 The magazine of the Melbourne PC User Group Using the Melb PC BBS files menu Barry McMenomy |
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Since June 1993 the BBS has grown from having 1800 users to over 5300. The number of calls per week has increased fourfold. At the beginning of May we increased the number of lines to 34. Our evaluation of the BBS's call statistics indicates a need for about 150 users per line. At our current rate of growth, the BBS will soon need 48 lines. However it is likely that if you call during peak times (7.30 pm to 11.30 pm) you will always have some difficulty in getting on. We often are amused that people decide to call the BBS after the end of the evening movie. We can tell if there is nothing much on TV, as the BBS will have a busy night.
Shareware CD-ROMs
By the time you read this we will have started putting shareware CD-ROMs back online. There will be four CD-ROMs, all with the most recently available programs and adding over 2 gigabytes to our file base. Keep in mind that the CD-ROMs will be changed regularly and it is possible that the replacement CD-ROM will not have the same files on it. If you see a file that you want, make sure you download it as soon as possible.
File area managers
In the last month we have instituted a system of file area managers. If you have used the Tagger recently, you will have noticed that the file base has been divided into a series of groups. This was done so that the list of file areas does not become so long that it becomes difficult to find a particular area. There will be one file area manager looking after each group. So far, we have managers for the Comms group and the Windows group. Their role is to ensure that files have adequate descriptions, to remove duplicate and outdated files, and to investigate comments from members that there may be archive problems with some files.
Uploading files
All files uploaded to the BBS go to a special hidden area to be virus scanned and checked before being moved to the New Uploads area. This means that you don't have to be in the Comms File area, for example, to upload a communications program. This makes it easier for callers to upload files, but it also means that we have only your description to decide in what file area your upload should finally reside. Please be careful with those descriptions. Where, for instance, do we hurl a file described as "a great utility?"
Before uploading files to the BBS make sure it is not there already, and that it is a quality program that is going to be of interest to a reasonable number of members. The file base on the BBS is growing at the rate of about 100 MB a month. In fact, from 9 April to 8 May, 152 MB of files were added to the BBS.
With many members now using the Internet we find that they are locating the latest version of programs from overseas ftp sites and uploading them to the BBS, making ours one of the most up-to-date BBSs around.
Downloading files
Just as you can upload a file into any area, Maximus is one of the few BBS programs that will allow you to download a file from any area. This is especially important if you are calling STD and using the file lists which detail every file on the BBS. The file lists are available from area 1A - File and BBS List area, and are updated every Saturday night. You can decide before your call what files you would like, log on, press "F" to go to the File Menu, then "D" to begin entering the file names of your selection. You can enter all the file names on one line, with wildcards if you wish. In fact, you don't even need the extension.
For example: entering the following
File(s) to download (#1): dupfiles tfw101-?.* wizmgr*
would give you these files from different areas on the BBS.
(1) DUPFILES.ZIP (00:04, 14310 bytes)
(2) TFW101-1.ZIP (07:04, 1176917 bytes)
(3) TFW101-2.ZIP (08:21, 1389241 bytes)
(4) WIZMGR25.ZIP (07:35, 1263108 bytes)
If you get a file in the list you didn't expect, simply enter a "/e" to edit the list before starting the download.
The Tagger
If you really want to make the most of the file areas you really should invest the time in fully understanding the features of the Tagger.
The File Tagger (option 1 on the file menu) is a much faster way of locating, tagging and downloading programs. You have to be using ANSI emulation and preferably have a fast modem. If your comms program supports "doorway mode," you will be able to use your PgUp and PgDn keys to move through the file lists. The doorway mode is an option which allows terminal programs to send extended keyboard codes over the line. Most advanced terminal programs offer this option by using a hotkey. This can be Alt+= (as used by Telix and many others) or ScrollLock (as used in Terminate). Doorway mode also makes entering messages online much easier. Just remember to toggle it off again if you wish to do an upload.
Finding files
Upon entering the tagger you are presented with a list of every file on the BBS sorted by directory. You can easily sort the list into alphabetical order or by date. Try this exercise: Enter the tagger, then press "F" to start a file find. Enter "telix". You should now be presented with a list of about 45 files in which the word telix appears somewhere in the file name or description. Notice you must not use wildcards with the find option. This is similar to using the Locate command from the normal Maximus File menu, however because the Tagger works from a compiled index the search is much faster and you are able to scroll up and down the list. To tag any file for downloading you simply mark the file with the Space or Enter key.
Try also the other two ways of finding files in the tagger. The "N" option is used if you know part of the file name (it only searches in the file name, not the description) and does support wildcards. The "G" option will take you straight to files as you begin entering a file name; it is most useful if you sort the full file list into alphabetical order first.
Play around, have a look at the help screen, but most of all - read everything in front of you.
The red line with yellow writing just above the menu options gives you your most important clue as to what you are looking at. If it says that there is anything less than 7400 files in the list, then you know you are not looking at a list of all files on the BBS. If you only want to search for Windows programs, first choose the "Windows file areas" group so that you are looking at about 17 Windows file areas. Then press "A". This will give you a list of every Windows program on the BBS (about 1200). From here do your search.
Viewing archives
One capability that is remarkable with the tagger is the ability to view an archive. This is similar to the contents option on the Maximus file menu, except the view option in the tagger enables you to read a text file inside an archive. For example, if you want to check if the game BRIX will work on your system before downloading it, find the file BRIX.LZH. Press "V" to view the contents of the archive and note the letters on the left side of the screen. To read BRIX.DOC press the letter next to it - "F". You will find you need at least an 80286 with 256-colour VGA graphics. This is great for those big files that are becoming more common on the BBS.
Download speeds
Speaking of large files, many people new to BBSs are not aware of the download speeds at which different speed modems can operate and how this affects the size or number of programs you can download from the BBS. Members are normally given 90 minutes per day on the BBS. There is no limit in kilobytes. How much you can download simply depends on the speed of your modem. Have a look at the following.
If you take the characters per second (cps) rate achievable with your modem and multiply it by 60 seconds, and then multiply again by 90 minutes, you get the maximum number of bytes you can download in 90 minutes. For example:
2400 bps modem = 240 cps x 60 x 90 = 1,296,000 bytes
9600 bps modem = 1050 cps x 60 x 90 = 5,670,000 bytes
14.4 Kbps modem = 1650 cps x 60 x 90 = 8,910,000 bytes
28.8 Kbps modem = 3300 cps x 60 x 90 = 17,820,000 bytes
You can see that a 28.8 Kbps modem is a good way to fill a hard disk fast.
The main point is that the size of shareware programs is growing all the time and we are often asked for more time to download the big files, or to split them into smaller archives. This is not possible as it often breaches the author's requirements of distribution, or is impractical from a technical viewpoint. ZIP-splitting complicates installation procedures for those new to dealing with archives.
If you choose or have to use a 2400 bps modem, you will find that more and more often there will be files on the BBS bigger than the 1.2 MB downloadable in 90 minutes. We already have a few files on the BBS bigger than 4 MB.
Volunteers required
Please enjoy the BBS, and if you think you may be able to help in its operation leave a message to the sysop in Area 1 of the message areas. We need people experienced enough to be able to write "How to" files on different aspects of BBS usage and file area managers to help maintain the file base. File area managers need to have a 28.8 Kbps modem, experience in the use of the BBS, time, and good knowledge of your chosen file area group. Managing the file base can be done remotely.
We also need two more Assistant Sysops. These are difficult roles to fill. In an ideal wish list they would have good knowledge of BBS communications, programming skills (Rexx and/or C), live reasonably close to our office in South Melbourne, and preferably have some experience with networking and OS/2. It certainly helps if you're also a bit crazy.
Thanks to the many members who send us messages of support. It really helps us all keep going. Without the rest of my team and the support of the Committee we would not have been able to come so far in the last 18 months. See you online.
Reprinted from the June 1995 issue of PC Update, the magazine of Melbourne PC User Group, Australia
