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"The QuickBBS Bulletin Board Maintenance System"
Version 2.02 August 18, 1989
Written by: Dionis & Rafael Smith
Table of Contents:
INTRODUCTION:
[1] Overview of Q-MAIN.......................... 1
[2] Copyright Notice............................ 1
[3] Disclaimer.................................. 1
[4] Credits..................................... 1
[5] Registering your copy of Q-MAIN............. 1
RUNNING Q-MAIN:
[1] Getting started............................. 2
[2] USER Editor................................. 4
[3] EVENT Editor................................ 5
[4] MENU Editor................................. 5
[5] MESSAGE Board Editor........................ 6
[6] QuickBBS Nodelist Compiler.................. 6
[7] QuickBBS configuration...................... 6
[8] MESSAGE Utilities........................... 8
[9] MISCELLANEOUS Utilities......................9
[10] Future Releases.............................10
"Overview"
Q-MAIN is a QuickBBS Maintenance System. Included within QMAIN_22.ZIP is
numerous useful utilities for QuickBBS Sysops, such as; UserEditor,
MenuEditor, Event Editor, Message Board Editor, QuickBBS Configuration
Program, Various Message Utilities (for doing Maintenance on your message
files), and Various Miscellaneous. This version of Q-Main is compatible with
QuickBBS Version 2.04.
"Copyright Notice (c) 1988,89"
The QuickBBS Maintenance System (Q-MAIN) is the copyrighted material of
Dionis and Rafael Smith. You are encouraged to distribute Q-MAIN to others
as long as you do not charge in any way or form. Q-MAIN is distributed un-
der the "ShareWare" concept.
"Disclaimer"
Dionis and/or Rafael Smith shall not be held responsible for any damages
or problems that occurs to hardware, software, or other peripheral devices
while running Q-MAIN. All responsibility rests upon the user of this
program.
"Credits"
* QuickBBS is a Trademark of Adam Hudson.
* Turbo Pascal 5.5 is a Registered Trademark of Borland, Inc.
* Thanks to Dale Malone for his efforts in proof-reading these docs.
* My Beta Testers here in Orlando Florida. They have been
a BIG help.
"Registering your copy of Q-MAIN"
Since Q-MAIN is distributed under the "Shareware" concept, this means
that if you intend to keep on using this program, after you find it of use
to you, then a registration/contribution will be appreciated. All we are
asking is that you try Q-MAIN 2.02 and if it suits your needs then a $10.00
(or more, of course) registration fee is requested. Please read
REGISTER.LST for more information on registering.
1
"Getting Started"
Q-MAIN requires at least 140k to run (load in), so please keep this in
mind. Also, Q-MAIN, at various times keeps many files open, so if you hap-
pen to get a runtime error 004 you will need to increase the files = x
statement in your config.sys file (x = a number).
Q-MAIN does not have to be executed from your QuickBBS main directory,
it can be executed from anywhere. Once you execute Q-MAIN, go to Q-MAIN
CONFIGURATION from the main menu. Here you will see the following within a
window:
User Log Path:
Nodelist Path:
Config Path:
Keep Backup MSG*.BBS files: No
Downloader Report:
Uploader Report:
Caller Report:
Message Report:
Sysop Level: 0
ALLFILE List:
The first three selections are pretty much self-explanatory. Granted, that
in most cases these paths will probably be the same, but it is implemented
this way incase you are running some of your board from a RAM drive or your
have some other special setup. All the fourth selection does is instructs
any of the options under 'Message Utilities' whether or not to keep backup
copies of the message files. Use ENTER to toggle. The next four selections
pertain to 'User Reports' under the Miscellaneous Utilities option. Upon
selecting any of these four you will be given the following within a
window:
ASCII Full Path/Name:
ANSI Full Path/Name:
Color for border: White
Color of header: White
Color for 1st column (number): White
Color for 2nd column (name): White
Color for 3rd column (pertains to report): White
Again, it is pretty much self-explanatory. The first two selections is
were you specify the paths, one for ASCII and one for ANSI. If you are not
going to be making a ANSI copy just leave it alone, same goes for ASCII.
The last five selections is where you specify what colors you want certain
parts of the report to be. Only change this if you plan on creating a ANSI
copy. Use the LEFT - RIGHT arrows to toggle between colors.
The ninth selection also pertains to the 'User Reports'. This is were you
specify the access level given to Sysops on your system. Any user who has
2
the same access level specified here will be ignored when creating the
reports. The last selection pertains to the 'ALLFILE List Generator' from
the Miscellaneous Utilities menu. Upon selecting this option you will be
given the following:
Bulletin Path/Name (ASCI):
Bulletin Path/Name (ANSI):
Download Path/Name (ASCI):
Download Path/Name (ANSI):
Color for borders: White
Color for headers: White
Color for 1st column (name): White
Color for 2st column (size): White
Color for 3rd column (description): White
As you can see, this is very similar to the selections pertaining to the
'User Reports'. The only difference between a list created to put for
download and a list created to use as a bulletin is that the bulletin list
lists individual stats on each file area (number of files and amount of
space they occupy).
The rest of this documentation BRIEFLY explains the options from the MAIN
MENU. Q-MAIN is basically self-explanatory when run. Incase you have just
started with QuickBBS, you should look over the QuickBBS docs first. I'm
assuming that you have had experience with other QuickBBS Utilities. In
most cases you use the ARROW KEYS to maneuver your way around the menus and
the ESC KEY to return to the previous menu.
3
"User Editor"
This first option from the MAIN MENU is a QuickBBS User Editor. Upon
selecting this option from the MAIN MENU, you will be viewing record number
0 (your first user) of the USERS.BBS file. You will be able to do the
following:
Key: Function:
---- ---------
F2 SEARCH FOR A USER. First and last name must be given.
It is not case sensitive.
F3 GOTO A SPECIFIC USER #. You will be able to jump to any
other user record, providing you know his/her USER #.
F4 SORT USER LOG. Upon selecting this option another
window will be brought up that allows you to SORT by
Name, Level, or by number of times on. SORTING by name
will sort alphabetically by last name. SORTING by
level will sort in descending order. SORTING by number
of times on will also sort in descending order.
**NOTE** You will get a warning message if your user
log exceeds 1500 users. It will also update
the LASTREAD.BBS file if it exists.
F5 CLEAR LIMITS. This will CLEAR daily limits, such as
resetting the 24 hour time limit.
F6 PURGE USER LOG. Upon selecting this option another
window will be brought up which will allow you to PURGE
all users that are flagged for deletion or PURGE users
by the last time called.
**NOTE** It will also update the LASTREAD.BBS file if
it exists.
F7 PRINT USER LOG. Upon selecting this option you will be
asked for a level. You may enter ALL to print all users
or just an individual level. The output format will be
Name, Homephone, DataPhone, and Level.
F8 CHANGE. This is a 'Global User Security Changer'. You
will be asked to enter two numbers. Change users with
x security level to y security level. So, you could
could change all users with level 100 to 500 without
going in and changing each individual record.
INS ADD a new user.
DEL Flag a User for deletion
4
"Event Editor"
The second option from the MAIN MENU is a QuickBBS Menu Editor. Upon
selecting this option you will be viewing Event #1. You will be able to do
the following:
Key: Function:
---- ---------
HOME First Event.
END Last Event.
PGDN Next Event.
PGUP Previous Event.
F1 Print ALL Events to the printer. The output format will
be event number, status, runtime, errorlevel, and on
which days the event it active for.
F2 Clear current event (set's everything to default).
F3 Jump to a specific event.
"Menu Editor"
The third option from the MAIN MENU is a QuickBBS Menu Editor. Upon
selecting this option, a screen will be appear listing all the available
menus found in the path for menus specified under QuickBBS Configuration
(later in docs). From this screen you will be able to do the following:
Key Function
--- --------
F1 Edit a Menu.
F2 Create a Menu.
F3 Copy a Menu. This is more making duplicates of menus.
F4 Delete a Menu.
F5 Rename a Menu.
F6 View Directory. This will list all the *.MNU files. This
option will only be needed if you have more than 75
menus (the maximum printed per page).
When Editing or Creating a menu you will be able to do the following:
Key Function:
--- ---------
DEL Delete an entry.
INS Insert a blank entry.
F1 Jump to an entry.
F2 List entries from current menu. This will list three
entries to a screen.
F3 Set the Menu Prompt and Prompt colors for the menu.
F4 Set the highlight colors for the menu.
F5 Copy an entry. You will be able to copy entries within
the menu.
F6 Clear Limits. Sets every field for the current menu back
to default.
5
The only difference between 'Editing' and 'Creating' a menu is that when
you are editing you be warned if you are on the last entry.
"Message Board Editor"
The forth option from the MAIN MENU is a QuickBBS Message Board Editor.
This option will allow you to EDIT/CHANGE your message board. This option
is very similar to the Event Editor, meaning that the same keys are avail-
able. When editing the Read, Write, and Sysop flags use the LEFT - RIGHT
arrows to manuver.
"QuickBBS Nodelist Compiler"
This option will allow you to compile the QuickBBS type nodelist files.
The only thing this option requires is a copy of NODELIST.BBS. The neces-
sary files will be compiled in whichever path is specified under NODLEIST
Path under Q-MAIN CONFIGURATION. You can also run this option from the dos
prompt.
Example: Q-MAIN -QBBS
"QuickBBS Configuration Program"
This option will allow you to EDIT/CHANGE/DELETE various information per-
taining to the operation of your system. For a more detailed explanation
please read the QuickBBS docs where it explains the operation of QCON-
FIG.EXE (this file is included with all the QuickBBS main files). You will
be presented with a menu which will allow you to edit the following
information:
Modem Parameters. Matrix Parameters.
Restriction Parameters. System Paths.
Miscellaneous Parameters (#1) Default Info. for new users.
Miscellaneous Parameters (#2)
MODEM PARAMETERS: You will be able to edit such things as Comm port, Maxi-
mum Baud Rate that you system operates at, number of times to intialize the
modem, seconds to wait before answering the phone, modem init command
string, modem init response string, modem busy command string, modem busy
response string, and response strings for 300,1200,2400,4800, and 9600 baud.
If you are using a mailer which handles all incomming calls, you will need
to leave the modem init command string, modem init response string, modem
busy response string, and modem busy command string blank.
MATRIX PARAMETERS: You will be able to edit your Net/Node number, up to 5
alternate addresses, the zone that you are in, and your netmail board num-
ber. The alternate addresses are usually required for Region Hosts.
6
RESTRICTION PARAMETERS: You will be able to edit the minimum baud rate to
log onto your system, minimum baud rate that is allowed to use ANSI, mini-
mum baud rate that is allowed to do file transfers, and the starting and
ending hours of 300 baud access, downloading, and paging hours.
SYSTEM PATHS: You will be able to edit the path of your Menus, Custom/ANSI
files, and Netmail path.
DEFAULT INFO. FOR NEW USERS.: You will be able to edit the New User Access
Level, New Users Credit Level, and New Users security flags.
MISC PARAMETERS (#1): Allows you to edit Origin Line, Sysop Name,
Seconds to wait before disconnect, logon time limit, default foreground and
background color, maximum password attempts allowed, maximum number of
times a user can page the sysop, upload time credit factor, page bell length,
message editor dos string, Quote Message String, Type 7 & 15 Loading
Message, and Type 6 Command String.
MISC PARAMTERS (#2): Allows you to toggle between YES/NO on the following;
Output a ^E auto-Logon character, use fast local log-in, clear screen while
waiting for caller, use extended read pointers, run QuickBBS in monochrome,
write directly to screen buffer, check for snow on screen writes, one-word
names allowed, exist when Net/Echo mail is entered, check for mail at log-
on, ask for business and/or home phone, are Color/Graphics available, Use
Xmodem Protocal, Ymodem-1K Protocal, Ymodem Protocal, Ymodem-G, Sealink
Protocal, and Zmodem Protocal, and are colored input fields allowed.
"Message Utilities"
This option will allow you to do various maintenance functions on your
Message Files. You will be able to do the following:
1) Purge/Renumber ALL Message: This will PURGE all messages marked as
deleted while RENUMBERING all messages. It will also update the lastread
pointers in USERS.BBS and if it exists, the LASTREAD.BBS file.
Q-MAIN -PURGEALL will also run this option.
2) Purge Received Message: This will flag messages for deletion from a
specific message area, or more than one, that are marked as being received.
Q-MAIN -PURGEREC # # #..... will also run this option.
Q-MAIN 4 5 6 will flag all message which have been received
in areas 4, 5, and 6 for deletion.
3) Delete a Message Board: This will flag all message for deletion from a
specific message area, or more than one.
7
Q-MAIN -PURGEBRD # # # ....will also run this option.
Q-MAIN -PURGEBRD 6 8 9 10 will flag all message from areas
6, 8, 9, and 10 for deletion.
4) Print Messages to Disk [By Board Number]: This will allow you to print
all message from a particular board number to a disk file.
Q-MAIN -PRINTDISK -BOARD # FILENAME will also run this option.
Q-MAIN -PRINTDISK -BOARD 16 TEST.TXT will print all messages
from board #16 to TEST.TXT.
5) Print Messages to Disk [By Message Number]: Same as above, except you
can specify the message number to start print at and the message number to
stop printing at.
Q-MAIN -PRINTDISK # # FILENAME will also run this option.
Q-MAIN -PRINTDISK 1 3 TEST.TXT will print messages 1-3 to the
file TEST.TXT
6) Purge Messages x days old: This option will allow you to keep your mes-
sage bases trimmed down by date. You must create a file called PRGDATE.CTL
which should contain the following:
Board# days.
An example would be:
1 25
2 25
3 25
10 30
11 30
This will flag any message in areas 1, 2, and 3 with a postdate more than
25 days less than the current system date for deletion. For areas 10 and 11
it will do the same except it would flag any message with a postdate more
than 30 days less than the current system date. You DO NOT have to list all
your areas, only the ones that you want to be trimmed.
Q-MAIN -PRGDATE will also run this option.
7) Purge Messages by number: This will allow you to keep your message bases
trimmed down by number. It's very similar to 'Purge by x days old'. You
will need to create a file called PURGENUM.CTL which should contain the
following:
Board# Number
An example would be:
10 100
11 100
12 100
8
Say area 10 had 110 message, area 11 had 120 messages, and area12 had 99
messages. This would flag the first 10 message in area 10 for deletion, the
first 20 messages in area 11, and it would not purge any message in area
number 12. Again, you DO NOT have to list all your areas.
"Miscellaneous Utilities"
This option will allow you to perform various maintenance functions that I
thought might be useful to include.
1) Reset System Caller Count
Allows you to edit the integer variable in your SYSINFO.BBS
file that keeps track of how many times your system have
been called into.
2) Reset Last-Read Pointers to 0
Will rest every users last-read pointer in USERS.BBS back to
0. I found myself having to do this individually whenever I
had to start my msg*.bbs files over.
3) Verify Active Message
This option will make sure that the ACTIVE MESSAGE POINTERS
in MSGINFO.BBS for each board it correct. It does this by
going through each message and keeping track of how many
are active for each board. If everything doesn't match you
will be asked if you want to reset the pointers to what
they should be. I'm not sure if this will be useful to all
of you, but there were times that one of my areas said 7
active message and I was able to read 10 messages.
4) Generate User Reports
This option will allow you to create lists of the top
Downloaders, Uploaders, Message Posters, and Top Callers.
You will be able to select between Normal and ANSI Output.
Q-MAIN FUNCTION TYPE UPTO
Q-MAIN DLREPORT 1 10 would create a list of the top 10
downloaders. TYPE can either be 1 for normal or 2 for ANSI.
would make the ANSI version of the top 10 downloaders.
Other possibilities for function are ULREPORT , MSGREPORT,
and CALLERREPORT.
5) Generate ALLFILES list
9
This option will allow you to create lists of all your
available files. You will need to create a file called
ALLFILES.CTL. This file should contain the following:
Path Description
Example:
D:\FILES\GEN\ General Text Files
D:\FILES\COMM\ Communication Programs
**NOTE** You must have the \ and the space.
You can also run it via parameters. Q-MAIN -ALLFILES BULLETIN
or Q-MAIN -ALLFILES DL . Adding a /A would produce the ANSI
version of the list.
6) Unlink Messages
Will unlink on message links.
You can also run it via parameters. Q-MAIN -UNLINK.
"Future Releases"
If you have any suggestions/comments/bug reports etc. Please be sure to
let us know either by sending matrix mail to 1:363/4, writing to the
address listed in register.frm, or calling our system (407) 834-6690. Our
system is up 24 hours weekends and from 5p-6a weekdays. The best time to
get through during weekdays would probably be anytime past 8pm.
10