HELP ON TOPIC ACCESS
You are currently accessing topics, a special type of multi-level,
hierarchical message section. From this prompt, you have several choices
which are described in detail here. IF YOU NEED GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT
TOPIC MESSAGE FEATURES, it is provided at the end of this file.
You selected help from a prompt line which has several commands. Before the
commands were listed, however, the system displayed the name of a message
board. This board is the topic path you are currently accessing. With the
exception of the <O>ptions commands, all commands available to you here will
act on the displayed message board name only. The number of messages in the
displayed message board (topic path) is shown as well. The commands are:
<O>ptions
This command allows you to access topic section control commands.
By selecting this command, you will be able to show available
topics, as well as join or resign particular topics. Additional
details are provided in the help information available from
within the options command itself.
<M>ark as Read
Allows you to mark all messages on the displayed message board
(topic path) as read. Once you do so, messages in that topic
path area will no longer be considered "new" messages as of
your next call to the system. If you are not interested in
messages in a particular topic path any longer, you may wish
to simply resign from the topic path instead of marking them
as read.
<J>ump Over
Allows you to jump over (skip) all messages on the displayed
message board (topic path). You then have the option of coming
back later to read them. Unread messages in the topic path
will still be considered new messages and are unaffected in
any way.
<C>ontinue
Allows you to read messages in the currently displayed message
board (topic path) using the method you selected previously
(such as Forward, Reverse, New, and so forth).
<A>dd Msg
Allows you to write a new message and post it to the currently
displayed message board (topic path).
<S>top
Allows you to stop access to this topic section and return to
the previous menu.
GENERAL INFORMATION ON TOPIC MESSAGE FEATURES
The command that brought you here has allowed you to access a topic message
area. These areas are hierarchical in nature, and are arranged as topic
"paths". You can envision these paths as an inverted tree. There is one
topic at the top, and sub-topics branch out beneath it. Sub-topics may have
other sub-topics under them as well. There may be a total of up to 4 levels
in each topic path.
NOTE: Some topic sections may be organized with only 2 levels.
Each level of the path has a name. If there are multiple levels, each level
of the path is separated by a slash (/) character. Here are some topic path
examples:
Operating Systems
Operating Systems/DOS
Operating Systems/DOS/Windows
Operating Systems/DOS/Windows/Applications
Operating Systems/DOS/Windows/Hardware Requirements
Operating Systems/UNIX
Operating Systems/UNIX/Open Look
Operating Systems/UNIX/Open Look/Applications
Each of the 8 topic paths listed are separate and distinct message areas, each
with their own messages. A message posted in the topic path "Operating
Systems" is not accessible from "Operating Systems/DOS". The paths simply
allow organization of related message themes or topics, much like the
directory structure of an IBM PC running DOS, or the folders on a Macintosh.
In order to access messages in a particular topic path, you must "join" it.
When you join a particular topic, you can join it alone by path name, or
automatically join all sub-topics under it at the same time.
For example, if you join "Operating Systems" you will be asked if you want to
join the topic multi-level. If you select YES, then (in this example) you
would join all 8 topics. If you select NO, then you would join only
"Operating Systems" itself, and the other 7 areas would NOT be accessible to
you.
You may also join sub-topics directly. For example, you could join "Operating
Systems/DOS/Windows" alone, without regard to levels higher (such as "Operating
Systems/DOS" or lower (like "Operating Systems/DOS/Windows/Applications").
If you no longer wish to access a particular topic path or paths, you can
"resign" from them. Like joining, resigning also gives you the option of
resigning levels below automatically.
BTPC (2.2) 11/91