344 lines
14 KiB
Plaintext
344 lines
14 KiB
Plaintext
**********************************************************************
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USING THE FILE
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FROM
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BBSLOG.ARC
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**********************************************************************
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If you are a computer enthusiast and frequent user of BBS's, as I am,
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then I believe you will find the files in BBSLOG.ARC and information in
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this text helpful to you. I have found it difficult to always remember
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the various things I have done or want to do when logged on to my
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favorite BBS's. When I place a message on a system, I want to remember
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to go back there later and look for the reply. When I see some
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interesting files on a system that I want to download, I want to be
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able to get back to them at a later time. When I finally do get there,
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I don't want to waste a lot of precious time looking for them,
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especially if the BBS is long distance.
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Therefore, I have devised a simple system to help me be a better user
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of my favorite systems, save some money on the phone bill, remember
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when and where I have posted messages so I can retrieve the replies and
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know when and where I have downloaded and uploaded files.
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As I said my system is simple, but effective, common sense approach. I
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am certain others are probably doing this also and likely are doing it
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better. If you can see some ways to improve upon the suggestions made
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here, please let me know. I am always looking for new ways to make the
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most of the things I enjoy.
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In the following, I will attempt to outline for you how you can
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implement this system.
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***** EXPLAINING THE FILES IN BBSLOG.ARC ******
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The files contained in BBSLOG.ARC are all text files. They are forms I
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use in my "log". Here is an explanation of the files.
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BBSLOG1 This is a "BBS CALL LOG" form that can be printed on any
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dot-matrix or letter quality printer. It was written on
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a simple word processor and is intended for the user who
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has a basic computer setup with a straight-ahead
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printer.
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BBSLOG2 This is the same "BBS CALL LOG" form as outlined above,
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but was written on "WordPerfect" and thus it is a
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"prettier" form. (Single and double line boxes are used)
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To get this "prettier" form, you must print it on a
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printer that will allow for graphics. WARNING: If you
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load this file in a word processor or editor that does
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not support any graphics and then save the file after
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looking at it, you will lose the WordPerfect boxes and
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lines. Believe me, they are identical forms.
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BBSDOWN1 This form is called the "DOWNLOAD LOG". It was written
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on a simple word processor and can be printed on any
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dot-matrix or letter quality printer.
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BBSDOWN2 This form is the same "DOWNLOAD LOG" form as mentioned
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above. Likewise, it was written on WordPerfect and is a
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"prettier", but identical form to BBSDOWN1. Again, it
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should be printed on a printer that supports graphics.
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The same WARNING applies to this file as expressed about
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BBSLOG2. If loaded into and then save from a word
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processor or editor that does not support any graphics,
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you will lose it. If you do lose it, I guess you could
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always unARC the original file again.
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***** USING THE FILES AND LOG SYSTEM *****
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A. THINGS NEEDED:
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1. Purchase a 8 1/2" by 11" three-ring binder, a pack of
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loose leaf index dividers and two pens, one of which should
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be a good felt-tip pen.
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2. After printing the two forms (BBS CALL LOG & DOWNLOAD LOG),
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make at least 25 copies of the "Call Log" and 10 of the
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"Download Log".
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3. Label an index divider "tab", enclosed with the index
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dividers, according to the name of each log sheet and place
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it in the divider.
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4. Label the remaining index divider tabs, according to the
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names of the BBS systems you use the most.
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5. Place the "BBS CALL LOG" first in the binder, followed by the
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"DOWNLOAD LOG" and then the remaining dividers separated with
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10 sheets of blank paper.
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B. THINGS TO DO:
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1. If you do not already have a copy of the files available to
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you from the different systems you call, download one or
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"open-log" one as soon as you can.
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2. Print out the list of files (I know it is a lot of pages).
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Then number the pages and place it in the binder under the
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name of the system it represents. If you have a full
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compliment of memory, you can load it in your word processor
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and edit the list to include the system name and page
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numbers. If you don't, then set the paper in your printer to
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the "top of form" (so that it won't print on the "seams") and
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print the file through DOS. For MS-DOS users, entering the
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following DOS commands should work.
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Floppy disk user: TYPE A:FILENAME > PRN then press
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ENTER/RETURN
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Hard disk user: TYPE C:\PATHNAME\FILENAME > PRN then
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press ENTER/RETURN
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3. If the list of files you printed is broken down into
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categories or directories and includes a tables of contents
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as a first page, be sure the beginning page number of each
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section is marked appropriately. If this isn't included in
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the file, put one together. This will be needed for quickly
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locating filenames.
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4. Create an information sheet for each of the systems you call
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that includes the following items:
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- SYSTEM NAME
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- SYSTEM PHONE NUMBER (even if you have an auto-dialer)
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- SYSTEM MAILING ADDRESS
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- SYSTEM VOICE PHONE NUMBER
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- SYSOP'S NAME
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- YOUR LOGON NAME
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- YOUR USER ID (if any)
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- YOUR PASSWORD (you should be careful to guard this)
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- SUBSCRIPTION RENEWAL DATE AND AMOUNT OF THE "USER-FEE"
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- ANY INFORMATION UNIQUE TO THE SYSTEM
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Place this sheet as the first page in each appropriate
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section representing the BBS.
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***** WORKING THE SYSTEM *****
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A. DEVELOP A ROUTINE
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1. Using this system or any system will require the establishing
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of a pattern of how you will use your computer and the
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systems you call.
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2. It obviously is important to make a diligent effort in
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getting started, but the real problem will be in "sticking to
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it!"
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3. Each time you want to abandon this log system, stop and
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remember all those messy notes and the things forgotten
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because you didn't write it down in an orderly manner so you
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could follow up!
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4. If something isn't working, find another way to get the job
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done that will work for you. But don't give up and quit.
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B. SIMPLE STEPS TO FOLLOW BEFORE YOU DIAL
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Keeping in mind that you are probably "computing" just for the fun of
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it, the following should help you to get the most out of on-line time.
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1. Before you call your favorite BBS, know what it is that you
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want to do. Are you going to read or leave a message(s)?
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Then know what you are looking for or want to say. Make note
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of the person and subject in the BBS CALL LOG.
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2. Are you going to upload a file(s)? Then be prepared and know
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what you are looking for ahead of time. Make note of the
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filenames and directory locations in the BBS CALL LOG. Think
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about what you are going to do.
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3. Before dialing a system to download a file(s), scan the
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printed list of files from that system and write in the
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information about the file or files you want in the "DOWNLOAD
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LOG".
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4. After you have retrieved the file, mark in the date you
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retrieved the file as an indicator that you have downloaded
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it.
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5. If you know how many bytes your system can handle when
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downloading, you can also make note of the approximate time
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needed to download a particular file. This will help you
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squeeze the most out of your time on-line. At 1200 baud,
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using YModem protocol, you can transfer data at about 6743
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bytes per minute "I think?" --a 94K file would take about 14
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minutes (rounded to the next highest minute). The formula is
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94000 divided by 6743 = 13.94 minutes or 14 rounded.
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6. From time to time, review the DOWNLOAD LOG to see if you have
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retrieved all the files you had intended. It is unlikely
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that you will download files in the sequence in which you
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recorded them in the log. Sometimes your time remaining on-
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line will force you to download a smaller file further down
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the list. Over a period of time the list gets full and
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messy. It needs to be reviewed and files not yet downloaded
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transferred to a clean log or deleted if determined as
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unwanted now. Save the old log sheets, if possible, in case
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you have a question about an old file you download.
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B. SIMPLE STEPS TO FOLLOW WHEN YOU HAVE DIALED
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1. If you know that you are going to keep calling a system till
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you can get on-line, write in the name of BBS in the "BBS
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CALL LOG." If you are going to be calling several systems
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till you get on-line with one, then when you do connect with
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the system you desire to call, quickly write down the name of
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the BBS. In either case, also enter in the time you LOGGED
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ON.
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2. If you are "inspired" to leave someone a message, write down
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the information in the CALL LOG. If you expect a reply, mark
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the log when you will call back for the reply.
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3. If you reply to any message you happen to see on the board,
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mark a note of it in the space provided in the LOG. If you
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run out of space, move down to the "NOTES:" section and
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continue.
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4. If you are going to capture data displayed on the screen to a
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file, then write down the name of the file you sent it to in
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the "DOWNLOAD FILES" section of the CALL LOG. Be sure to at
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least circle the "Y" indicating that you did download
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something.
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5. To record additional information, use the "NOTES:" section of
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the CALL LOG or one of the blank sheets of paper in the
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section named after the BBS that you are currently using. Do
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not remove the blank sheet from the binder. Learn to leave
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it in place so you can refer to it later, if need be.
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C. SIMPLE STEPS TO FOLLOW AFTER YOU HAVE DISCONNECTED
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1. When you have completed your call on the BBS, mark down the
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time you logged off. Review the form to make sure you have
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accurately recorded all your activity while on-line and any
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information you want to remember or use to follow up on any
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messages.
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2. If you are a floppy disk user, be sure to use the felt-tip
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pen to correctly mark the floppy disk that you stored all the
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downloaded files on.
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3. If a page of the CALL LOG contains information about a
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message to be followed up on, bend the corner of the page
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over as a reminder that there is something important on that
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page.
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4. If possible, take time to process any files you downloaded.
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I believe it is a good practice to print out any E-mail and
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place in your binder for quick referral.
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D. SIMPLE STEPS TO FOLLOW BEFORE YOU DIAL AGAIN
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1. If it's the same day, next call, know what you want to do
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before you do it.
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2. If it's another day, review the CALL LOG and the DOWNLOAD
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LOG, so you will know what you want to do.
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E. SIMPLE STEPS TO HELP YOU KEEP A CLEAN LOG
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1. It will eventually be necessary to buy another three-ring
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binder. I am a "pack rat" and like to keep things--"just in
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case I need them" (I never do!)
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2. When the "log" gets too full, simply move some of the
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DOWNLOAD LOG sheets and CALL LOG sheets to the new binder.
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3. If you are keeping E-mail, this also could be kept in a
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storage binder.
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4. If in doubt what to do with something, "trash it". You
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probably wouldn't be able to find it later anyway!
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**********************************************************************
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As stated before, this is a simple, common sense system. If you are
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doing something like this or have any suggestions, please let me know.
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I am always looking for a better way to help me make the most of the
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things I enjoy doing---and I love to play with my computer.
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I can be contacted by leaving a message on this system or by mail to
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the following address:
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Bob Luzier
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P.O. Box 36725
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Strongsville, Ohio 44136
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