͻ
    Notes from the author of SPITFIRE!   Ŀ
ͼ 
  

͸
 SPITFIRE v3.5 REPORT 
;

   I am somewhat pleased with the progress which has been made in the
development of SPITFIRE v3.5.  There are only a couple of more
changes/additions that I want to make before the 'development
version' becomes the 'alpha version'.  The problem is that my work
schedule is going to have me extremely busy during the month of
April.  I am not sure exactly how much work I will be able to do on
SPITFIRE v3.5 during the month of April.

   I want to take this opportunity to thank those of you who left me
encouraging messages regarding the problems which are caused by the
extreme minority.  Many of your messages were of a great deal of help
to me.  I definitely need to learn to listen to the majority (the
top-shelf SPITFIRE Sysops) rather than the extreme, loud minority.  I
want to assure you that you will be treated fairly (in the Buffalo
Creek Software tradition) when SPITFIRE v3.5 is released.  We won't
allow the loud minority to spoil good things for the top-shelf
SPITFIRE Sysops.


͸
 1994 SPITFIRE CONFERENCE REPORT 
;

   As most of you are aware, we floated a balloon regarding
conducting a 1994 SPITFIRE Conference over the 4th of July weekend.
The balloon didn't float with some so currently there isn't a
conference scheduled.  The 4th of July weekend was the only weekend
in June and July that worked for the Woltz family and for the hotel.
We will try to put something together in August or September.
Hopefully we will be able to put something together.


͸
 SAMPLE DISPLAY FILES NEEDED 
;

   Over the years Buffalo Creek Software has made a set of sample
display available for download (SAMPLES.ZIP).  The current display
files within SAMPLES.ZIP haven't been updated since 1991 (ouch).
Please contact me in the event you are handy at making display files
and want to volunteer to update the sample display files.
   
                         Until next time, may God bless you...
                         Mike, Ann & family

                         [ Matthew 5:44 ]ͻ
                           But I say unto you, Love your  Ŀ
                           enemies, bless them that curse  
                           you, do good to them that hate  
                           you, and pray for them who      
                           despitefully use you, and       
                           persecute you.                  
                         ͼ 
                           


͸
 SPITFIRE V3.5 - A PREVIEW OF THINGS TO COME 
;

   Many of you may already be aware of the changes taking place in
the development of SPITFIRE v3.5 from the text file, WHATSNEW.35,
which is available on Buffalo Creek's BBS.  However, for those who
may not be up to date on this, it has always been a tradition for the
newsletter to report on what SPITFIRE Sysops can look forward to in
the upcoming software release.  The developmental version of SPITFIRE
V3.5 has quite a number of nice, new features that SPITFIRE Sysops
can anxiously look forward to making available to their callers.

   Mike Woltz and the beta testers for the developmental version are
very excited about the new features in SPITFIRE!  Mike reports that
there are only a few more things he plans to include and SPITFIRE
will then be ready to advance to the Alpha Testing phase.


FILE AREA ENHANCEMENTS


   Perhaps one of the most visible change to SPITFIRE v3.5 is the
capability to allow an unlimited number of lines in the file
descriptions of SFFILES.BBS and SFFILES.<x>.  The caller when
entering a description online is still restricted to a maximum of
four lines for the file description.  However, when the archive's
FILE_ID.DIZ is used for the file description, no line limit
restrictions are applied.

   The Text Search feature of SPITFIRE's File Section has been
improved so that the keywords entered by the caller are highlighted
when found within the file descriptions during the search.

   When Importing A File during a local log on, SPITFIRE now places
the file into the upload directory rather than the download directory
of the File Area.  The advantage this offers is that Sysops, who use
SFCHKUP or similar utilities for performing tests and adding comments
to files prior to making them available for download, can perform the
same processing with files which are imported.

   A change was made in regard to how SPITFIRE handles downloads from
a file area which the Sysop has configured as a free File Area.
Previously if a download would cause the caller to exceed the
allowable number of daily file downloads or daily download bytes
SPITFIRE would not allow the download to occur.  SPITFIRE will now
allow a file in a free File Area to be downloaded even if the
download would violate the daily number of downloads allowed or
violate the daily number of download bytes.

   A change was made which expands SPITFIRE's CD-Rom support.  When a
file is to be downloaded from a CD-Rom disc, SPITFIRE now copies the
file from the CD-Rom to a disk drive.  SPITFIRE creates a
sub-directory below the configured WORK directory and names this
directory CDROM<node number>.  For example, if the configured WORK
directory of node #2 is C:\SF\WORK, then the created sub-directory
will be C:\SF\WORK\CDROM2.  SPITFIRE does not remove this directory
after it is created but any files which are copied to this directory
are removed from the drive.

   It was discovered that when a caller attempts an upload and
SPITFIRE has been configured to search the SFFILES listing (rather
than the CD-Rom drive) and the File Area configured as a 'Search
Area', that the drive was actually being searched.  This has been
changed so that SPITFIRE will appropriately search the SFFILES
listing when it has been configured to do so.

   SPITFIRE's internal Sealink file transfer protocol has been
removed.
 
   There were some modifications made to the timing sequences of
SPITFIRE's internal Ymodem-g protocol.

   Minor changes were made to the way SPITFIRE sends the '(E)nd (O)f
(T)ransfer' byte.

  The Pascal checksum and 16 bit CRC file transfer routines were
replaced with assembler code written by Mike Woltz.


MESSAGE AREA MODIFICATIONS


   The ability to mark a Message Conference as 'Read Only' has been
removed.  It is replaced with a new option, Message Entry Security,
which the Sysop must configure for each conference on the Message
Conference records.  The Message Entry Security is used to enter the
required security level the caller must be equal to or greater than
in order to be permitted to enter messages in that Message
Conference.  This new feature gives the Sysop much greater control
over which callers may or may not enter messages in a particular
Message Conference.

   SPITFIRE's <H>urry Message Scan feature has been removed from the
Message Section.

   The <B>rowse Message feature has been changed.  Now, when browsing
messages, SPITFIRE provides the caller the opportunity to read
selected messages.

   A change was made in the SPITFIRE message line editor.  Now the
caller may delete a range of lines (for instance, 3..6) from a
message which is being entered or replied to online.  This feature
works much the same as the current SPITFIRE quote feature.

  Previously, SPITFIRE has required a caller to enter the complete
name of a caller when entering a local message when such message was
not addressed to 'All'.  SPITFIRE has been changed to allow the entry
of a partial name when entering a local message.  SPITFIRE will
prompt the caller to determine who exactly the message is meant for
each time a partial name match is found.


GENERAL SPITFIRE UPDATES


    SPITFIRE now has the capability of recognizing an incoming FAX.
When the incoming call is recognized as being a FAX call, SPITFIRE
shells to a batch file, SFFAX.BAT, so the FAX call can be processed.
The SFFAX.BAT should be written so that a FAX software package can be
called to process the incoming FAX.  With the addition of the FAX
capabilities, the ALT+M, Modem Configuration Window, now has two new
options.  The Answer String is used to configure special answer
strings which must be sent to some high speed FAX modems in order for
it to receive both FAX and data calls.  The FAX Connection Result Msg
allows the Sysop to configure the particular FAX Connection Result
message required by their modem.
 
   The BBS subscription feature has been enhanced.  Two new options
are found in SPITFIRE's ALT+Z configuration window.  The Expired
Security is used to configure the security level the caller will be
changed to when the subscription date has expired.  The subscription
date is stored in SFUSERS.DAT and should contain information
regarding the date when the callers subscription to the BBS will
expire.  The Expiration Warning option is used to allow the Sysop to
configure the number of days prior to the subscription expiring that
the caller will be shown SUBWARN.BBS/CLR/RIP.  This new display file
serves as a reminder to the caller that their subscription is due to
expire. (See Display Files below).  It should also be noted that
SPITFIRE will record to the CALLERS.LOG each time the subscription
expiration warnings (SUBWARN.BBS/CLR/RIP) is displayed to the caller.
The subscription expiration is recorded to the CALLERS.LOG at the
time the security level is altered due to the subscription
expiration.

   As an added safeguard, the subscription feature will be
inoperative when the 'Expired Security' is not configured to a value
greater than zero.

  SPITFIRE has now been changed to send the name of the questionnaire
file to the printer when the printer is toggled on.  This provides
the Sysop, when reviewing the printed log, the ability to know what
questionnaire was answered.

   The node chat in SPITFIRE has been greatly improved.  Now each
character is displayed as it is typed rather than line by line.
SPITFIRE creates a node chat file and is constantly reading this file
in order to give the appearance of a "real time" chat mode. To
accomplish this, the Sysop must configure the Node Chat Drive which
is a new configuration option in the ALT+Z SPITFIRE configuration
window.  It should be stressed that this is most efficiently
accomplished by using a RAM drive as the Node Chat Drive.  During a
node chat word wrap is active and Ansi color is used to distinguish
between the chat text of the participants.

   SPITFIRE will now record to the CALLERS.LOG that the newsletter
has been read.

   The base address for com ports 1 through 8 have been made
configurable.  SPITFIRE will default the standard base addresses for
com ports 1 through 4 but the Sysop may override these defaults.

   The IRQ configuration options have been change to allow a range of
from 1 to 15.  Previously, SPITFIRE only allowed a range of 1 to 7
for the IRQ setting.

   A problem with SPITFIRE not erasing the <X>.RIP (where X
represents the user number of the caller) when it was appropriate to
do so has been corrected.

   A new configuration option was added to the ALT+M Modem
configuration window.  This option, Off Hook String, allows the Sysop
to configure the appropriate Off Hook String required by their modem.
Some of the new modems attempting to met changes in FCC regulations,
will only remain off hook for 30 seconds when using the standard ATH1
off hook command.  The Off Hook String permits the entry of a unique
string which if required in order to keep the modem off hook for an
extended length of time.  SPITFIRE stores the Off Hook String in
SFNODE.DAT.

   When a caller selects <Y>our Statistics from the Main Menu, the
password is no longer visible and is represented with asterisks.  The
caller is given the choice of '<V>iew, <C>hange, <Q>uit?' when the
caller selects '<P>assword'.  This feature provides greater
protection against someone wrongfully obtaining another caller's
password.

   SPITFIRE was modified so it now performs a test to determine if
the board is configured as 'private' before performing the new caller
questionnaire feature.  In other words, a new caller will not answer
the new caller questionnaire if the board is configured as 'private'.

   When a caller has toggled on the eXpert mode (so that only the
menu command line displays) and then presses the ENTER key while at
the menu prompt, SPITFIRE will now toggle the eXpert mode off.  When
this happens, SPITFIRE will display a message to the caller informing
them that their eXpert status has been changed.

   When a caller has the 'hot key' feature turned on and presses the
ENTER key while at the menu prompt, SPITFIRE now displays the message
that this is an invalid command.  This replaces the previous message
which informed the caller that they had the hot key feature turned
on.


DISPLAY FILES

 
   The ^E display control character was changed.  Previously, the the
^E was used to enable the pause prompt.  In conjunction with the
enhanced support of the BBS subscription feature, the ^E now displays
the amount of subscription days a caller has remaining provided the
subscription date for the caller is configured.

   Also, in relation to the enhanced subscription feature discussed
earlier, the display file, SUBWARN.BBS/CLR/RIP, was added to warn
callers to a subscription BBS that they are nearing the expiration
date on their subscription.  Each time a caller logs on and is within
the number of days of the Expiration Warning (configured by the Sysop
in the ALT+Z configuration window) of having their subscription
expire, SUBWARN.BBS/CLR/RIP will be displayed.

   Another new display file, SFSUBCHG.BBS/CLR/RIP performs two
functions.  First, it notifies the caller logging onto a subscription
BBS that their subscription has expired.  Next, it will change the
caller's security level to what the Sysop has pre-configured as the
Expired Security.  The Expired Security is configured by the Sysop
using SPITFIRE's ALT+Z configuration window.

   The /I command parameter (used to set the maximum baud rate) has
been removed from SPITFIRE.  The original purpose of this parameter
was to provide Sysops a means by which to change the configured baud
rate if SPITFIRE was unable to boot because of an incorrectly
configured baud rate.  However, most Sysops would failed to follow
the documentation instructions to remove the /I parameter in the
SF.BAT file.  Then, when a change was made using the ALT+M
configuration window, the change would only remain intact during that
SPITFIRE session.  The next time SPITFIRE was booted, the /I
parameter would change the baud rate back to its original settings.
There are several utilities available, including Buffalo Creek's
SFNODE, which will allow the baud rate to be configured outside of
SPITFIRE.


͸
 SPITFIRE BOARD-OF-THE-MONTH 
;

                           
                           Richard Winsted
                          Rick's Place BBS
                           (919) 485-6202

   As a high school student, I became interested in computers in
1983.  The first system I became interested in was a Tandy 64k
system.  A friend showed me some of the things he learned in BASIC
programming and I took off from there.  I spent many hours in the
neighborhood Radio Shack store learning how to write programs and
after I graduated from high school, my interests in computers fell to
nothing.

   I joined the Air Force in 1984 and when I changed stations in 1986
to Pope AFB, I was gradually reintroduced to the IBM side of
computers by a few friends.  I didn't have much interest in them at
the time except to play a few games.  Computers didn't really hit me
again until the end of 1990 when I deployed during DESERT SHIELD.  We
weren't doing much at the time so I started playing with a Zenith
laptop system.  I slowly picked up on using this system and picked up
a bunch of software that became available to us while we were there.

   I learned quite a bit through trial and error (accidentally erasing
files and formatting a few hard drives) but it started to come to me.
A friend of mine that was lucky to stay back during the first part of
DESERT SHIELD told me he was getting in to computers, so I decided
then that the first thing I was going to do when I got back was to
buy a computer.

   In March of 1991 (after the war), I spent many hours looking for a
Packard Bell system like my friend had to play around with.  Within
the end of the week after I returned, I had the 386XH-16mhz system
running.

   I played with it on and off until the friend of mine returned from
his tour in the desert.  We got together and found out how to call
BBS's.  I was intrigued by this and we would call BBS's until early
in the morning.

   I became interested in starting a BBS later that year and found a
copy of SF 3.1 on another BBS.  I downloaded it and started to play
around with it and found I was in it deep.  I had no idea what I was
doing, and stuck with it trying to figure out on my own what needs to
be done.  It took me a full day to figure out how to set the Packard
Bell 2400 modem up to work with Spitfire!

   After I became operational in November 1991, I soon realized how
great it was to be a SysOp.  I immediately turned co-workers on to
running a BBS as a hobby and they found enjoyment in it too.

   After about a year of operation, I became involved with CircuitNET
and in January 1993, I found myself as the North Carolina host.  I
outgrew the Packard Bell and had a system built for me.  I worked
with a 386-40DX with a 9600 modem until about a year ago when I set
up my system onto a LAN with a 386-40SX and a 14.4 on node 1 and the
9600 on node 2 with 500 megs of hdd space.  I currently have 10 nodes
echoing CircuitNET off me which helps me to believe I must be doing
something right.  I have the longest running SPITFIRE BBS in town and
I volunteer much of my time to help other SysOps in the area with
their SPITFIRE BBS's.  I feel this is the least I can do since no one
was there to really help me when I first started!


͸
 SYSOP-OF-THE-MONTH 
;        

                          Richard Sleegers
                            Rainbow BBS
                      London, Ontario, Canada
                           (519) 455-4880

   I can count on one hand the number of times that I have talked on
a voice line with Mike Woltz, though on the Buffalo Creek BBS we have
conversed on a few subjects of various nature.  So when I heard his
distinctive voice (distinctive because I live out of state from Iowa
and in fact out of country from U.S.A.) I couldn't for the life of me
figure for what reason he was calling.

   After consenting to being sysop of the month (as if it would
refuse - smiling), I took inventory to what it means to be a good
sysop.  If it means having a large multi-gigabyte system, well, that
excludes me, since I still run my BBS on a (humble?) XT, which was
torturous at 2400 baud, but after upgrading to a USR 14,400 modem
nearly 2 years ago, became passable.  This is mostly due to the
efficiency of SPITFIRE which does not require a vast amount resources
to run well.

   If it means being helpful to other sysops, both local and across
the continent, then I suppose I could understand the recognition.  I
am actively involved in CircuitNet, thanks to Tim Gibson who started
me in long ago, and Derek Motloch, who continues to keep me involved
by way of net-mail hub.

   I entered the SPITFIRE foray back in 1989, which seems so long
ago, now.  I was probably among the younger group of sysops, since I
am now 25 years of age.  (And single, but looking <grin>) I'm sure
that currently there are many younger people than I picking up the
SPITFIRE trail, and I'm more than happy to lend whatever help I can.
Most of what I know comes from being hard-headed and more of the type
to plug away at a problem than to call on the "big guns" right away.
Much of the time, I'll pick up information as I go from the net-mail
systems and other sysops who have already blazed the trail.

   I am likely best known for my small assortment of SPITFIRE
products (uh oh, here comes a blatant "plug"!) such as SFCB, a call
back verification program which I started way back in 1989 and have
kept up to date to correspond with SPITFIRE updates.  Two newer
products to hit the shareware market are SFVIEW, an on-line archive
text file reader, and SFQUEST which is still in its infancy, but
greatly customizes the Rainbow BBS in its new user and on-line
questionnaires.  I believe I am just hitting my stride when it comes
to programming, which I have been doing now for over 10 years, in the
Woltz self-taught tradition, although a few courses at the local
university have added fuel to the fire.

   My programming is also a part-time business, and I have taken on
programming contracts in the London area, though many were
practically handed to me on a platter, since my father's electrical
business did great hardware work, but needed software assistance.  It
gives me a small feeling of power to get a program working on a 2 or
3 ton machine strong enough to make holes in 3 inch thick steel.  I
also derive pleasure in making programs to help other sysops, since
they usually arise from a need I have in running my own system.  I
don't do my programming on the XT, I have a personal 386 which is
good enough for that job, and someday will be tied in to the BBS to
bring it up to date again.  Hmm, sounds like an oxymoron for
technology today: to bring a system up-to-date...

   I really enjoy being part of the electronic age, partly because I
am much wittier in writing than in person (aren't we all?) Born with
partial hearing loss, and wearing aids (I call them my personal
information microphones -PIMs <G>) to correct this, it's great to
talk electronically and not worry about missing part of the
conversation.  Not that I shy away from group conversation, however,
as I am a member (and treasurer) of our local L.A.S.A.  group (London
and Area Sysops Association) which comprises of nearly half SPITFIRE
sysops, but we are foremost a sysop group for any BBS software.  I
was dismayed when I learned that the SPITFIRE Conference for 1994 was
in all likelihood to be postponed to 1995; I am still looking forward
to that day when I may meet y'all in person.

   Until that time, you can reach me at CircuitNet 519002, or BBS at
519-455-4880 or voice 519-455-4990, in which case I'll crank up the
volume on my receiver!  <smiling>


͸
  NEWLY REGISTERED SPITFIRE SYSTEMS 
;

   A hearty welcome is extended to the following, who have
recently become public registered SPITFIRE Bulletin Board Systems:

Seventh Heaven................................209-358-5361...14400 BPS
Tome Wiseman, Sysop................................Atwater, California

Weasel's BBS.................................+617-281-7060...14400 BPS
Lance Edwards, Sysop.....................Ipswich Queensland, Australia

Skywalker BBS.............................Phone Unknown...Unknown Baud
Titusville Area School District...............Titusville, Pennsylvania

The American Patriot..........................602-790-4226....2400 BPS
Scott Gordon, Sysop....................................Tucson, Arizona

The EHS Information Exchange..................702-799-7221....2400 BPS
Eldorado High High School............................Las Vegas, Nevada

The Fortress..................................909-735-9095...14400 BPS
Timothy Caruso, Sysop...............................Corona, California

The Space Junk Yard...........................716-226-7276....2400 BPS
Murray Smith, Sysop................................Rochester, New York

The Undiscovered BBS..........................514-251-7917...14400 BPS
DATALogic GM, Sysop...........................Montreal, Quebec, Canada

The Cyrrius BBS...............................904-651-5911...19200 BPS
Robert Peterson, Sysop...............................Shalimar, Florida

Butte Christian BBS...........................406-494-8012...14400 BPS
John McDougall, Sysop...................................Butte, Montana

MIS System Support Group, Inc.................219-936-5524...14400 BPS
Scott Newman, Sysop....................................Culver, Indiana

TheRatz Nest..................................616-429-6145...19200 BPS
Harry Ratz, Sysop...............................Stevensville, Michigan

Last Out Post BBS.............................812-836-4343...14400 BPS
Thomas E. Davis, Sysop..............................Cannelton, Indiana

The Taxi Stand................................606-331-7919...14400 BPS
Pete Cain, Sysop............................Crescent Springs, Kentucky

Northern BBS..................................905-453-3831...14400 BPS
Tim Crowther, Sysop..........................Brampton, Ontario, Canada

Aqarius BBS...................................904-335-7261...14400 BPS
Alex Di Carlo, Sysop..............................Gainesville, Florida

Tops BBS......................................519-734-7690...14400 BPS
Paul Pesce, Sysop.............................Windsor, Ontario, Canada

Facet BBS.....................................510-440-0617...57600 BPS
Dennis Shreve, Sysop...............................Fremont, California

The Twin Towers BBS..........................Unknown Phone...14400 BPS
Walter Tello, Sysop...............................Ft. Benning, Georgia

Adult Paradise BBS............................402-342-4022....2400 BPS
Ken Cole Jr., Sysop....................................Omaha, Nebraska

Al Bundy's BBS................................216-682-0567...14400 BPS
Steve Kasner, Sysop.....................................Orrville, Ohio

Viper BBS!....................................713-665-1712...14400 BPS
Vince Tamborello, Sysop.................................Houston, Texas

The Hurricane.................................817-532-3502...14400 BPS
Scott Poest, Sysop....................................Fort Hood, Texas

The Parrot's Roost............................417-886-1077...14400 BPS
Wayne Matthews, Sysop............................Springfield, Missouri

The Newfie Express............................709-489-2715...14400 BPS
Tony Folkes, Sysop...........Grand Falls-Windsor, Newfoundland, Canada



   In addition, there were 9 new private SPITFIRE BBS Systems
registered.  These private SPITFIRE BBS's included registrations
from: Knoxville, Tennessee; Orrville, Ohio; Lawton, Oklahoma;  
Los Gatos, California; Las Vegas, Nevada; 2 from Paris, France; 
London, Ontario, Canada; Seattle, Washington; and New York, New York.   
Cleveland, Tennessee; and Littleton, Colorado.

   There were 13 registrations for whom registration information
was incomplete.  These included BBS's in: Cincinnati, Ohio;   
Marystown, Newfoundland, Canada; Palm Harbor, Florida; Houston, 
Texas; Geraldton, Western Australia; Corry, Pennsylvania;
Duluth, Minnesota; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Susanville, California;
Grants, Kingman, Arizona; Two Rivers, Wisconsin; and Jefferson 
City, Missouri.


   The increase in registrations where information is incomplete
is largely due to Buffalo Creek's Software's policy of accepting
on-line Mastercard and Visa credit card registrations.


   JUST A REMINDER...the newsletter is always looking for
contributions!  Please forward any articles in ASCII text to
either Buffalo Creek's BBS or The Mother Board BBS.

