textfiles/bbs/FIDONET/JENNINGS/TEX/guide.tex.txt

\input man.sty
\twosided
\title A Caller's Guide to Fido\copyright Version 12
\endtitle

\author
Written by Scot Kamins \\
August, 1988 \\ \\
\rm for Fido Software \\
164 Shipley \\
San Francisco CA 94107
\endauthor


This is the Caller's Guide to Fido Version 12. Its entire<72>
contents are copyright 1988 by Tom Jennings. 

``Fido'' and ``FidoNet'' are registered trademarks of Tom<6F>
Jennings

This guide is distributed through BBSs and information utilities<65>
under the honor system. If after using it for two weeks you find<6E>
it worth keeping, send \$5.00 to Fido Software and you'll receive<76>
a beautiful printed manual, typeset with the \TeX typsetting<6E>
system, and printed on a mediocre dot matrix printer. Please send<6E>
your praises, complaints, corrections, and suggestions to the<68>
author, Scot Kamins, at the address above.

Also write to receive general information on the Fido/FidoNet<65>
Bulletin Board program (prices, current version, datasheet, etc). 

\bigpagebreak
\heading Fido's structure \endheading

Fido is divided into three major sections--MAIN, MESSAGES,  and<6E>
FILES. The Messages and Files sections can in turn each have up<75>
to 200 separate areas, each area covering a separate topic. (Most<73>
Fidos have fewer than 10.) Which of these sections and areas you<6F>
can use, and the commands you can use in each, depends on your<75>
privilege level. The system operator determines what a caller's<>
privilege level is.

\subheading{Message Section} The Message Section holds messages<65>
that a caller writes to another person or to anybody who cares to<74>
read it. A caller can make a message private so that only the<68>
message writer and the person specified (and the system operator)<29>
can read it.  The system operator determines the length of<6F>
messages that callers can leave. Different types of messages<65>
usually go into different message areas. 

\subheading{Files Section} The Files Section holds files that a<>
caller can download. These files come from the system operator<6F>
and from callers (maybe you) who use special Fido commands to<74>
upload them. The system operator checks these files to make sure<72>
that they're either in the public domain or that the file's<>
copyright holder has given permission for their distribution.<2E>
Like messages, different types of files usually go into different<6E>
file areas.

Many boards have a special electronic mail (FidoNet) section. In<49>
this section a caller can send a message to anyone who calls into<74>
a FidoNet (or compatible) board anywhere in the world. As of this<69>
writing, over 2000 FidoNet compatible boards with FidoNet in<69>
operation are operating in all 50 states and 17<31>
countries\footnote{Please don't quote me on this; the size of the<68>
amateur FidoNet changes week by week; it doubled in size for the<68>
first four years.}.

You'll read more later about entering and editing messages,<2C>
uploading and downloading files, and sending and getting FidoNet.

\bigpagebreak
\heading Calling Fido \endheading

When you call a Fido board, there's a process you have to go<67>
through before you can start reading or entering messages or<6F>
files. It's called the log-on procedure (because you<6F>
electronically sign your name in the log book). Except for the<68>
first time you call, it only takes a few seconds. Here are the<68>
steps you take to call and log on:

\example
\demo{test} see if this works. \enddemo

\demo{First} Make sure your modem is turned on. Of course, it has<61>
to be attached to your computer properly, and you must have<76>
communications software running that works well with your<75>
computer and your modem.\enddemo

\demo{Second} Dial the Fido's number. How you do this depends on<6F>
your communication software; see the manual that came with that<61>
software for details. Assuming the Fido's number isn't busy and<6E>
that the Fido you're calling is up and running, after a few<65>
seconds the word CONNECT (or something similar) will appear on<6F>
your screen.\enddemo

\demo{Third} Wait for a few seconds. This gives Fido a chance to<74>
check and match your modem's baud rate--the speed your modem is<69>
sending and receiving information. If you get no response after<65>
waiting five seconds or so, press Enter two or three times.<2E>
(Older Fidos with version numbers less than 12  can't tell the<68>
baud rate of a modem automatically.)\enddemo

\demo{Fourth} Wait for a few seconds. Read what Fido puts on your<75>
screen and follow the directions\footnote{If you've waited ten<65>
seconds or so and nothing happens, press \return a few times;<3B>
older Fidos (and some other BBSs), couldn't tell your modems baud<75>
rate automatically, and needs you to do this to get it started.}<7D>
You'll see the name of the board, and probably some introductory<72>
information the system operator wants you to read. Then Fido asks<6B>
for your name.\enddemo

\demo{Fifth} Type your name\footnote{Fido lets you use names with<74>
one, two or three words. If you enter only one word, Fido will<6C>
ask you for your LAST name, where you can enter zero, one or two<77>
words followed by \return. This sounds awfully complicated to<74>
explain but it isn't.} See the comments after this list in the<68>
section called {\it ``About Names''}. Fido checks to make sure<72>
you've typed your name correctly; answering ``N\return '' for no<6E>
lets you retype your name from scratch, and ``Y\return '' or just<73>
\return tells Fido you are have it right.\enddemo

After you enter ``Y\return '' or \return Fido checks to see if it<69>
knows who you are. If it does, it asks for your password. If not,<2C>
something else happens; skip to the section called {\it ``First<73>
time Log-ons.''}

\demo{Sixth} Type your password and press Enter. Fido makes sure<72>
you are who you say you are. If everything is OK, your log-on is<69>
complete. Fido might show you some notices; usually you can enter<65>
Control-C (or Control-K) to skip them. At any rate, Fido will<6C>
soon present you with a deathless quotation that you can ponder<65>
as the Main Menu scrolls onto the screen.\enddemo
\endexample

\bigpagebreak
\heading About Names \endheading

Some system operators want you to use your real name; others<72>
accept ``handles''--aliases you use instead of your real name to<74>
reflect some fantasy or role appropriate to the kind of Fido<64>
you're calling (``The Hacker,'' ``Top Whip,'' or ``Creampuff'' to<74>
name some typical handles). Custom dictates what's acceptable and<6E>
what isn't on a particular BBS. In some cases, a system operator<6F>
asks for your real name in a questionnaire and then allows you to<74>
use a handle everywhere your name would ordinarily appear on the<68>
board. In any case, you can sign on with whatever name you want;<3B>
later, you can change your name and password.

Fido requires that you give a first name; whether you give a<>
middle or last name is up to you. To skip giving a last name,<2C>
just press Enter without typing anything else. when Fido asks for<6F>
it You need to be consistent, however; if you sign on the first<73>
time with a first and last name, you must give both each time you<6F>
call--otherwise, Fido will think you're somebody else. Also, if<69>
you give just a first name the first time you call, you can never<65>
give a last name when you log on. Again, you can change all this<69>
from within Fido. (See C)hange command, below.)

\bigpagebreak
\heading First Time Log-Ons \endheading

Logging on for the first time takes a little longer (and<6E>
sometimes a lot longer) than usual. You'll be asked to choose a<>
password so that only you (and the system operator) will be able<6C>
to read your private messages and so that nobody else can use up<75>
your time. (Many Fidos allow you only so much time on the system<65>
per day; some Fidos charge you for the time you use.) Some Fidos<6F>
also ask you to fill out an electronic questionnaire the first<73>
time you call. 

A few Fidos are semi-private or private systems; you have to be<62>
approved by the system operator before you can use most of the<68>
system's features. Some Fidos won't let you on at all unless you<6F>
belong to a particular company or club, or unless the system<65>
operator has already enrolled you on the caller list that Fido<64>
keeps.

Whatever the procedure is, the Fido you're calling will let you<6F>
know what's up and will prompt you for the information it needs.<2E>
You ordinarily only have to go through this procedure the first<73>
time you call a particular Fido.

\bigpagebreak
\heading Signing up--again\! \endheading

All Fidos keep track of (among other things) the date that you<6F>
call. Most Fidos purge your name from the caller list if you<6F>
don't call again for so many days, usually 30. So you might find<6E>
a Fido that you infrequently call forgetting who you are. When<65>
this happens, you'll have to go through the first time log-on<6F>
procedure again.

\bigpagebreak
\heading Choosing a Password \endheading

Your password can be up to 15 characters long. It must start with<74>
a letter, and it can't contain any spaces. It should be something<6E>
that's meaningful to you and to no one else, or it should be<62>
completely meaningless. The idea is to come up with something<6E>
that nobody else can use to rip off your messages or Fido time.<2E>
Some people like to change their passwords at least once a month.<2E>
(See {\it ``C)hange''}.)

\bigpagebreak
\heading The Main Menu \endheading

Fido is a menu-driven system. This means that you choose commands<64>
from menus to decide what happens next. (Advanced callers can<61>
shut the menus off and type commands directly; see {\it ``Help<6C>
Levels''}, for the details.) To choose a menu command, you<6F>
usually type a letter and then press Enter. You see the menu in<69>
the Main section first; here's what it looks like:

**
MAIN Section:
M)sg-Section F)ile-Section B)ulletins 
S)tatistics C)hange P)age-Operator 
L)ist-Callers A)ns-Questionnaire V)ersion 
O)utside E)xitDOS G)oodbye 
Command (?=help): 
**

You might not see all these commands if your privilege level<65>
isn't high enough. (In fact, it's extremely unlikely that you'll<6C>
see either O)utside or E)xitDOS.) Your system operator decides<65>
what commands you can see; if you can see it, you can use it. 

\subheading{Privileges and such} The system operator controls who<68>
can use which sections and, within sections, which commands.<2E>
Different system operators have different rules to determine who<68>
gets to use what. System operators generally make it clear what<61>
you have to do in order to get to use these ``higher order''<27>
commands. If you're curious, leave a message for the system<65>
operator asking about it. 

Here's what each command does, in brief. The ones that require<72>
further explanation have their own detailed sections later on:

\subheading{M--Message section} This brings you to the message<67>
area you last looked at on your most recent call. If this is the<68>
first time you've used the M command, you go to whatever message<67>
area the system operator sets for first-time callers. See {\it<69>
``Message Section''}.

\subheading{F--Files section} This brings you to the file area<65>
you last looked at on your most recent call. If this is the first<73>
time you've used the F command, you go to whatever file area the<68>
system operator sets for first-time callers. See {\it ``File<6C>
Section''}.

\subheading{B--Bulletins} Gives you a numbered list of bulletins<6E>
you can look at. To see a particular bulletin, type its number<65>
and press Enter. The following example comes from the Ch@os board<72>
in San Francisco:

**
--- Bulletins ---
1) The current ``New caller'' welcome 7 July 87
2) THE INTENT OF THIS BBS
3) PRIVACY & CENSORSHIP
4) General notes on Bulletin Boards in the ``real world''
Bulletin #: 
**

\subheading{S--Statistics) Lets you know how often you've called,<2C>
how much time you've got left on this call, and other<65>
information. This comes up: 

**
28 Jul 87  21:12:51
                 Total   Limit   Remaining
Total Calls:       264
Your Calls:         41
Connect Time:        1      60      59
24 Hr Time Limit:          240     239
Credit:         $24.00          $24.00
**

The credit line lets you know how much credit you have in your<75>
account for using FidoNet, a special feature of Fido systems that<61>
lets you send electronic mail to and receive electronic mail from<6F>
any of over 2000 Fido systems throughout the world. See {\it<69>
``Sending and Receiving FidoMail''}, later in this chapter, for<6F>
the details.

You're limited in the amount of time you can spend on the system,<2C>
both per call and per day. Some systems are extremely busy, and<6E>
they might limit you to less than an hour a day.

\subheading{C--Change your setup} Lets you change your name,<2C>
password, help level, and system stuff (screen width and length,<2C>
whether your modem needs nulls, and so on): 

**
---- Personal Info ----
Name             : John Scribblemonger
Address          : Lake Woebegone Minnesota
Password         : Scribe
Help Level       : All

----- Your System -----
Number of Columns: 80
Number of Lines  : 24
``More[Y,n]''      : ON
Tab Expansion    : ON
Filler Nulls     : 0

N)ame A)ddress P)assword H)elp-Level W)idth 
L)ength M)ore T)abs F)iller-Nulls 
Command (?=help): 
**

See {\it ``Changing Caller Settings''} for details. 

\subheading{L--List callers} This command shows you the names of<6F>
all people currently on the caller list, the last date and time<6D>
they were on, and where they're from. You can also hunt for an<61>
individual caller's name--a great way to see if a friend uses<65>
this board, or to see the last time that somebody was on:

**
Name or part of name to match (CR = all): 

Scott Dean      28 Aug 87  22:12:35  Fresburg Ca
Jack Friday     06 Sep 87  09:40:53  Kathmandu Nepal
Al Taddeo       25 Aug 87  23:40:28  Burbank Ca
Ed Johnson      08 Sep 87  20:25:05  San Francisco Ca
Rob Taylor      19 Sep 87  20:41:57  Fresburg Ca
Jeff McNeal     03 Sep 87  22:38:49  Pittsburg Ca
**

\subheading{P--Page the system operator} If s/he's around and<6E>
feeling communicative, s/he'll answer.

\subheading{A--Answer the questionnaire} Some Fido systems have<76>
questionnaires on various subjects. Try this command; if there's<>
no questionnaire on this system, Fido tells you so.

\subheading{V--Version number} This tells you what version of<6F>
Fido this system is using. Many versions of Fido exist (over a<>
dozen at the time this manual was written); the number of the<68>
version you're calling can be useful if you're a veteran caller<65>
or system operator. For example, use it to see if this Fido is<69>
version 12--the version this guide describes.

\subheading{O--Outside} Ordinarily available only to callers with<74>
high access levels, the O)utside command quits Fido and delivers<72>
an errorlevel to DOS. Generally, this command exits to a batch<63>
file that lets a caller use programs that live somewhere on the<68>
system operator's disk.

\subheading{E--Exit to DOS} Ordinarily available only to callers<72>
with the same access level as the system operator, the E)xit-DOS<4F>
command quits Fido and delivers an errorlevel to DOS. More often<65>
than not, it exits to a batch file that lets the system operator<6F>
run the system remotely.

\subheading{G--Goodbye} Use this to log off the system.<2E>
(Actually, you can just shut off your modem if you want to.)<29>
Often this will give you a chance to leave a private message to<74>
the system operator.

\subheading{?--Help} Gets you on-line help, telling what each<63>
command does. It's like the list you've been reading, except<70>
briefer (usually).  Anytime you can't figure out a command in<69>
Fido, just type a questionmark and press Enter.  Later versions<6E>
of Fido (version 12 and higher) also have something called<65>
contextual help. See {\it ``Help Levels''} below for more<72>
details.

\bigpagebreak
\heading Changing Caller Settings \endheading

To change a setting:

\example
\demo{1} Type C from the Main Section and press Enter.\enddemo

\demo{2} Type the proper letter for the setting you want to<74>
change; then press Enter.\enddemo

\demo{3} Type in the new info. If you press Enter without typing<6E>
anything, the old information remains intact.\enddemo

\demo{4} Repeat steps 2 and 3 for all necessary items. \enddemo

\demo{5} Press Enter without typing anything else when you've<76>
finished making changes.\enddemo
\endexample

Here's what you can change:

\demo{N--Caller name} Leave a space between your first and last<73>
name -- that's how Fido tells the difference when you sign<67>
on.\enddemo

\demo{A--City and state} This is the place you usually call from.<2E>
If you're paranoid, lie. (Computers are stupid and will believe<76>
anything.)\enddemo

\demo{P--Password} Change this every once in a while so that the<68>
bad guys can't use your time, or post libelous messages under<65>
your name. The system is pretty secure, but realize that the<68>
system operator can easily find out your password. Try not to<74>
worry about it. (Heh-heh.)\enddemo

\demo{H--Help level} Fido has three help levels; everybody starts<74>
off automatically set to Novice level. For the details, see {\it<69>
``Help Levels.''}\enddemo

\demo{W--Width of your screen} in characters (the Number of<6F>
Columns item).\enddemo

\demo{L--Length of your screen} in lines (the Number of Lines<65>
item).\enddemo

\demo{M--Turns the [More?] prompt on and off} When this is set to<74>
ON, Fido pauses when your screen is full (as determined by the<68>
settings under Width and Length, next in this list) and puts the<68>
message * [More?] * at the bottom of the screen: if you type<70>
``N'' and press Enter, Fido aborts the rest of the message or<6F>
bulletin and returns you to Command level; if you type any other<65>
key and press Enter (or just press Enter without typing<6E>
anything), Fido gives you another screenfull of text. When More<72>
is set to OFF, the text of a message or bulletin just keeps<70>
coming, scrolling information off the top of the screen as<61>
necessary. When the word More appears without a questionmark (as<61>
in * [More] *), you can't abort the rest of the message.\enddemo

\proclaim{Killing a listing} Usually you can abort any bulletin<69>
or message as it's being displayed by pressing Control-C or<6F>
Control-K. If using Control-C or Control-K doesn't work, the<68>
system operator has disabled this option for the particular<61>
message or bulletin you're currently reading. The abort keys<79>
might work for other messages; continue to question<6F>
authority.\endproclaim

\demo{T--Tab Expansion} If this is set to ON, Fido sends the<68>
appropriate number of spaces for each CONTROL-I it encounters. If<49>
this is set to OFF, Fido will send a Control-I to your modem each<63>
time it comes across a Tab character in a message or bulletin.<2E>
Tab defaults to ON. If your screen looks OK, ignore this setting;<3B>
if tables don't line up properly or if you get spurious<75>
characters at the far right edge of the screen, change this<69>
setting to whatever it's not.\enddemo

\demo{F--Filler-Nulls} Some printing terminals need to be sent<6E>
null characters for timing purposes. Most terminals don't need<65>
any; see the manual that came with your terminal if you<6F>
experience loss of characters at the beginning of lines.\enddemo

\bigpagebreak
\heading Help Levels \endheading

Fido has three help levels--{\bf Novice, Regular, or Expert}.  To<54>
set the help level, choose the C command from the Main Menu; then<65>
type a number for the level of help you want:

\demo{1} You're an expert. You have everything memorized. You<6F>
just want the system to tell you that it's time to give it a<>
command:\enddemo

**
Main Command (?=help):
**

\demo{2} You're an experienced caller with a crummy memory. You<6F>
don't want a lot of help--just a list of all the letters you can<61>
type at this command prompt:\enddemo

**
MAIN Section:
Commands: M F B S C P L A V G (?=help):
**

\demo{3} You're a novice. You want full help--a one or two-word<72>
explanation of each command, plus the list of all the letters you<6F>
can type at this command prompt:\enddemo

**
MAIN Section:
M)sg-Section F)ile-Section B)ulletins 
S)tatistics C)hange P)age-Operator 
L)ist-Callers A)ns-Questionnaire V)ersion 
G)oodbye 
Command (?=help):
**

You can enter a questionmark for more detailed help on a<>
section's commands, no matter what the help level is set at. You<6F>
can get even more detailed help for a particular command: Type<70>
the command's letter immediately followed by a questionmark (for<6F>
example, L?). If you get a message telling you that the help file<6C>
is missing, leave a message for the system operator saying so;<3B>
it's probably an oversight.

\bigpagebreak
\heading Message Section \endheading

The {\bf Message Section} holds all the messages that callers<72>
leave, either directly by typing them into this Fido or<6F>
indirectly by typing them into the FidoMail section of some other<65>
Fido, and sending them to this Fido via FidoNet. Fido can have up<75>
to 200 message areas, with an unlimited number of messages in<69>
each area. All the commands and prompts in all message areas are<72>
exactly the same, except for some special prompts in the FidoNet<65>
FidoMail message area. (See {\it ``Sending and Receiving<6E>
FidoMail''}, later in this chapter, for the details.)

You get to the Message section by entering the M command in the<68>
Main Section. Assuming the Help level is set to 3 (Novice),<2C>
something close to this appears:

**
Message Area 2: Shred of Dignity Skaters' Union
Total messages:    40
Highest message:   53
Highest read:      22

N)ext P)revious E)nter K)ill T)o-You 
A)rea-Change R)eply C)ontinuous L)ist 
S)earch U)pdate-Msg O)verride-Path 
G)oodbye M)ain-Menu 
Command or Message Number 1-53 (?=help) [22 N]:
**

You go to the message area you were in the last time you called<65>
this Fido. If you've never given the M command before, you<6F>
automatically go to the area that the system operator has<61>
determined is the place where new message readers go. The title<6C>
you see (Shred of Dignity Skaters Union) is the name of this<69>
message section.

Fido is preset to let you read mail as soon as you enter a<>
message section. The N within square brackets at the end of the<68>
command prompt [22 N] stands for N)ext, telling you that Fido is<69>
ready to display the next message you haven't yet read; all you<6F>
need do is press Enter.

Fido numbers messages as they're entered. In this example,<2C>
Message area \#2 has 40 messages in it, with the highest message<67>
numbered 53. Some messages have been deleted for one reason or<6F>
another (at least 13--the difference between 53 and 40), either<65>
by the people who entered them, the people they were left for, or<6F>
by the system operator.

Fido keeps track of the messages you've already read so that you<6F>
don't waste your time rereading old messages. In the example, the<68>
caller has read up to message number 22. If the messages have<76>
been renumbered by the system operator to get rid of holes<65>
previously occupied by now-deleted messages, the numbers change<67>
accordingly. If you haven't been on before, Fido gives you the<68>
lowest number it can for the last message you read-- the number<65>
1.

Here's what each command does, in brief. The ones that require<72>
further explanation have their own detailed sections later on.

\demo{N--Next message}  This sets the direction of the next and<6E>
subsequent message numbers that Fido displays for you. ``Next''<27>
is defined as the number that appears after the bracket ([) just<73>
before the end of the prompt, +1. In the example above, the<68>
number is 22; so N gets you message #23. If message #23 doesn't<>
exist (because it was deleted) or if #23 is a private message,<2C>
Fido looks for the next existing non-private message. If no more<72>
unread, non-deleted, non-private messages are left, Fido says<79>
Highest message (which means that you've read all the messages<65>
possible to read in this area) and prompts you for another<65>
command. To start at the very beginning of the message list in<69>
this area and read forward towards the end, type < and press<73>
Enter.\enddemo


\demo{P--Previous message} This changes the direction of the next<78>
and subsequent message numbers that Fido displays for you.<2E>
``Previous'' is defined as the number that appears after the<68>
bracket ([) just before the end of the prompt, minus 1. In the<68>
example above, the number is 22; so P gets you message #21. If<49>
message #21 doesn't exist (because it was deleted) or if #21 is a<>
private message, Fido looks for the next existing non-private<74>
message with a lower message number. If no more unread, non<6F>
deleted, non-private messages are left, Fido says Lowest message<67>
(which means that you've read all the messages possible to read<61>
in this area) and prompts you for another command. To change the<68>
direction, enter the N command. To start at the very end of the<68>
message list in this area and read back towards the start, type ><3E>
and press Enter. \enddemo


\demo{E--Enter a new message} Fido prompts you for appropriate<74>
information. Here's an example:\enddemo

**
This will be message #54
From: Studley Whackburn
To: John Scribblemonger
Subject: Rights of Man
Private? [y,N]: n
Maximum message length, lines: 37
Enter your message, blank line to end
Words will wrap automatically

 1: 
**

(1: is the number of the line you're about to type; you'll find<6E>
this line-numbering useful if you need to edit the message after<65>
you've written it.) When you enter a message, Fido automatically<6C>
puts in the message number--always one higher than the highest<73>
message number in the current area--and fills in the From: field<6C>
with your name. 

You fill in the To: and Subject: fields.  (If you press Enter<65>
without typing something into either of these fields, Fido<64>
assumes you want to cancel the message.) The To: field holds up<75>
to 35 characters, and the Subject: field can hold 71 characters.<2E>
If you want to make your message unreadable by all callers other<65>
than you, the addressee, and the system operator, answer Y to the<68>
Private? prompt.

\proclaim{About privacy} System operators can read private<74>
messages. Keep this in mind when you leave messages for people.<2E>
If the information you want to leave is so private and so<73>
personal that you wouldn't want anybody to read it, don't leave<76>
it on any bulletin board. This applies doubly to FidoMail,<2C>
because sometimes FidoMail goes through several boards before it<69>
arrives at its destination--and each system operator along the<68>
way can read the mail. System operators as a group probably have<76>
as much integrity as any general cross-section of the population.<2E>
But integrity aside, even some postal employees find it<69>
irresistible to read the occasional postcard.\endproclaim

The system operator decides how many lines long a message can be.<2E>
(Not just yours--the maximum message length applies equally to<74>
all messages.) You type in your message until you've finished.<2E>
You can ignore the ends of lines--Fido takes care of carriage<67>
returns and line feeds for you (although you can force carriage<67>
returns, like at the ends of paragraphs, by pressing Enter). You<6F>
press Enter twice to let Fido know you've finished. Fido then<65>
brings up a set of special editing commands:

**
 1: Forget it, John; it's not worth it. There's no way that
 2: your mother will let you keep a python in the bathtub.
 3:

S)ave C)ontinue-adding A)bort L)ist E)dit-Line
D)el-Line I)ns-Line H)eader (?=help): 
**

The commands do what you think they do (Del is short for Delete<74>
and Ins is short for Insert).  E)dit-Line, D)el-Line, and I)ns<6E>
Line all refer to the body of the message; use H)eader to edit<69>
the information in the To:, Subject:, and Private? fields. (To<54>
keep the old information, just press Enter at the appropriate<74>
prompt). If you need help with a command, type its first letter<65>
and a questionmark, and then press Enter.

\proclaim{Spelling counts in Fido} A private message left for<6F>
Vladmir Jons will never be read by Vladmir Jones, or by anybody<64>
else for that matter (except the system operator). Make sure the<68>
spelling in the To: field is correct before you save the<68>
message.\endproclaim

Later, when your message has been read by the person you've sent<6E>
it to, Fido adds the tag (RECV'D) to the message's header line.<2E>
The number in square brackets before the tag tells you how many<6E>
times this particular message has been read by anyone coming<6E>
across it (in this case, 5). The date is when the message was<61>
entered:

**
#39  26 Jul 87  17:06:31 [5]  (RECV'D) 
From: Studley Whackburn
To:   John Scribblemonger
Subj: Rights Of Man
**

\demo{K--Kills the message you just read}, assuming you wrote it<69>
or it was addressed specifically to you. You can't kill a message<67>
that isn't yours--only the system operator can do that. \enddemo

\demo{T--Looks for the next message addressed to you}--that is,<2C>
messages that have your name in the To: field.  What ``next<78>
message'' is depends on the number and letter that appear between<65>
brackets ([]) just before the end of the prompt; it will be a<>
message with a higher number than the one in brackets if the<68>
letter  is N, lower if the letter is P (See N and P, earlier in<69>
this section.). To go from the very start of the message list<73>
through to the end, enter < T; to go from the end of the message<67>
list and work back to the start, enter > T. (Note the space<63>
before the T in both cases.) \enddemo

Fido displays these messages for you one at a time, giving you<6F>
the chance to reply to a message and then delete it as soon as<61>
you've read it. (Some Fidos run on floppy disk, where space is at<61>
a premium; so it's always a good idea to throw away a message you<6F>
no longer need.) Here's what a message retrieved using the T<>
command looks like. In this example, Help level is at 2:

**
Commands: N P E K T A R C L S U G M 
or Message Number 1-112 (?=help) [1 N]: t
#81  26 Jul 87  13:12:45 [1]
From: Studley Whackburn
To:   John Scribblemonger
Subj: Complaints

We don't accept complaints. Sorry.
**

It's a good idea to reply to a message before you delete it. When<65>
you reply to a message you've just read, Fido fills out the TO<54>
field for you.

\proclaim{The bonus RK command} After you've read a message<67>
(addressed to you) that you want to reply to, use the command RK.<2E>
The RK command lets you reply to a message, and then<65>
automatically deletes the original. That way you don't clutter up<75>
the disk with old messages.\endproclaim

\demo{A--Area change} This command shows you all the message<67>
areas:\enddemo

**
----- Message Areas -----
  1) Ch@os
  2) Shred of Dignity Skaters Union
\star 4) FidoNet Messages
  5) 'Zine reviews & ads
Message Area [2]: 
**

The area marked with a \star is always the FidoNet FidoMail<69>
section. The number between square brackets at the end of the<68>
prompt is the area you were just in, and the area to which you'll<6C>
automatically return if you press Enter without typing another<65>
number.

\proclaim{About missing numbers} The numbers of the areas that<61>
appear in the areas list might not be sequential. (For instance,<2C>
3 is missing in the example.) Those areas do exist; you just<73>
don't have access to them. Each individual system operator<6F>
determines who can see what areas and who can use which commands.<2E>
If you need access to some area that you know exists but that<61>
doesn't appear on your screen, leave a note for the system<65>
operator asking for access.\endproclaim

\demo{R--Reply to the message you've just read} You can reply to<74>
any message, whether it's addressed to you or not. When you reply<6C>
to a message, Fido automatically fills out the From:, To:, and<6E>
Subject:  fields for you. (The To: field becomes REPLY To:) You<6F>
need to fill out the Private? field yourself. For details on how<6F>
to enter a message, see the E command, earlier in this section.<2E>
\enddemo

\proclaim{Use R rather than E} Fido keeps track of all replies to<74>
a message such that a running conversation can occur. For<6F>
example, Fred enters a message that Gerry replies to. Alice reads<64>
Gerry's reply and replies to it, adding her own comments. Phil<69>
sees Alice's reply and adds comments of his own by replying to<74>
her message, and so it goes. Later, anyone can trace the<68>
conversation using the special + command (described later), and<6E>
read only the series of messages (called the thread in BBS<42>
terminology) concerned with this topic. To take part in the<68>
threaded conversation, always use the R command. You can use E to<74>
write a new message to anybody in the thread, of course; but<75>
people who use + won't see your comments.\endproclaim

\demo{C--Continuously show messages} All the messages from the<68>
one you last read through the end of the message list scrolls<6C>
onto your screen without stopping. This happens even if you have<76>
``More?'' turned on in the C)hange part of the Main section. To<54>
go from the very start of the message list through to the end,<2C>
enter < C; to go from the end of the message list and work back<63>
to the start, enter > C. (Note the space before the C in both<74>
cases.) To stop the list temporarily, press CONTROL-S. (Press it<69>
again to continue.) To abort the command, press CONTROL-C or<6F>
CONTROL-K. \enddemo

\demo{L--List the headers (To:, From:, Subject: fields)} of all<6C>
readable messages in the area, starting at the current one and<6E>
going through either to the start or to the end of the message<67>
list, depending on the current direction--N or P.  (You can't<>
search the body of a message.) A ``readable message'' is one that<61>
isn't public, or if private is one that's addressed to or from<6F>
you. To go from the very start of the message list through to the<68>
end, enter < L; to go from the end of the message list and work<72>
back to the start, enter > L. (Note the space before the L in<69>
both cases.) This command is useful when you want to know who's<>
leaving messages, who's getting messages, or what the subjects of<6F>
people's messages are. (Of course, this assumes that people --<2D>
which includes you--leave really descriptive subject lines.)<29>
\enddemo

\demo{S--Search the header} This command looks in the headers of<6F>
the current area's messages for a specified word, name, or<6F>
phrase. The search starts at the current message and goes through<67>
either to the start or to the end of the message list, depending<6E>
on the current direction (N or P). When it finds a match, Fido<64>
displays the header and the rest of the message. To search for<6F>
the next match, type S and press [CR] twice; Fido remembers the<68>
last search string entered. To go from the very start of the<68>
message list through to the end, enter < S; to go from the end of<6F>
the message list and work back to the start, enter ><3E>S. (Note the<68>
space before the S in both cases.) To stop the list temporarily,<2C>
press CONTROL-S. (Press it again to continue.) To abort the<68>
command, press CONTROL-C or CONTROL-K.\enddemo

\demo{U--Update the message you just read} The message must be<62>
one that you entered. Use this command to edit a message you've<76>
written to someone and already saved. You edit an already-saved<65>
message in exactly the same way that you edit a message you're in<69>
the process of creating for the first time: Fido displays the<68>
message and brings up the editing commands:\enddemo

**
#86  27 Jul 87  12:52:16 [3] (EDITED)  
From: Studley Whackburn
To:   John Scribblemonger
Subj: The World Ends Thursday

1: I have bad news, old chum. The world is coming to an end
2: tomorrow at exactly 4:15 PM. This is especially annoying,
3: since we had dinner planned for seven. Sorry.
4:

Loaded 3 lines
You may now display and edit message #86

S)ave C)ontinue-adding A)bort L)ist E)dit-Line
D)el-Line I)ns-Line H)eader (?=help): 
**

Ater you've edited and saved the message, Fido adds an extra line<6E>
at the start of the body of the message, saying when the editing<6E>
occurred. This ``editing trail'' is an integral part of the<68>
message; Fido adds it as you save the message, and displays it<69>
every time someone reads the message:

**
#86  27 Jul 87  12:52:16 [3]   
From: Studley Whackburn
To:   John Scribblemonger
Subj: The World Ends Tomorrow

[Message changed on 31 Jul 87  10:57:29]
I have bad news, old chum. The world is coming to an end tomorrow <20>
at exactly 4:15 PM. This is especially annoying, as we had dinner<65>
planned for seven. Sorry.
**

\demo{G--Goodbye} Use this to log off the system. (Actually, you<6F>
can just shut off your modem if you want to.) Often this will<6C>
give you a chance to leave a private message to the system<65>
operator.\enddemo

\demo{M--Main menu} Returns you to the Main section.\enddemo

\bigpagebreak
\heading Special Navigation Commands \endheading

Fido has a few special character commands to help you get around<6E>
in an area's message section better. A few of them have already<64>
been mentioned, but you'll see them again here:

\example
.      Display (or redisplay) the current message. The current<6E>
message is the one whose number shows within square brackets<74>
(along with the direction indicator N or P) just before the end<6E>
of the prompt line. 

<     Reset the current message number to the lowest in this area<65>
and set the direction to N (Next). When you press Enter, the<68>
lowest numbered readable message in the area will appear on the<68>
screen.

>     Reset the current message number to the highest in this<69>
area and set the direction to P (Previous). When you press Enter,<2C>
the highest numbered readable message in the area will appear on<6F>
the screen.

+    Read the reply to the last displayed message, if a reply<6C>
exists. This lets you follow a discussion thread composed of<6F>
related messages (a reply to a reply to a reply\dots) without<75>
having intervening messages on other subjects interfere.

-    Read the message that this one is replying to (if this<69>
message is a reply). Keep entering the minus sign to get back to<74>
the original message that started the discussion. (Fido will let<65>
you know when you've reached the original message.) That way you<6F>
can follow the discussion thread through to the end by using +. 
\endexample
\bigpagebreak
\heading Sending and Receiving FidoNet Mail \endheading

At this writing (January, 1988), Fidos that exchange electronic<69>
mail (FidoNet) are operating in 17 countries and in all 50 of the<68>
United States\footnote{Sigh\dots here we go again.}. Fidos that<61>
exchange FidoNet mail can connect directly with each other, or<6F>
they can connect indirectly via ``host'' Fidos. The public<69>
FidoNet network that uses Fido's system of exchanging mail<69>
currently has over 100 hosts and around 2500 nodes. (A host<73>
accepts mail for all Fido nodes in its immediate geographic<69>
vicinity in order to keep telephone costs down.) FidoMail usually<6C>
gets exchanged in the dark of night, when telephone costs are<72>
cheapest.

\demo{How you might use FidoNet} Assume that you live in San Francisco, and you have a friend or business associate who lives<65>
in Boston. S/he has a modem and a computer, and you have a modem<65>
and a computer. While costs are determined by each individual<61>
system operator, you can write a message of a few hundred words<64>
and send it overnight from the Fido that you use in San Francisco<63>
to the one that s/he uses in Boston for about 25 cents. \enddemo

Not all Fidos use FidoNet, the part of Fido that makes exchanging<6E>
electronic mail possible. To see if the Fido that you regularly<6C>
call uses FidoNet, use the A)rea command in the Message section:<3A>
Look for a message area name that has an asterisk (\star) next to<74>
it. If no name has an asterisk, then either that Fido isn't using<6E>
FidoNet or you need to have already set up a FidoNet account<6E>
before you can even get into the FidoNet area. (See the next<78>
section of this manual.)  Leave a message for the system operator 
asking if s/he runs FidoNet and, if so, how you can set up an<61>
account. If s/he doesn't run FidoNet, leave a nasty message and call another Fido.

\bigpagebreak
\heading Setting Up a FidoNet Account \endheading

Sending an individual FidoNet message is very cheap. (In fact,<2C>
sending a message to a Fido within your local dialing area is<69>
probably free.) But a FidoNet system operator might find that<61>
s/he has dozens of long-distance FidoMail messages going out<75>
every night. The phone bill for the system operator can add up<75>
fast. So most system operators insist that you have an account<6E>
set up with them before you start sending FidoMail. You'll<6C>
usually find a bulletin telling you how to set up a FidoNet<65>
account. If you can't find the information you need, leave a<>
message for the system operator asking for details.

The Credit line that you see when you enter the Change command in<69>
the Main section shows how much you have to spend on FidoMail.<2E>
The system operator credits your account when you send whatever<65>
s/he requires (or when you fulfill your part of whatever<65>
arrangement you have). 

\proclaim{About charges} Your account gets charged for each<63>
FidoMail message you make, and the account is reconciled after<65>
mail gets sent. You always know how much it costs to send a<>
message before you send it; a list of prices is always available.<2E>
(You'll find details on how to find prices in the next<78>
section.)\endproclaim

\bigpagebreak
\heading Using the FidoNet Message System \endheading

(This section assumes you're in the FidoNet message area as you<6F>
read along.) You use the same process to leave a message in the<68>
FidoNet area as you do in any other Message area, except that you<6F>
also have to add a FidoNet address. Here's what you see after you<6F>
tell FidoNet you want to enter a message:

**
This will be message #46
From: Studley Whackburn  on Fido 1:125/101
To: 
**

The number at the end of the From: field is the address of the<68>
Fido you're calling from. A full address has three sections to<74>
it, and it's written in the form zone:net/Fido. (The colon and<6E>
the slash are important.) When you send FidoMail to somebody, you<6F>
need to include a FidoNet numeric address. To continue the<68>
example:

**
This will be message #46
From: Studley Whackburn  on Fido 1:125/101
To: Tim Pozar
Current Net is NET      125 SF Bay Net, San Francisco CA, $0.26
Z)one N)et F)ido (or numeric FidoNet address) (?=Help): 1:101/318
**

This piece of FidoMail is going to the Fido board whose complete<74>
address is Zone 1, Net 101, Fido 318.

The first number in the address is the zone number; it represents<74>
some vast geographic area, usually a country. Zone is a feature<72>
that's just starting to be used; you can usually ignore it.

The second number (101) represents the net, the affiliation of<6F>
Fidos in a particular geographic area--in the example, the state<74>
of Massachusetts (and one or two stragglers from Rhode Island).<2E>
Note that this number is always followed by a slash.

The third number (318) is the Fido number--the number of a<>
specific Fido board. Only one Fido in a net has this number. <20>
Somebody in another net might have that same node number, just as<61>
somebody in a different telephone area code might have same<6D>
seven-digit telephone number.

So you can write this complete FidoNet address as either<65>
1:101/318 or simply 101/318.

\bigpagebreak
\heading Finding an address \endheading

The problem is how to find the address of the Fido that somebody<64>
uses. Unfortunately, there's no international FidoNet caller's<>
directory. Ideally, you know the complete numeric address of the<68>
Fido that your friend uses. Short of that, FidoNet can help you<6F>
find the Fido's address if you know the Fido's net number, its<74>
name, or its city. Assume for this exercise that your friend has<61>
an account on the PC WEEK board in Boston, Massachusetts.

\bigpagebreak
\heading The N Command \endheading

The N command shows you a list of all the nets:

**
NET        1 Int'l Tech Coord, So Roxana IL, $0.22
NET       10 Calif Nevada, Lompoc CA, $0.26
NET      102 SoCalNet, Los Angeles CA, $0.26
\dots
\dots

NET       16 New England, CT ME MA NH RI VT, $0.20
NET      101 MassNet, Gardner MA, $0.20
\dots
\dots
NET      713 QLD NET, BRISBANE QLD AUSTRALIA, $2.38
NET       59 OCEANIA INDEPENDENT, SOUTH PACIFIC, $2.38
**

(The \dots indicate items present in the listing, but left out of<6F>
this example.) The number on a particular line is the number of<6F>
the net described. The next item on the line is the name of the<68>
host of that net (or a creative contraction of the host's name).<2E>
The third item is the location of that host. The final number is<69>
the amount of money it costs to send a message to that host from<6F>
the Fido that you're using at the moment. (In most cases, that's<>
also how much it costs to send a message to every Fido served by<62>
that host.)

This list shows just a few of the nets; there are over 100 of<6F>
them. The idea is to browse through the net list until you find<6E>
one that's likely to encompass the board you're looking for. When<65>
you find a likely candidate, you can stop the list by entering<6E>
CONTROL-C or CONTROL-K. 

Assume that the best candidate for a net likely to hold Boston's<>
PC WEEK board is net 101, the MassNet board located in Gardner,<2C>
Massachusetts. When Fido prompts you, you type 

101/ [CR]

This rather arcane message tells Fido you want to send a message<67>
to some board affiliated with net 101.  Here's what the prompt<70>
looks like after you've searched the Net list and entered the net<65>
designation:

**
Current Net is NET      125 SF Bay Net, San Francisco CA, $0.26
Z)one N)et F)ido (or numeric FidoNet address) (?=Help): 101/
Current Net is NET      101 MassNet, Gardner MA, $0.20
Z)one N)et F)ido (or numeric FidoNet address) (?=Help): 
**

The current net number has changed; it's now 101. The current net<65>
number determines what you'll see when you enter the F command.

\subheading{The F Command}

The F command lists all the Fidos in the current net:

**
Current Net is NET      101 MassNet, Gardner MA, $0.20
N)et F)ido (or numeric FidoNet address) (?=Help): F
NET        101 MassNet, Gardner MA, $0.20
            14 WayStar, Marlboro MA, $0.20
            27 Daves Fido, Gardner MA, $0.20
\dots
\dots
           318 PC Week, Boston MA, $0.20
           366 Westboro Fido, Westboro MA, $0.20
\dots
\dots
**

Again, there are too many boards in MassNet to list them all, but<75>
you don't have to--PC WEEK is Board number 318 in net 101, or<6F>
101/318.

Yes, it is indeed crude, but it's effective. A better way of<6F>
locating a board's address is coming someday. Just hang in there<72>
for now.
 
Try entering some fake FidoMail now to somebody in your own net,<2C>
just for the experience. (Remember to delete fake mail when<65>
you're through.)

\bigpagebreak
\heading Sending a File \endheading

If you have a high enough access level, Fido will ask if you want<6E>
to attach a file to your message. You can send any file along<6E>
with your message, as long as the file exists somewhere on the<68>
system operator's disk. Fido prompts you for a full pathname:

**
Attach File(s)? [y,N]: y
Full PathName(s): 
**

As you can see, you have to have very high access to be able to<74>
attach files: Most people don't know what pathnames to use to get<65>
around a system operator's disk. (The descriptive names in the<68>
File Area list won't do as full pathnames.)

Why everybody can't attach files: Most system operators don't let<65>
the majority of callers attach files to their messages because of<6F>
the expense and because of the access to the disk drive(s) this<69>
command gives people. As to the expense: It's one thing to send a<>
message of a couple hundred words across the country at 1200<30>
baud; that costs only a few cents. But sending a 50,000-byte file<6C>
across the country gets really expensive. The price you see in<69>
the nodelist only covers a message; it can't take into account<6E>
the prices for sending files. (At present, FidoNet's accounting<6E>
system isn't very sophisticated.) Additionally, the Attach Files<65>
feature gives a caller full access to the entire disk system.<2E>
This means, theoretically, that a caller could use MS-DOS<4F>
wildcard commands to attach the file \star.\star to a message--and send everything on the system operator's disk to, say,<2C>
Bangkok.

\bigpagebreak
\heading Files Section \endheading

The Files section holds files you can copy for your own use.<2E>
Callers (including you) donate files to the board using the<68>
Upload command; the system operator then checks the files to make<6B>
sure that they're either in the public domain or that the file's<>
copyright owner has given permission that they be distributed<65>
without charge. (See the section below called {\it ``Honor System<65>
Distribution.''})  Fido can have up to 200 file areas in the<68>
Files section, with an unlimited number of files in each area.<2E>
All the commands and prompts in all file areas are exactly the<68>
same.

Here's what you get when you choose F)iles from the Main section: 

**
File Area 1: General Rock & Roll
F)iles D)ownload U)pload A)rea-Change T)ype 
S)tatistics L)ocate R)aw-Display 
K)ill-File O)verride-Path G)oodbye 
M)ain-Menu 
Command (?=help):
**

(Actually, you're likely not to see several of these commands:<3A>
R)aw-Display, K)ill-File and O)verride-Path are ordinarily<6C>
reserved for callers with the same access level as the system<65>
operator. They're shown here for completeness.)

The first line tells you the number of the current file area, and<6E>
gives a brief description of the kinds of files this area holds.<2E>
The other lines list the commands. 

Here's a description of what each command means. Commands<64>
preceded by a \circle are ordinarily available only to callers<72>
with very high access levels :

\demo{F--Files list} Shows you the names of the files in this<69>
section, the size of each file in bytes, and a brief description<6F>
of what the file does:\enddemo

**
CUTEFONE.EXE     7680 Turns your phone # into possible words
AREACODE.EXE    19328 Tells area codes for cities, and vice versa
QUOTES.BBS      17557 the quotes you get when you log on 
CH@OS.AD         1463 Text bomb to drop on other BBSs
\dots
**

You can use the MS-DOS wildcard characters \star and ? to list<73>
specific files:

**
Command (?=help): *.EXE

CUTEFONE.EXE     7680 Turns your phone # into possible words
AREACODE.EXE    19328 Tells area codes for cities, and vice versa
**

See your MS-DOS manual for details on wildcard characters.

\demo{D--Download one or more files} Use this command to transfer<65>
a copy of any file in the Files section to your computer. The<68>
system you're using must have some kind of a storage device to<74>
hold the file you're getting (which lets you out if you're using<6E>
just a terminal with no disk drives), and the telecommunications<6E>
program you're using to call Fido must have a file transfer<65>
protocol that Fido can understand. Here's what you see:\enddemo

**
Command (?=help): D
A)scii, K)ermit, X)modem, XC)modem-CRC, T)elink
Transfer Type: A K X XC T (?=help): 
**

Fido tells you the size of the file in blocks (1 block = 128<32>
bytes except for Kermit where it equals something strange), and<6E>
how long it will take to download the file using the protocol<6F>
you've selected. If you don't know what you're doing, use Xmodem. 

\proclaim{Honor System Distribution} There's a difference between<65>
public domain software, ``Freeware'' (software, documentation,<2C>
and/or data that the producer is allowing people to use--usually<6C>
with certain restrictions--without charge), and ``Shareware''.<2E>
``Shareware''  is software, documentation, and/or data (often<65>
copyrighted) distributed on the honor system: You get it free,<2C>
but you're honor-bound to send payment or a donation to the<68>
producer if you continue to use it after a trial period. More<72>
often than not, the income from Shareware is the only income the<68>
producer gets. So if you don't send the money, you're literally<6C>
stealing somebody's paycheck.\endproclaim

You can use the MS-DOS wildcard characters \star and ? to<74>
download several files in a row if you use the Telink or Kermit<69>
protocols. See your MS-DOS manual for the details on wildcard<72>
characters; see the manual that came with your telecommunications<6E>
software for information on Telink and/or Kermit.

\demo{U--Upload a file} Use this command to send files for<6F>
general posting in an appropriate Fido file area. This works<6B>
essentially like Download, except in reverse. (Fido can't tell<6C>
how long it will take to upload the file or how many blocks it<69>
has, of course, as it does when you download a file.) The system<65>
operator will ordinarily check the file you've sent to make sure<72>
that it's either in the public domain or that the file's<>
copyright owner has given permission that the file be distributed<65>
without charge. \enddemo

You can use the MS-DOS wildcard characters \star and ? to upload<61>
several files in a row if you use the Telink or Kermit protocols.<2E>
See your MS-DOS manual for the details on wildcard characters;<3B>
see the manual that came with your telecommunications software<72>
for information on Telink and/or Kermit.
 
Got enough room? Use the Statistics command in the Files section<6F>
to  check the available free space on the Fido you're using<6E>
before you use the Upload command. Fido has no way to warn you in<69>
advance that your upload might get chopped off in the middle --<2D>
which happens when Fido runs out of upload disk space.

\demo{A--Area change.} This commands shows you all the file areas<61>
and lets you change to another one:\enddemo

**
----- File Areas -----
  1) General Rock & Roll
\star 2) FidoNet Files
  4) IBM-PC Software
  5) Macintosh Software
File Area [3]: 
**

(The area marked with a \star is always the FidoNet Files<65>
section.) The number between square brackets just before the<68>
prompt is the area you were just in, and the area to which you'll<6C>
automatically return if you press Enter without typing another<65>
number. Type the number of the file area you want to move to and<6E>
press Enter.

\proclaim{About missing numbers} The numbers of the areas that<61>
appear in the areas list might not be sequential. Those areas do<64>
exist; you just don't have access to them. Each individual system<65>
operator determines who can see what areas and who can use which<63>
commands. If you need access to some area that you know exists<74>
but that doesn't appear on your screen, leave a note for the<68>
system operator asking for access.\endproclaim

\demo{T--Type a text file on screen} This command scrolls the<68>
contents of a text file onto your screen. (Files with the suffix<69>
.DOC, .ASC, and .TXT are almost always text files.) It's<>
essentially the same as downloading a file using the ASCII<49>
protocol.\enddemo

\demo{S--Statistics.} This shows the same information as does the<68>
statistics command in the Main section, except that files<65>
information replaces the FidoNet credit information.<2E>
Specifically, you'll see information on the number of bytes<65>
you've uploaded or downloaded, and the space available for<6F>
uploading files in this area:\enddemo

**
28 Jul 87  21:13:22
                 Total   Limit   Remaining
Total Calls:       264
Your Calls:         41
Connect Time:        1       0       0
24 Hr Time Limit:            0       0
Disk Space:                 20M     17M
24 Hr Dnld Limit:            0K      0K
Downloaded:          0
Uploaded:            0K
**

\demo{L--Locate a file in any file area} that you have access to.<2E>
Use this command to find out if Fido has a file you're looking<6E>
for, and if so what area it's in:\enddemo

Command (?=help): L
File(s) to search for: TWIX.DOC
  1) General Rock & Roll
\star 2) FidoNet Files
  3) Tools
TWIX.DOC     774 accurate but ugly
  4) IBM-PC Software
  5) Macintosh Software

Found 1 matching files
**

You can use the MS-DOS wildcard characters \star and ? to locate<74>
specific files. See your MS-DOS manual for wildcard character<65>
details.


\circle \demo{R--list all files and subdirectory names in the<68>
current directory} (The Files command in reality just presents<74>
some of the contents of a file called FILES.BBS, an ordinarily<6C>
hidden file that holds a list of essential data about all<6C>
available files, but that doesn't necessarily show the complete<74>
contents of any subdirectory.) Most often, this command is used<65>
by the system operator to perform Fido housekeeping tasks from<6F>
some location other than the terminal connected to the computer<65>
that's actually running Fido.\enddemo

You can use the MS-DOS wildcard characters \star and ? to locate<74>
specific files. See your MS-DOS manual for wildcard character<65>
details.

\circle \demo{K--delete a file and removes its entry from<6F>
FILES.BBS} (The contents of FILES.BBS is what gets displayed when<65>
you give the File command.) Most often, this command is used by<62>
the system operator to perform Fido housekeeping tasks from some<6D>
location other than the terminal connected to the computer that's<>
actually running Fido.\enddemo

\demo{O--Override the normal pathname} Ordinarily available only<6C>
to callers with a privilege level equal to that of the system<65>
operator, the O)verride-Path command lets you specify a different<6E>
pathname for the display of files summoned by any command in the<68>
File section (except the A)rea-Change command). The original<61>
pathname is reset as soon as you leave the current area (for<6F>
example, by using M)ain-Menu, A)rea-Change, or G)oodbye). Most<73>
often, this command is used by the system operator to perform<72>
Fido housekeeping tasks from some location other than the<68>
terminal connected to the computer that's actually running<6E>
Fido.\enddemo

\demo{G--Goodbye} Use this to log off the system. (Actually, you<6F>
can just shut off your modem if you want to.) Often this will<6C>
give you a chance to leave a private message to the system<65>
operator.\enddemo

\demo{M--Main menu} Returns you to the Main section.\enddemo

\bigpagebreak
\heading Fido's Command Buffer--An Undocumented Feature<72>
\endheading

Experienced callers can save a lot of time by skirting many of<6F>
Fido's prompts. You do this by putting several commands on the<68>
same line, separated by spaces. For example, assume that you<6F>
start from the Main Section,  and that you want to list the files<65>
in area 7--an area different from the one you looked at the last<73>
time you used the File section. Here's how you'd do it:

**
	F A 7 F [CR]
**

You'll go directly from the Main Menu to a list of the files in<69>
Area 7. This is possible because Fido's commands are all (or<6F>
nearly all) one-character commands, a bunch of which Fido can<61>
remember in its command buffer.

Here's a further shortcut: Use a vertical bar to represent a<>
carriage return. For example, at the signon prompt, Fido expects<74>
to see up to three names (First, Middle, Last). Use the vertical<61>
bar to indicate you've finished with your name, then go on to<74>
confirm that the name is correct and add your password:

**
	John Scribblemonger | Y Scribe [CR]
**

You'll end up going directly from the signon prompt to the post-signon messages without going through the prompts in between.

The More? prompt clears Fido's command buffer. This means that if<69>
a system message is so long that it puts the More? prompt at the<68>
bottom of the screen, Fido waits for you to press the Enter key<65>
before going on--and then forgets whatever other commands you've<76>
entered. For example:

**
John Scribblemonger | Y Scribe F A 7 D X Mortcalc.EXE | G N [CR]
**

This line would log John Scribblemonger onto the system (using<6E>
his password Scribe), go to area 7 of the Files section, use the<68>
Xmodem protocol to download a program called Mortcalc.EXE, and<6E>
log off the system without leaving a message for the system<65>
operator. But if the system operator has a long post-signon<6F>
message that invokes [More?], all the commands after the password<72>
get trashed. The solution is to use the C)hange command to turn<72>
off the [More?] prompt--and pray for a clean phone line.


Just to be complete: Other things that flush this type-ahead<61>
buffer (as it's called in the trade) are CONTROL-C, CONTROL-K,<2C>
CONTROL-S (which pauses output), and CONTROL-F (whose only<6C>
purpose is to flush the type-ahead buffer).

\bye