 ¿
 ---===>>> Fast Start Document for Installing BoardMaster IV  <<<===---
 
   For complete information be sure to read the Full Installation Document!

Important Terminology used in this Document:

Board - Is any type of TBBS Message board, Topic or Sub-topic.

PMG - Is a Personal Message Group and is the way a user groups together boards
      for combined reading.  Each user can have up to 54 PMGs and each PMG can
      contain up to 42 boards.

IMB - Individual Message Board


Step 1. Run BRDBLDR.EXE.  You will be prompted for the complete path of your
CONFIG.CTL, TIMS.CTL or QSO.ctl.  If nothing is entered, the default,
C:\TBBS\CONFIG.CTL, will be used.  You will also be promted for board
spacing. This is used by BoardMaster to create Board ID numbers.  A
starting number of 1 and a spacing of 10, the default, will create ID
numbers of 10, 20, 30, etc. If everything is correct, type ENTER.
BoardBuilder will build a TDBS database as well as a text file called
BOARDLST.TXT.  It is a good idea to print out the text file as it will
make it easier later as you Edit/Add Boards.

* Key Concept -> BoardMaster's numbering scheme goes to 9999.  This means
that when you decide on your board spacing you must first consider the
number of boards you have in CEDIT * the spacing multiplier.  In other
words, if you have 63 boards defined in CEDIT, you cannot use a spacing
of 1,000 because 1,000 * 63 = 63,000 which would exceed 9999 and produce
an error. A spacing of 100, however, would work just fine as 100 * 63 =
6300 which is well below 9999. If you had 32 boards in CEDIT, a spacing
multiplier of 20 would work fine as 32 boards * 20 = 640.


Step 2. Add the Boardmaster menu entry to one of your menus.  To start with we
will only use BoardMaster's internal mail commands, so no parameters/switches
are necessary in the Opt Data Line.  Later, you may wish to add BoardMaster's
external Message Menu capability as well (This is discussed completely in the
Install document).

Menu Command Example:

Entry:
<M>essage Boards
Key=M
Type=200
Opt Data = C:\TBBS\BRDMASTR\BRDMASTR /Q

Step 3. Logon to your system with a priv level of 255 and execute the
BoardMaster Program.  Select <Z> Sysop Functions.

Step 4. Select <N> New User Default PMG (Personal Message Group).
This allows you to define the default PMGs for new users.  Personal Message
Groups allow users to group together boards for combined reading.  Each user
may have up to 54 PMGs with up to 20 boards in each PMG.  The Default PMGs you
will set up should contain the Boards that you definitely want a new user to
see such as EMAIL, LOUNGE, etc.  The first time a user selects PMG from the
main menu the default PMGs will be added as their first entry. It will also
serve as a guide for users as they set up their own PMGs later.  You may add up
to 54 Default PMGs, each containing 20 boards/topics
      
Step 5. When BoardBuilder built the database it used the CEDIT name of each
board as that Board's Description.  You may change this description to make it
more meaningful such as 'LOUNGE' to 'Relaxing in the Lounge'. Use the <L> List
Boards command to see the Board ID numbers or use the File BOARDLST.TXT that
you printed out in Step 2. and then select a Board to <E> Edit.

Step 6. You may also now add sub-topics.  BoardBuilder will have already added
the Topic Roots that were defined in CEDIT.  You may now <A> Add Topic Boards
using an existing Root and subtopic to any depth.  To do this, Give it a unique
ID number, any description you want, the EXACT CEDIT ROOT and subtopic
hierarchy. Say "Yes" to internal Mail and "No" to security. Tab down until
you reach the Switches.  These allow you to specify any special switches you
want to use with this board for reading, scanning, etc.  All TBBS mail Switches
are supported and are defined in the TBBS manual on pages 6-13 to 6-15.
If you built the database from QSO.CTL or TIMS.CTL the subtopics were
added automatically.
                 
Step 7. Now you should <S> Specify Colors that BoardMaster will use.  It is
best if you use a background color that matches your system's background as
this will provide a very consistent look and feel as users move around.  This is
not necessary, however, as when BoardMaster 'shells' out to TBBS it will first
do a clear based on your system's default color. BoardMaster comes
pre-configured to match a system with a black background.
                 
Step 8. While you are in the Sysop menu, Build the Type 20 index.  This
will build the index file for IMB searches.

You are now up and running.  You should return to the main user menu and use
some of BoardMaster's Individual Message Board and Personal Message Group
capabilities. After you have 'toured around' for awhile you should take the
time to read the full installation document so you can take advantage of
BoardMaster's full power.  This is important as there are features discussed
in that document which were not covered here.

Some things you may want to modify are:

The Help Menu and files, which are accessed from the main menu, and may be
modified with any text editor.

Conference 'Rules' files.  These are text files that may be displayed
by the user when he is in the Individual Message Board Menu.  They are
defined when you add/edit a message board and may be unique for each
conference or, if the file name is left blank, defaulted to a generic file.

BoardMaster's Colors

Menus, Prompts and Command Keys

Internal or External Menus for the Internal BoardMaster menus

Use of EasyMail for Mail Creation, PostMaster Mailer Reading/Mailing.

Board Descriptions, ID Numbers, Switches, etc.

The New User Default Personal Message Groups

Security, on a board by board basis or All Off

Categories

Menu Banners

Add QSO/TIMS 1.1/PostMaster/EasyMail BounceBack (described in the main
install document)

    -------------------->      End of Fast Install      <-------------------

