Source: SPITFIRE.DOCEdition: searchable Web reading editionPresentation: historical wording retained
9.0 - MAIN SECTION EXPLAINED
----------------------------
The Main Menu is the crux of any system, as all other sections
of the BBS may be accessed from the Main Menu. However, it is
important to note that a caller does not have to return to the Main
Menu from the Message Section to go to the File Section (and vice-
versa). In the event there is a command on the Main Menu that you do
not wish to have functional, simply set the security level for that
command high enough so callers cannot access it or see it.
As the Main Menu is described and the features explained, please
keep in mind that you control which callers can access these features
by changing the security level of the commands in the SFMAIN.MNU file.
In other words, you control which commands are available to which
callers. For instance, if the security level of the <B>.... Bulletins
command is set at 25 then a caller with a security level of 24 or less
would not see the command or be able to use the command. (Refer to
the section - SPITFIRE Menu Files - for further information regarding
setting security levels for accessing each menu feature.)
The Main Menu is the first focal point your callers will see after
they have gone through the log on screens. For the purpose of our
explanation, each menu displayed will be as if the Sysop (with the
highest security level and capable of accessing each menu feature)
were viewing it, thus looking like this:
9.1 - MAIN MENU EXAMPLE
-----------------------
>>>>>>>>> MAIN MENU <<<<<<<<<<M>.......... Message Section <F>.............. File Section
<D>............. Door Section <B>................. Bulletins
<C>......... Comment To Sysop <#>....... List Active Callers
<L>.......... Locate A Caller *<W>............ Welcome Screen
<Q>....... Questionnaire Menu <T>........ This System's Info
<N>...... SPITFIRE Newsletter <P>............ Page The Sysop
<G>........ Goodbye & Log Off <X>......... Xpert Mode Toggle
<Y>.......... Your Statistics <O>..... Other Bulletin Boards
<A>......... Add BBS Name & # <K>....... Main Menu Extension
<@>.......... Sysop Utilities <?>........ HELP With Commands
MAIN MENU - <M F S B C # L W Q T N P G X Y O A K @ ?>?
* The <W>... Welcome Screen is used for single node SPITFIRE BBS
system only. If you are operating a multi-node SPITFIRE BBS,
this is replaced with <W>........ Who's On/Node Chat.
9.2 - EXPLANATION OF MAIN MENU FEATURES
---------------------------------------
<M>.... Message Section
This feature takes a caller from the MAIN Section of SPITFIRE
to the MESSAGE Section.
<F>.... File Section
This feature takes a caller from the MAIN Section of SPITFIRE
to the FILE Section.
<D>.... Door Section
This feature allows a caller to terminate SPITFIRE so a
third party program can be run on-line. Normally, but not
always, the third party program is a game. When the third
party program is finished, the caller is returned to
SPITFIRE.
<B>.... Bulletins
This feature allows a caller to view the available bulletins.
<C>.... Comment to Sysop
Allows a caller to enter a non-public message to the Sysop.
All comments are automatically saved to Message Conference
#1. However, these are marked and listed as Comment Number
<x> rather than Message Number <x>. In order for callers to
leave a comment to the Sysop, the Sysop must log onto the
BBS using the name configured as the Sysop Caller Name in the
ALT+Z configuration window. If the Sysop does not use the
name configured there for logging onto the BBS, callers will
not be able to leave a comment to the Sysop.
<#>.... List Active Callers
This feature displays the name and address of each caller
of this BBS. It also shows the date each caller last logged
on.
<L>.... Locate a Caller
This feature allows a caller to see if a another person is a
caller on this BBS. When a caller selects this feature, the
caller is prompted to enter either the full or partial name
of the person he/she is attempting to locate. SPITFIRE will
search for any string matching what is entered. When a
match is found, SPITFIRE will report the find and ask the
caller as to whether this is the person he/she is attempting
to locate. If the caller responds with a Y for Yes, SPITFIRE
will notify the caller when that person last logged onto the
BBS. If the caller responds with an N for No, SPITFIRE will
continue to search the caller data base, informing the caller
of any match found, prompting whether the match is the person
they are attempting to locate. In the event no match is
found, SPITFIRE will inform the caller no match could be
found.
<W>.... Welcome Screen (Single Node SPITFIRE BBS)
This feature allows a caller to review the opening screen.
This feature is only available on single node SPITFIRE BBS
systems. On multi-node SPITFIRE systems this option is
replaced with <W>........ Who's On/Node Chat.
<W>.... Who's On/Node Chat (Multi-node SPITFIRE BBS)
This feature will display information regarding what other
callers are currently logged on the other available nodes
and provide an option for entering into a node chat with a
caller on another node. (Refer to the section - NODE CHAT
for a more detailed explanation of node chat). This feature
is only available on multi-node SPITFIRE BBS systems. On
single node SPITFIRE systems this option is replaced with the
<W>...Welcome Screen.
<Q>.... Questionnaire Menu
This feature presents the Questionnaire Menu to your callers.
Individual questionnaire/order files (SFORDER<x>.QUE) are
used to present questions to your callers. The caller's
responses are then stored in the corresponding answer file,
SFORDER<x>.REP. (For more information, please refer to the
section - SPITFIRE Questionnaires - of this manual.)
<T>.... This System's Info
This feature displays to the caller certain information about
the BBS, such as the Sysop's name, starting date of the BBS,
total number of calls received on the BBS, etc.
<N>.... SPITFIRE Newsletter
This feature displays SFNWSLTR.[BCR] (the BBS newsletter)
to the caller. This can be used to keep the callers updated
with changes or news concerning your BBS.
<P>.... Page the Sysop
This feature notifies the Sysop that a caller has a question
or problem to chat about. If the Sysop is not available to
answer the page, SFUNANS.[BCR] is displayed to the caller.
If a caller attempts to page the Sysop a second time, and
SFPAGED.[BCR] is found, SFPAGED.[BCR] is displayed to
the caller and the Sysop is not paged a second time. If
SFPAGED.[BCR] is not found, the caller may page the Sysop
multiple times. If the Sysop has the page feature turned
off and a caller attempts to page the Sysop, SFPGOFF.[BCR]
is displayed to the caller.
<G>.... Goodbye & Log Off
This feature simply allows a caller to log off the BBS.
<X>.... Xpert Mode Toggle
This feature changes a caller's status from a novice to an
expert or vice versa. If a caller is set as a novice, then
the menu descriptions will scroll by after each command. If
a caller is set as an expert, then only the command letters
scroll by after each command.
<Y>.... Your Statistics
This feature displays certain statistics for the caller on
the BBS and provides a menu which gives the caller the
opportunity to change some information pertaining to them.
The screen and the information that can be changed are
explained below:
>>>>>> JUST FOR YOUR INFORMATION <<<<<<
Your Name : John Doe Security Level : 10
Last Time On : 12-22-95 13:04 Number Of Times On : 127
Birthdate : 01-20-54 Times On Today : 1
Files Uploaded : 19 Files Downloaded : 53
K Uploaded : 122 K Downloaded : 2631
Original Log On : 05-23-90 Subscription Date : N/A
Node Chats Left : 5 Messages Entered : 22
>>>>>>>> THINGS YOU CAN CHANGE <<<<<<<<<W> Address : Peoria, IL <H> Hot Key : On
<#> Phone Number : 555-151-5555 <D> Display Size : 80X24
<S> Scroll Prompt : On <G> Graphics : On
<F> File Transfer : 1k-Xmodem <M> More Prompt : On
<P> Password : ********** <C> Change Color : 36
CHANGE MENU - [W S # H C G D M P F <Q>uit ] ?
Command <W> - Provides the caller with an opportunity to change their
address. The caller is prompted to enter both the city
and state. SPITFIRE will then redisplay what they have
entered to verify the changes before saving the new
information.
Command <S> - Allows the caller to toggle SPITFIRE's Scroll Back
option On and Off. The scroll back feature is used in
connection with the display of the "< ENTER >"/"More,
Continue" prompts. If the scroll back feature is toggled
on, when the prompt is displayed and the caller enters a
keystroke to continue, the message will scroll back and
disappear from the screen. If the scroll back feature is
off, the "< ENTER >" or "More, Continue" prompt remains
displayed on the screen.
Command <#> - Allows the caller to change their phone number.
Command <H> - This feature allows the caller to toggle the Hot Key
within SPITFIRE. If toggled On, when entering the
command character of a menu, a return is entered
automatically and the command is immediately executed.
When toggled off, the caller is required to press the
<ENTER> key before the command is executed.
Command <C> - Allows the caller to select their default color settings.
The caller may select 31 through 36. The colors
associated with the numeric value are as follows:
31 - Red 32 - Green 33 - Yellow 34 - Blue
35 - Magenta 36 - Cyan 37 - White
Command <G> - Allows the caller to toggle the color graphics on or off.
When toggled Off, ANSI and RIP graphic modes are turned
off and ASCII is used. Display files with the extension
of .BBS are displayed to the caller, if found. When
toggled On, SPITFIRE loads ANSI graphics and then tests
to determine if the caller is using a RIP terminal
program. If a RIP terminal program is not detected, ANSI
graphics are used and display files with the extension of
.CLR are displayed to the caller, if found. If a RIP
terminal program is detected, the caller is then asked
to select from the following Graphic options: <N>one,
<A>nsi or <R>ip. If RIP is selected, display files with
the extension of .RIP will be displayed to the caller, if
found.
Command <D> - Allows the caller to set the screen display size. When
this feature is selected, the caller is prompted to
enter a new line length. Acceptable values for the
line length range from 40 to 144. Next, the caller
is prompted to enter a new page length. Acceptable
values for the page length range from 10 to 24. The
page length determines when the "More, Continue" prompt
will display. For example, if the page length is 24,
the prompt will display after every 24 lines.
Command <M> - This toggles the More Prompt On and Off. When toggled
On, each time a complete screen display is received,
either the "< ENTER >" or "More, Continue" prompt is sent
and the display is paused until a keystroke is entered
signaling the display to continue. If the More Prompt is
toggled Off, the "< ENTER >"/"More, Continue" prompt will
not display and information will continue to scroll
without being paused.
Command <P> - For security control a caller's password is not visible
and only asterisks will appear. The caller is provided
with the following choices when selecting this option:
<V>iew - allows the caller to view his/her password.
<C>hange - allows the caller to change his/her password.
Only asterisks will display and the caller
is prompted to enter the password a second
time for verification.
<Q>uit - returns the caller to the information screen.
Command <F> - Allows the caller to select their default file transfer
protocol. The caller may select from:
<1> Ascii
<2> Xmodem Checksum
<3> Xmodem CRC
<4> 1K-Xmodem
<5> Ymodem (Batch)
<6> Zmodem (Batch)
<T> Telink
<S> Select at time of transfer
Enter the protocol of your choice - [1 2 3 4 5 6 T S]?
Selecting any option other than <S>, Select at time of
transfer, causes the external protocol options to be
unavailable to the caller. SPITFIRE's display file,
SFPROMSG.[BCR], is used to inform the caller of this
when selecting a default file transfer.
Command <Q> - Returns the caller to the Main Menu
<O>.... Other Bulletin Boards
This feature displays SFBBSLST.DAT which is a listing of
names, bps rate and phone numbers of other Bulletin Boards.
<A>.... Add BBS Name & #
This feature allows a caller to add the name, bps rate and
phone number of other bulletin board systems to the BBS list,
SFBBSLST.DAT. When adding a BBS to SFBBSLST.DAT, the number
is recorded in the caller's log to provide the Sysop a means
of tracing who entered the listing.
<K>.... Main Menu Extension
This command can be set to run a third party program
configured by the Sysop. It is set up using the necessary
commands to execute the desired option within the SFMAIN.BAT
file. It should be noted that Sysops will need to use the
SFHELP.EXE utility to modify the SPITFIRE.HLP file so it
properly explains the added option. When this option is
selected, SPITFIRE creates the file SFMAIN.DAT and places it
in the SPITFIRE home directory. SFMAIN.DAT contains caller
information which is often required by the third party
program. SPITFIRE then shells from memory during the
execution of the third party program. When the caller
exits the third party program and control is returned to
SPITFIRE, SFMAIN.DAT is automatically erased.
<@>.... Sysop Utilities
This feature takes a caller from the MAIN Section to the
SYSOP section. The BBS is maintained from the SYSOP Section.
This feature is not normally available to most callers.
<?>.... HELP with Commands
This option provides help for each command available from the
MAIN MENU.