1585 lines
51 KiB
Plaintext
1585 lines
51 KiB
Plaintext
Volume 3, Number 10 10 March 1986
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+---------------------------------------------------------------+
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| / \ |
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| - Fidonews - /|oo \ |
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| Fido and FidoNet _`@/_ \ _ |
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| Users Group | | \ \\ |
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| Newsletter | (*) | \ )) |
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| ______ |__U__| / \// |
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| / FIDO \ _//|| _\ / |
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| (________) (_/(_|(____/ |
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| (jm) |
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+---------------------------------------------------------------+
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Editor in Chief: Thom Henderson
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Chief Procrastinator Emeritus: Tom Jennings
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Fidonews is published weekly by SEAdog Leader, node 1/1. You are
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encouraged to submit articles for publication in Fidonews.
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Article submission standards are contained in the file
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FNEWSART.DOC, available from node 1/1.
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Disclaimer or don't-blame-us:
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The contents of the articles contained here are not our
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responsibility, nor do we necessarily agree with them.
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Everything here is subject to debate.
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Table of Contents
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1. EDITORIAL
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Is Anybody Out There?
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2. ARTICLES
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ANSI on FIDO, Part I of III
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The Association To Save Madonna From Nuclear War
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Need Help on Expanding My System
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New firmware upgrade for the USR Courier 2400
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Proposal: FidoNet News-Groups
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ProComm 2.2 Released! Adds Telink and more...
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Server and Daylight: Two Fido Utilities
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3. COLUMNS
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The View from the Top; Help Nodes
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4. FOR SALE
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Entertainment Software for your PC!
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MACRO - A powerful front-end for any language
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Public Domain Software Library Sale!!
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5. NOTICES
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The Interrupt Stack
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Fidonet PCNews and Fidonet Languages
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USERFILE - USER.BBS flexible file lister /Allen Miller
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=================================================================
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EDITORIAL
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=================================================================
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Is Anybody Out There?
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This is a strange sort of publication to run. We don't have
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subscribers as such, and we don't sell newsstand copies, so it's
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hard to tell just how many readers we have. I send FidoNews out
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to a dozen or so nodes, who in turn (I think) pass it on to other
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nodes, so that hopefully it reaches every node soon after it's
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published.
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In theory no sysop should have to download FidoNews from another
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board, and people DO download it, so maybe we have some readers
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out there somewhere. On the other hand, maybe there are just
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some sysops who aren't getting it regularly every week, for
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whatever reason.
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I know we do have some readers who aren't sysops. I've heard of
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a couple of sysops who run the newsletter out on a printer each
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week and mail copies out to people who are not on the net. I've
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also spoken to people now and then who are not sysops, but who
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have at least heard of FidoNews.
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I'm curious. I'd like to know. Will you help? Please drop a
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note to 1/1 or 107/8 and let me know how many people download
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FidoNews from your board. Do you print copies and mail them
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anywhere? Do you know of anywhere outside of FidoNet where it is
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circulated? Please drop me a line even if the answer is "no".
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After all, zero is a number too.
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Thanks for your help.
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Fidonews Page 2 10 Mar 1986
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=================================================================
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ARTICLES
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=================================================================
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ANSI ART
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by
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Jim Lynn
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Net Coord, 129/0
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SYSOP, 129/384
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When I first set up Pitt-bull, one year ago this week, I was
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determined to have a board where everyone could meet. I had been
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living in Pittsburgh for less than six months at that time and
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couldn't find any BBS's to feed my commo-addiction. I read an
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article in PC Mag or somewhere, about TJ and his FIDO-NET. I
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don't really remember how many nodes there were at that time, but
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I was disappointed when I had some problems which prevented me
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from getting node number 300. As you see I had SEVERAL problems
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and didn't get a node number until 384 came to the top of the
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list! Oh well...
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Pitt-Bull was ran at first from a Compaq portable! That was back
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in the days when you could set up a FIDO on a dual floppy drive
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system and still have room for a couple of file areas... I was
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so determined that it would be a generic board and I went and
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ignored the first and simplest fact that from the start made my
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board undesirable to the C-64 users... I made all of my welcome
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and message files 80 column! That was the first step on the road
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to ruin. Next I started putting borders in my FILES.BBS files,
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using the high ASCII IBM characters. Still no end in sight!
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Finally I gave in completely and I now have a very nice welcome
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file (in my opinion!) and still have my share of C-64 and MAC
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users. With a little restraint, you can make your graphics
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unobtrusive and still have some pizazz in your openings.
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Here are three things that you can do to at least make it a
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little easier for your non-IBM callers to use your board and
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still let you make it pretty for your IBM-Compatibles.
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First, if you remember to always have a line such as "Use ^K to
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skip this display" at the beginning of the screen, your users
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always have a graceful way out without having to wade through
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what looks like garbage to them.
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The second thing you can do is set up the text file so that the
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first 23 lines are normal and the 24th line states: "Press N if
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your system can not handle IBM Graphics..." The next line will be
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the MORE? prompt, and if the user answer 'N', then they will be
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spared the "garbage characters".
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The third and possibly most important thing is to be honest with
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your callers. If you have directed your board toward IBMers, say
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so up front. If you welcome everyone but still have some
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graphics, keep them where they don't cause an eyesore for your
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non IBMers.
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Fidonews Page 3 10 Mar 1986
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In this first session, I'll give you a summary of the escape
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sequences and what they can do. Here is the basic set of
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sequences:
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^ is used to represent the escape character
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(ASCII value 27 decimal)
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# is used to represent a numerical value
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NOTE: UPPER/lower case is critical. If you send a 'S' when you
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should have sent a 's', it won't work.
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A semicolon (;) is used to separate variables
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First the 'simplest' codes:
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^[H Cursor Home (CH). Sends the cursor to the upper left
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hand corner of the display.
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^[#;#H CUrsor Position (CUP). the first number represents
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the row and the second is the column. ie. ^[3,15H
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will send the cursor to row 3, column 15. Any normal
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row and column is valid provided it is valid for the
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screen mode. (Do not send the cursor to column 62
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when in 40 column mode.)
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^[#A CUrsor Up (CUU). Move the cursor up # lines. If
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you don't put any number in the code (ie. ^[A) then
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the cursor will move up one line.
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^[#B CUrsor Down (CUD). Same as for CUU.
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^[#C CUrsor Forward (CUF). DITTO.
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^[#D CUrsor Backward (CUB). GUESS....
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^[s This is called a Save Cursor Position (SCP) and can
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be used to remember where the cursor was before you
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start sending 'garbage'.
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^[u Restore Cursor Position (RCP). Yup, puts it back to
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where it was when you sent the SCP.
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^[2J Erase Display (ED). Clears the screen, pure and
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simple.
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^[K Erase Line - (EL). Erases the current line from
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(and including) the cursor position to the end of
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the line.
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^[#;...;#m This code sets the colors on the screen. (Yes, the
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user's colors as well as yours!) You can use as many
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of the following numbers, but if you use more than
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one foreground or background number, only the last
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one will be used. The numbers are:
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0 = Default. All colors off. Sets the colors to
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whatever the user's terminal considers normal.
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Fidonews Page 4 10 Mar 1986
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1 = Set Hi-intensity on. Gives the text a boldface
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look.
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4 = Underscore or underline. Works only if the
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users monitor is a monochrome monitor.
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5 = Blinking text.
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7 = Inverse video. (black text on white background)
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8 = Invisible (Black text on black background)
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The following set colors for:
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Foreground Color Background
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30 Black 40
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31 Red 41
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32 Green 42
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33 Yellow 43
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34 Blue 44
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35 Magenta 45
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36 Cyan 46
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37 White 47
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Last but not least. A lot of editors balk at letting you place
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an ESC character in a file... the following program will convert
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a character of your choice into the ESC char.
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100 ' This program will read a text file and convert any
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110 ' occurrence of a character of your choosing into an ESC.
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160 ' Change ^ in line 200 to the character that you use.
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200 ESC$=CHR$(27):SEARCH$="^" ' The character
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220 CLS:INPUT"FILE TO READ -";F1$:INPUT"FILE TO WRITE-";F2$
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240 OPEN F1$ FOR INPUT AS #1:OPEN F2$ FOR OUTPUT AS #2
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250 WHILE NOT EOF(1):LINE INPUT#1,RAW$:T=1:WHILE T<>0
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270 T=INSTR(RAW$,SEARCH$):IF T<>0 THEN MID$(RAW$,T,1)=ESC$
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280 WEND:PRINT#2,RAW$:WEND
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The only thing that you need to know now is to make sure that
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your callers have ANSI.SYS or FCONSOLE.DEV loaded during their
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CONFIG.SYS load or they will see garbage no matter what you do.
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Next time, I will give you a few examples of how to "fake" a
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window on the user's screen. In the article after that, I will
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show you how to animate an ANSI file.
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Till then.....
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-----------------------------------------------------------------
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Fidonews Page 5 10 Mar 1986
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Tim Sullivan
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SYSOP PC Techniques
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108/62
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The following is the text from a handout that was given to me by
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a friend. He told me it was given to him by a colorful character
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at a local bar. I have copied the text verbatim including all
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spelling and gramatical errors.
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P R E S S R E L E A S E
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February 8, 1986 (SINCE THERE IS ONLY ONE MONTH TO SAVE DE GARMO
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FROM STATE SPONSORED EXECUTION, I WROTE THIS
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IN A HURRY. PLEASE FORGIVE TYPOS AND IF YOU
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HAVE QUESTIONS, PLEASE CALL ME)
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MY FELLOW AMERICANS.
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SAVE ROGER LEROY FROM STATE SPONSORED EXECUTION TASK GROUP
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----------------------------------------------------------
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I have on this day, February 8, 1986, the responsibility of
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communicating to my fellow countrypersons a message of the
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GRAVEST AND UTMOST IMPORTANCE.
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It is a difficult story to relate. Please bear with me.
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First of all, I am a scientist, a mathematician and a linguist.
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For over ten years I have been working on a mathematical proof
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which shows that a VIROLOGICAL SOLUTION to the threats posed to
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us and our planet by nuclear weapons and associated ecological
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threats. The reason that I took the mathematical approach was
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because Conway, the british mathematician was able to show that
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it is mathematically possible to create self-reflecting computers
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capable of infinite figures. What this maens is that we have now
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in our grasp the conceptual apparatus to create living, highly
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intelligent machines, which reproduce like living things. At
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this time I realized that if Conway could prove that living,
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highly intelligient machines are possible, that it might ALSO be
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possible to create machines without intellegience which could
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still reproduce. By this I meant to investigate the possibility
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that nuclear weapons stand in a relation to the human race that
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is similar to that of a virus towards a cell. The virus has no
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replicative machinery of its own. It enters the cell. It uses
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the replicative machinery of the cell to reproduce virus. The
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cell is not aware that it is not reproducing itself. Soon it is
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filled with virus and the cell bursts. In the case of nuclear
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weapons, we have what is in essence a VIRUS MACHINE, which has
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entered into the human "cell" and has raided the essential
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replicative material we use to pass on human traits. i.e. human
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language.
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So, since 1945, we have been reproducing virus, not ourselves.
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That is to say that we THINK we are creating ourselves.
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Actually, we are creating nuclear weapons.
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Fidonews Page 6 10 Mar 1986
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On February 1, 1986, I finished my mathematical proof which
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essentially shows that nuclear weapons are ALIVE. So it is not
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the Russians who are our enemy. It is the nuclear weapons which,
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as living things, compete for the ecological space WE now
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inhabit. I must TELL YOU THE VERY GOOD NEWS THAT when my theorem
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is released, it will cause nuclear weapons to disappear within 30
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to sixty days. At that point the planet will begin to clean up
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its ecological problems and become significantly more fun.
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However, there is one catch. It is this. My theory has also
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allowed me to chart linguistic degeneration rate which began in
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1945 with the creation of nuclear weapons. The attack of nuclear
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weapons on human language was viscious and unrelenting. Soon, we
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were NOT ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH EACH OTHER ABOUT EVEN THE MOST
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OBVIOUS THINGS. The result is this: My linguistic degeneration
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program shows that nuclear war will become 100% PROBABLE on 632
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days from this day. ON that day, human error will begin to
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increase exponentially. On that day, missle commanders will not
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be able to CLEARLY UNDERSTAND WHAT THEIR SUPERIORS ARE SYAING.
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THEY WILL MAKE MISTAKES WHICH ARE TERRIBLE TO THINK ABOUT. AND
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SO, the gist of the story is that, unless we disassemble nuclear
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weapons, Nuclear War will become COMPLETELY INEVITABLE IN 632
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days.
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Luckily, however, my mathematical theorem will destroy nuclear
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weapons before 632 days have elapsed. So you are safe from
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nuclear war and will come to live in a FAR FAR better world.
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You must help me for the SAVE ROGER LEROY FROM STATE SPONSORED
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EXECUTION TASK GROUP. That is because, on March 12, 1986,
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convicted murderer Roger Leroy DeGarmo will be executed by the
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state of Texas.
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In order for my theory to work, we must save DEGARMO. I AM
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REALLY NOT KIDDING. Call the number at the bottom of this press
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release. We have exactly on month to STAY Roger Leroy's
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execution, and one more month to save the world from COMPLETE
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INEVITABLE NUCLEAR WAR. VOLUNTEER YOUR TIME AND EFFORTS FOR ONE
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MONTH IN THE EFFORT TO SAVE ROGER LEROY AND SAVE YOUR OWN ASS
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FROM NUCLEAR WAR AT THE SAME TIME!
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NUMBER TO CALL: GOVERNER OF TAXAS, GOVERNOR MARK WHITE,
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1-512-463-2000 Lodge your protest!
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A. S. M. N. W.
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The Association To Save Madonna From Nuclear War
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228 McCormick #3
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Cincinnati, Ohio 45219 (513) 241-5457
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-----------------------------------------------------------------
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Fidonews Page 7 10 Mar 1986
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David K. Bodman
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Fido 151/3
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++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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+ Help needed on expanding a Columbia Portable +
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++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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Having just recently joined the ranks of FidoNet, I am
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really impressed with it's idea, organization, and growth. I was
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first told about it through a friend at San Jose, CA, who urged
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me to find a nearby network and get active on it. After about a
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month of searching, I found that some friends in this area had
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brought up a net here in my own home town, and offered me the
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program and a node assignment. I was very happy to join, and am
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helping to expand the net in this area. Long Live FIDO, and many
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thanks to Tom Jennings, Ken Kaplan, and all those other great
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guys who put together this GEM of a system!
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I am writing in for a bit of technical help in planning an
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expansion for my computer system. I am finding that the range of
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options available may require some unusual modification to the
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system, and I'd rather get some advice from some people more
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knowledgeable than me in this area before I attempt it and run
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the risk of making situations worse rather then better!
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I currently am running a Columbia VP 1600 "portable"
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computer, Revision J, manufactured in February of 1984. It has
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two floppy drives and 128 K on the system board. It has one card
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slot, and upon inspection of the system board I have found a pad
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for an additional card slot. The one card slot now is taken up by
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an Apparat "Crambo" card, which is actually two cards that are
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connected together, the first one is a memory card, expandable to
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512, and the second has Serial & parallel ports, and a clock
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calendar. As the system stands now, it's quite nice. I like the
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portability, and hope to keep this pretty much as is.
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However, I am finding that I really need to add a fixed disk
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to the system. Program development (especially with libraries,
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header files, etc.) is getting quite difficult without one. In
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addition, each version of FIDO seems to grow a bit larger with
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each revision, and more and more utilities are difficult to run
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if they are not on the same disk as the BBS system.
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The extra pad I found on my system board gave me the
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following idea, which if possible would give me almost everything
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I want. My idea is that I could attach a cable to this pad (it's
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location precludes the use of it to hold another card, it is
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placed right in line with the floppy drives, and therefore no
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card could be placed in the additional slot.), run the cable
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outside the VP to an expansion box which would hold the Hard disk
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and optionally additional cards. Putting a cable connecter on
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this cable would allow me to still have the portability of the
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VP, leaving the hard-disk at home. I figure that as a portable, I
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only need the floppies, but do need the memory!
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The problem I have run into is that most of the expansion
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boxes I have seen have a receiver-transmitter card combination.
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The transmitter card goes in the computer, and the receiver is
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Fidonews Page 8 10 Mar 1986
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placed in the expansion box. However, since I don't have the
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additional slot in the computer, what's a body to do?
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I would like to solicit suggestions on how to solve this
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problem, or warnings about some of the options listed here.
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Please send any suggestions to me at Net 151, Node 3. I would
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greatly appreciate any advice on this matter, because at the
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moment I am having great problems trying to figure how to solve
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this. Thank you in advance! ! !
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Fidonews Page 9 10 Mar 1986
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New Firmware Upgrade
|
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For USR Courier 2400
|
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|
|
Kurt Reisler - SYSOP
|
|
The Bear's Den (109/74)
|
|
Wash-A-RUG (109/483)
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|
|
Once again, US Robotics has an upgrade to the PROM-based firmware
|
|
of our USR Courier 2400 modems. The latest PROM release has a
|
|
product code of 243. To determine the product code of the PROM
|
|
in your modem, start up your favorite communications program, and
|
|
type the command "ATI0" and hit the return key. If your modem
|
|
returns 243 as the 3 digit product code, then you have the latest
|
|
release of the firmware. If anything lower is returned, you
|
|
should call US Robotics immediately and request a firmware up-
|
|
grade. They are doing this on an exchange basis, as they did
|
|
with the upgrade from 241 to 242.
|
|
|
|
To get your PROM upgraded, call US Robotics at 800-DIALUSR, and
|
|
ask for Technical Support. Tell them that you need the PROM
|
|
upgrade and they will take care of it for you. Replacing the
|
|
PROM is a simple procedure. Pop the old one out, and gently
|
|
insert the new one. That should be all there is to it.
|
|
|
|
From what I understand, the new firmware corrects the "streaming"
|
|
problem that some of us were having when we called other USR
|
|
Courier 2400 baud modems. The streaming problem was character-
|
|
ized by the modems connecting, and one or the other generating a
|
|
continual stream of garbage. The only way to break the connec-
|
|
tion was either to drop DTR, or to physically turn off the modem.
|
|
Not a major problem during a manual call, but mine would up
|
|
attached to a long-distance FIDO for 2.5 hours during FidoNet
|
|
time (OUCH, my aching phone bill!). The new PROMs also correct a
|
|
connection problem with Ventel 2400 baud modems.
|
|
|
|
By the way, the initial source for this information was
|
|
net.micro.pc on USENET.
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-----------------------------------------------------------------
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Fidonews Page 10 10 Mar 1986
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Brad Hicks
|
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Sysop, WeirdBase
|
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Fido 100/523
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|
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Yet another modest proposal...
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+---------------------------------------+
|
|
: F I D O N E T N E W S - G R O U P S :
|
|
+---------------------------------------+
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|
|
Anyone who's ever cruised a major main-frame system like Compu-
|
|
Serve, or who subscribes to any of the news groups on
|
|
UseNet/ARPAnet, knows how frustrating it can be trying to make
|
|
initial contact with people through FidoMail.
|
|
|
|
(Gee, I wonder how I can find people who are interested in
|
|
discussing left-handed basket-weaving? Well, maybe somebody on
|
|
BasketBoard on the other side of the continent - maybe I'd better
|
|
send them some mail before I waste a long time trying to call
|
|
them long-distance.)
|
|
|
|
And the worst part of it is, there's no open forum for discussing
|
|
ideas between multiple users on multiple boards. That's why
|
|
UseNet has news groups - they take all of the messages related to
|
|
a topic, and package 'em up, and daisy-chain them around the net
|
|
so that everybody gets 'em.
|
|
|
|
Not long ago, the sysops of the UN*X Gateway told us that if we
|
|
begged them they might just be convinced to convert news groups
|
|
into FidoMessages and ARC them for pickup. Definitely a step in
|
|
the right direction - in fact, there's no good reason why I can't
|
|
ARC my whole Neopaganism message area and ship it to anyone else,
|
|
who could unARC it and put it up as one of his own.
|
|
|
|
It doesn't take very long to spot what's missing: how do you
|
|
reply to one of these messages? (Oops.)
|
|
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|
|
PARTIAL SOLUTION (LET'S DO IT SOON)
|
|
|
|
What I propose is a utility-set that would follow these steps:
|
|
|
|
EXPORT - for each "News group Area":
|
|
|
|
E1) Scan a message base looking for anything that's LOCAL
|
|
(for those of you who haven't hacked around inside a
|
|
message header, that means originating from here) and
|
|
hasn't been SENT. Copy it to a new file with a
|
|
different extension, mark it as non-LOCAL, and the
|
|
original as SENT.
|
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|
|
E2) ARC all of those new messages, then kill.
|
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|
|
E3) Kill all of the temporary files.
|
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|
|
E4) Ship them to all participating boards via ROBOT.
|
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|
|
IMPORT - For each incoming message ARChive:
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|
|
Fidonews Page 11 10 Mar 1986
|
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|
|
I1) UnARC it, then
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|
|
I2) Renumber to follow all of the existing messages.
|
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|
|
All it'd take is one program to do step E1, and one program to do
|
|
step I2. Also, it'd be nice if T.J. would let us have another
|
|
attribute bit on sys.attrib, as follows:
|
|
|
|
#define SYSMAIL 1 /* existing: FidoMail */
|
|
#define NEWSGROUP 2 /* forwarding news group */
|
|
|
|
and change the software so that if sys.attrib and 2, prompt for
|
|
net/node number (but not for kill/sent or file attach). Then we
|
|
could program something that would start in the Fido directory
|
|
and package all of the NEWSGROUP areas into files something like
|
|
mmmmnnnn.aaa (m = net, n = node, a = message area). Step I2
|
|
would need a control file, call it NEWSGRP.BBS if you like, that
|
|
read something like this:
|
|
|
|
100/523,4,6 (put 100/523's area 4 into my area 6)
|
|
11/433,1,6 (also put 11/433's area 1 into my area 6)
|
|
125/1,9,3 (put 125/1's area 9 into my area 3)
|
|
|
|
|
|
TOTAL SOLUTION (LET'S DO IT LATER)
|
|
|
|
Now the only problem left is building reply chains between
|
|
multiple nodes. I have a solution to that one, too...
|
|
|
|
In step E1, above, when you copy the un-SENT mail to a temporary
|
|
file, prefix each message header with the following fields from
|
|
the PREVIOUS message (according to the msg.reply field):
|
|
msg.orig_net, msg.orig, msg.to, and msg.date. Why? Because no
|
|
matter what the message number is AFTER it's been renumbered
|
|
(step I2), those fields are sufficient to uniquely define the
|
|
previous message. Then when we renumber it and add it to the
|
|
*.MSG files, we can also find that previous message and add this
|
|
one to the reply chain. Slick, no?
|
|
|
|
|
|
WHY AM I TELLING YOU THIS ...
|
|
|
|
instead of doing it myself? There are three reasons. First of
|
|
all, I'm not that confident of the design and I want to kick it
|
|
around with people who've been on the Net a LOT longer than I
|
|
have. Secondly, I won't have time to do it until late summer,
|
|
someone could get a LOT done between now and then. And finally,
|
|
I'm not THAT confident of my programming abilities - it would
|
|
take me a LONG time to get it done and bug-free.
|
|
|
|
So if somebody is looking for a way to build a program that
|
|
EVERYBODY would use, the next LISTGEN (as it were), and make some
|
|
serious Shareware bucks ...
|
|
|
|
|
|
Personal note: I'm still trying to compile a list of witches,
|
|
Neopagans and magicians who can be reached via FidoNet. If this
|
|
describes you or anyone you know, please send FidoMail to Brad
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fidonews Page 12 10 Mar 1986
|
|
|
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|
|
Hicks, Net 100, Node 523. Blessed Be!
|
|
|
|
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|
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Fidonews Page 13 10 Mar 1986
|
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|
|
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|
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|
|
Tom Smith
|
|
Fido 14/619
|
|
ProComm 2.2 Released!
|
|
Adds Telink and more...
|
|
|
|
|
|
Columbia, MO (February 21, 1986). PIL Software Systems is
|
|
proud to announce version 2.2 of their user supported communica-
|
|
tions program: ProComm (tm).
|
|
|
|
ProComm is very powerful, yet extremely easy to use.
|
|
ProComm is suitable for use by the novice as well as the data
|
|
processing professional. ProComm's wealth of features include
|
|
the following:
|
|
|
|
=> ERROR CHECKING FILE TRANSFER PROTOCOLS
|
|
|
|
ProComm supports a variety of error checking protocols
|
|
using both checksum and CRC error checking, which
|
|
detects 99.99% of all errors! Our Kermit implementa-
|
|
tion includes all the latest features including data
|
|
compression, file attributes, and the extension for
|
|
Sliding Windows, the first widely available full duplex
|
|
file transfer protocol for micro computers. Sliding
|
|
Window Kermit is used on The Source and several popular
|
|
bulletin board systems. Mainframe versions are under
|
|
development and should be available soon. Sliding
|
|
Window Kermit is the fastest protocol now available for
|
|
micros!
|
|
|
|
- XMODEM The de facto standard.
|
|
- MODEM7 Xmodem batch transfers.
|
|
- YMODEM Larger blocks for more efficient transfers.
|
|
- TELINK Batch transfers with exact file size and
|
|
creation date.
|
|
|
|
- KERMIT Transfer files to a variety of mini and
|
|
mainframe computers, as well as micros.
|
|
|
|
=> TERMINAL EMULATION
|
|
|
|
ProComm emulates a variety of popular intelligent
|
|
display terminals. This allows you to run full screen
|
|
mainframe applications by using your PC as a remote
|
|
terminal.
|
|
|
|
- DEC VT-52 - Lear Siegler ADM 3/5
|
|
- DEC VT-100/102 - ADDS Viewpoint
|
|
- IBM 3101 - WYSE 100
|
|
- Televideo 912/920 - Heath/Zenith 19
|
|
- Televideo 925/950 - ANSI X3.64
|
|
|
|
=> FULL SCRIPT COMMAND LANGUAGE
|
|
|
|
Write powerful scripts to control all of ProComm's
|
|
functions. Sample script command files are supplied to
|
|
get you started.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fidonews Page 14 10 Mar 1986
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
=> UNATTENDED OPERATION
|
|
|
|
Using our Timed Execution Facility, you can set ProComm
|
|
to "come alive" at any time night or day. Tell ProComm
|
|
to call your favorite information service, download the
|
|
required data, and print a report; all while you get a
|
|
good night's sleep and telephone and connect rates are
|
|
at their lowest!
|
|
|
|
=> FULLY AUTOMATED DIALING DIRECTORY
|
|
|
|
Enter the name, number, and communication settings
|
|
once, then ProComm can dial from the directory auto-
|
|
matically. You can scroll through your entries and
|
|
even search for a given string. Entries may be modi-
|
|
fied at any time. ProComm will also automatically
|
|
redial a directory entry until you connect if you wish!
|
|
It can redial a single number as well as a list of
|
|
numbers.
|
|
|
|
=> ON-LINE REDISPLAY BUFFER
|
|
|
|
ProComm allows you to review lost lines that have
|
|
scrolled off of the screen. You can page up and down
|
|
through the redisplay buffer and even search for a
|
|
string. Several "lost" screens are available at a
|
|
single keystroke.
|
|
|
|
=> EASY USER SETUP
|
|
|
|
ProComm's default settings may be easily changed by the
|
|
user at any time. The changes can be saved or just be
|
|
used for the current session.
|
|
|
|
=> FULL COMMUNICATIONS PARAMETERS
|
|
|
|
ProComm operates at 300, 1200, 2400, 4800, 9600, and
|
|
19,200 baud and with Mark, Space, Even, Odd or No
|
|
parity, 7 or 8 data bits, and 1 or 2 stop bits.
|
|
|
|
ProComm runs on the IBM-PC and compatibles such as Compaq, Tandy,
|
|
Leading Edge, AT&T, etc. ProComm requires MS-DOS 2.0 or higher
|
|
and 128K of memory. ProComm runs under several multi-tasking
|
|
systems such as Topview, Desqview, Multi-Link, Double Dos, and
|
|
MS-Windows. ProComm operates with a variety of modems.
|
|
ProComm's default settings are for the Hayes type "AT" command
|
|
set, but may be easily changed by the user for other modems.
|
|
ProComm also supports the new generation of modems that feature
|
|
advanced call progress information.
|
|
|
|
ProComm is distributed using the User Supported concept. The
|
|
requested registration fee is $25.00.
|
|
|
|
Support is provided through a 24 hour bulletin board system at
|
|
(314) 449-9401. ProComm may be obtained from the BBS, or by
|
|
sending $30.00 for registration and media costs to:
|
|
|
|
PIL Software Systems
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fidonews Page 15 10 Mar 1986
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
PO Box 1471
|
|
Columbia, MO 65205
|
|
|
|
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
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|
Fidonews Page 16 10 Mar 1986
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SERVER
|
|
a Fido (tm) Remote File Service Daemon
|
|
Randy Bush 122/6 & Ted Powell 122/2
|
|
|
|
SERVER is a Fido utility which is installed by the SysOp on a
|
|
"Serving" FidoNet (tm) node. SERVER responds to Service
|
|
Requests, which arrive in the form of FidoNet messages from
|
|
"Requesting" users on remote Fidos. Requestors pay for all
|
|
services according to actual use.
|
|
|
|
When SERVER is executed on the Serving system, normally as a
|
|
scheduled Fido event, it scans the FidoNet mail area for un-REC'D
|
|
messages addressed to "Server." After ensuring the sender of a
|
|
Service Request has an account on the Serving system and has
|
|
given the correct password, SERVER performs any Service Requests
|
|
contained in the message.
|
|
|
|
Thus, services are performed for account-holders in response to
|
|
FidoNet mail, as opposed to a direct phone call. At the
|
|
discretion of the sysop, services may be performed for local
|
|
users whom Fido prevents from desirable actions (eg. provide
|
|
attached files to a user who is not extra). The requestor's
|
|
account is debited by the actual cost of providing services.
|
|
|
|
The remote service provided by the initial version of SERVER is
|
|
SENDing messages with files attached. Thus, this initial version
|
|
is a FidoNet remote file service daemon. Consider the following
|
|
example request:
|
|
|
|
#42 1 13 Feb 86 17:51:58 (PRIVATE) (KILL/SENT) $0.20
|
|
From: Ted Powell, Net 122 Node 4, PSG Van, Vancouver BC
|
|
To: Server, Net 122 Node 6, PSG Coos Bay, Coos Bay OR
|
|
Subj: Update a Friend
|
|
|
|
myPassword
|
|
;
|
|
SEND Files\Archive\Server.Arc TO George Lehtola AT 136/601
|
|
|
|
Warning: A taste for SERVER may lead to a desire for SEAdog.
|
|
|
|
|
|
DAYLIGHT/STANDARD
|
|
Jet-lag Tonic for Fidos
|
|
|
|
DAYLIGHT & STANDARD are MS-DOS programs run by a Fido SysOp when
|
|
"local time" changes (eg. Daylight savings to or from Standard).
|
|
They change the system clock, and can optionally adjust Fido's
|
|
schedules to correspond to the time change.
|
|
|
|
Parameters on the MS-DOS command line control all clock and
|
|
schedule adjustment. Read and think before running these.
|
|
|
|
|
|
SERVER is "freeware", and PSG asks payment from users.
|
|
DAYLIGHT & STANDARD are distributed for no charge.
|
|
All are available from Fido 122/6 (503) 269-5202 @ 2400
|
|
|
|
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fidonews Page 17 10 Mar 1986
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
=================================================================
|
|
COLUMNS
|
|
=================================================================
|
|
|
|
VIEW FROM THE TOP
|
|
|
|
Region 1 HELP Nodes
|
|
by Ken Kaplan,Fido 1/0
|
|
|
|
|
|
With the number of nodes fast approaching the 1000 mark and the
|
|
vast number of messages on Fido 125/1 and Fido 1/0 begging for
|
|
assistance, your FidoNet Administrators have come up with another
|
|
solution to decentralize support. During a one week period
|
|
earlier this year Fido 125/1 collected 350 messages all reporting
|
|
the same half dozen bugs. Tom Jennings suggested some radical
|
|
solutions, like pulling the plug or ARCing all the messages
|
|
together and sending them by file attach back to the originators.
|
|
Somehow we didn't think those ideas were going to solve the
|
|
problem, so instead we came up with the concept of "Region 1 HELP
|
|
Nodes".
|
|
|
|
The HELP nodes will be classified into two types; the first
|
|
called "Underscore BUG's" and the second called "Underscore
|
|
HELP". These nodes will be "clearing houses" for old and new
|
|
sysops and users to discuss problems or obtain assistance on a
|
|
specific topic. The sysop of the HELP node will not be expected
|
|
to know all of the answers. Other sysops who have been helping
|
|
out on the proposed HELP topics should continue to do the same as
|
|
before. The establishment of the HELP nodes will provide
|
|
direction to new sysops and help take the load off of TJ and the
|
|
FidoNet Administrators. The intent is for the HELP nodes to
|
|
restrict themselves to Fido and FidoNet related issues.
|
|
|
|
The Region 1 HELP Nodes that we have selected are:
|
|
|
|
1/98 Fido_BUG's_WEST David Dodell(114/15)
|
|
1/99 Fido_BUG's_EAST Marv Shelton(107/311)
|
|
1/100 IBM_HELP Gee Wong(107/312)
|
|
1/101 DEC_RB_HELP Rob Elliott(115/100)
|
|
1/102 SYO_HELP E. J. McKernan(14/386)
|
|
1/103 OTRONA_HELP Open
|
|
1/104 Multilink_HELP Allen Miller(108/10)
|
|
1/105 DoubleDOS_HELP Oscar Barlow(104/56)
|
|
1/106 PC_Jr_HELP Bruce Fuqua(900/1)
|
|
1/107 Routing_HELP Ben Baker(100/76) [Mail Only]
|
|
1/108 Modem_HELP Jim Ryan(141/9)
|
|
1/109 Tandy_HELP Neal Curtin(138/14)
|
|
|
|
These nodes are all alternate identities, so none of these boards
|
|
should actually be the node numbers as listed above if you log
|
|
onto it. Obviously if you need to send mail you have your
|
|
choice, but you are better off selecting the actual identity over
|
|
the alternate.
|
|
|
|
The guidelines for what changes should be made on the above
|
|
boards are being left up to the individual sysops. It is our
|
|
recommendation that some identification be placed either in the
|
|
|
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Fidonews Page 18 10 Mar 1986
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WELCOME1.BBS or BULLETIN.BBS and a separate message area be
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devoted to the HELP topic. As far as the BUG's go, those sysops
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will file attach a verified list to TJ and he will react to it as
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time permits.
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Please allow the sysops of the above HELP nodes a couple of weeks
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to get set up before you send in the troops. We will list them
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in the nodelist that is published this coming Friday.
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-----------------------------------------------------------------
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Fidonews Page 19 10 Mar 1986
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=================================================================
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FOR SALE
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=================================================================
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ENTERTAINMENT SOFTWARE FOR YOUR PC!
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SUPERDOTS! KALAH!
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Professional quality games include PASCAL source! From the
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author of KALAH Version 1.6, SuperDots, a variation of the
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popular pencil/paper DOTS game, has MAGIC and HIDDEN DOT
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options. KALAH 1.7 is an African strategy game requiring
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skill to manipulate pegs around a playing board. Both games
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use the ANSI Escape sequences provided with the ANSI.SYS
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device driver for the IBM-PC, or built into the firmware on
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the DEC Rainbow. Only $19.95 each or $39.95 for both
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exciting games! Please specify version and disk format.
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These games have been written in standard TURBO-PASCAL and
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run on the IBM-PC, DEC Rainbow 100 (MSDOS and CPM), CPM/80,
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CPM/86, and PDP-11. Other disk formats are available, but
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minor customization may be required.
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BSS Software
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P.O. Box 3827
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Cherry Hill, NJ 08034
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For every order placed, a donation will be made to the Fido
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coordinators! Also, if you have a previous version of KALAH
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and send me a donation, a portion of that donation will also
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be sent to the coordinators. When you place an order, BE
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CERTAIN TO MENTION WHERE YOU SAW THE AD since it also
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appears in PC Magazine and Digital Review.
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Questions and comments can be sent to:
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Brian Sietz at Fido 107/17
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(609) 429-6630 300/1200/2400 baud
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-----------------------------------------------------------------
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Fidonews Page 20 10 Mar 1986
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We have a confession to make. We've been holding out on you.
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For several years now we've been using a program called MACRO to
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boost our productivity. But we've been keeping it a closely
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guarded secret. Even our most intimate clients have been unaware
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of it's existence. Now, however, we've decided to release it to
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the PC user community.
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If you have ever used a macro assembler, then you already know
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how useful macros can be. For the rest of you, well, a good
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macro processor can do half of your work for you. MACRO works
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with any normal text file, and hence can be used as a powerful
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front-end to almost any language. Here's a sample of what MACRO
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can do for you:
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1. Put parameters in your programs, allowing you to easily change
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table sizes, ranges of values, and so forth.
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2. Put conditional code in your programs, allowing you to write
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one program, and then "switch" parts on and off easily for
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different customers and applications.
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3. Perform integer arithmetic and string manipulation before your
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program is compiled, saving run time.
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4. Write programs that customize themselves when you compile
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them, based on commands given and questions answered during
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the macro scan.
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MACRO is available for only $95 from
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System Enhancement Associates
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21 New Street, Wayne NJ 07470
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Or call our convenient order line at (201) 473-5153 (VISA and
|
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MasterCard accepted).
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Mention that you saw this ad, and we'll donate $10 to the
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national FidoNet coordinators when you order.
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-----------------------------------------------------------------
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Fidonews Page 21 10 Mar 1986
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Now available from Micro Consulting Associates!!
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Public Domain collection - 300+ "ARC" archives - 10 megs of
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software and other goodies, and that's "archived" size! When
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unpacked, you get approximately 17 megabytes worth of all kinds
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of software, from text editors to games to unprotection schemes
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to communications programs, compilers, interpreters, etc...
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|
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This collection is the result of more than 10 months of intensive
|
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downloads from just about 100 or more BBS's and other sources,
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all of which have been examined, indexed and archived for your
|
|
convenience. Starting a Bulletin Board System? Want to add on
|
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to your software base without spending thousands of dollars? This
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is the answer!!!
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To order the library, send $100 (personal or company check,
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postal money order or company purchase order) to:
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Micro Consulting Associates, Fido 103/511
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Post Office Box 4296
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200-1/2 E. Balboa Boulevard
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Balboa, Ca. 92661-4296
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Please allow 3 weeks for delivery of your order.
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Note: No profit is made from the sale of the Public Domain
|
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software in this collection. The price is applied entirely to
|
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the cost of downloading the software over the phone lines,
|
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running a BBS to receive file submissions, and inspecting,
|
|
cataloguing, archiving and maintaining the files. Obtaining this
|
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software yourself through the use of a computer with a modem
|
|
using commercial phone access would cost you much more than what
|
|
we charge for the service...
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|
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Please specify what type of format you would like the disks to be
|
|
prepared on. The following choices are available:
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|
|
IBM PC-DOS Backup utility
|
|
Zenith MS-DOS 2.11 Backup Utility
|
|
DSBackup
|
|
Fastback
|
|
Plain ol' files (add $50, though, it's a lot of
|
|
work and takes more diskettes...)
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|
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Add $30 if you want the library on 1.2 meg AT disks (more
|
|
expensive disks). There are no shipping or handling charges.
|
|
California residents add 6% tax.
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|
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For each sale, $10 will go to the FidoNet Administrators.
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-----------------------------------------------------------------
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Fidonews Page 22 10 Mar 1986
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=================================================================
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NOTICES
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=================================================================
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|
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The Interrupt Stack
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11 Apr 1986
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|
Halley's Comet reaches perigee.
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19 May 1986
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Steve Lemke's next birthday.
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|
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24 Aug 1989
|
|
Voyager 2 passes Neptune.
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If you have something which you would like to see on this
|
|
calendar, please send a message to Fido 1/1.
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|
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-----------------------------------------------------------------
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Subscribe to Fidonet's newest newsletters, Fidonet PCNews and
|
|
Fidonet Languages. Contact Wes Cowley at 137/19 for information
|
|
or to make arrangements to pickup one or both of the newsletters.
|
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|
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-----------------------------------------------------------------
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|
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Anyone interested in starting a FidoNet "Pen Pal" Program please
|
|
contact Jim Ryan at Fido 141/9.
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|
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-----------------------------------------------------------------
|
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|
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I'm looking for a copy of DSR (Digital Standard RUNOFF, also
|
|
known as Rice University RUNOFF) for MS-DOS (the IBM PC). Please
|
|
contact Jim Ryan at Fido 141/9 if you have any leads.
|
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|
|
-----------------------------------------------------------------
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|
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Happy 25th birthday to Sally Kaplan at Fido 100/22!
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|
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-----------------------------------------------------------------
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|
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USERFILE.ARC - v1.0
|
|
Allen Miller - Fido 108/10
|
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|
|
USERFILE is a program that I wrote to take the place of
|
|
the multitude of files called FIDOUSER.(COM)/(EXE).
|
|
|
|
It seems that there are a blue million of programs that
|
|
will list entries from the USER.BBS file. Each program of this
|
|
type lists the particular fields that the author (sysop) was
|
|
interested in at the time. Additionally, some of these do some
|
|
SCREEN writing so if you want the information printed or saved to
|
|
a disk file for sorting or downloading - forget it.
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Fidonews Page 23 10 Mar 1986
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USERFILE will list any and each field from USER.BBS that
|
|
you specify and in the order that you specify. Additionally, you
|
|
can use DOS redirect to send the output to your printer or a disk
|
|
file.
|
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|
|
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|
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Fidonews Page 24 10 Mar 1986
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