What's new in Synchronet BBS Version 2.00 Revision A ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Programmable Command and Menu Structure ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ o Multiple command 'shells' can be available for you and your users with configurable security access to each o Includes Baja {tm} shell/module compiler free ($50 value) o Shells can dynamically load and execute third party Baja modules or external DOS applications/doors automatically or by command o Stock command shells include emulations of other BBS packages and a simplified beginner/first-time user shell o Shells are easily modified and recompiled for your user interface preferences Communications ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ o FOSSIL, PC BIOS Int 14h, and PS/2 BIOS Int 14h communications driver support allows the use of virtually any multiport serial card (Intelligent or Non-Intelligent), shared IRQ cards, and non-UART serial devices o DTE rates to 115.2K o Support for manual hang up (for devices/interfaces lacking DTR support) o 12 new high-speed (19.2K-28.8K) modems added to auto-configuration list o Supra/Practical Peripherals Caller ID formats supported o Configurable number of rings to answer after o Invalid/Unrecognized result codes are now logged as critical errors o Intelligent answer function detects and recovers from ring-interrupted answer sequences o Specific modem result codes can be ignored or defined as "FAX" General ~~~~~~~ o New configuration file format (.CNF) for faster BBS initialization, lower storage space requirments, and future expandability o Significant reduction in memory requirements for SCFG allowing for larger quantities of sub-boards, directories, etc. o "Sticky" menus in SCFG for sysop convenience when editing long lists o Local "beep" replacement to eliminate performance over-head and decrease the sysop annoyance factor o Optional critical error siren o Sysop Manual overhaul/additions (from 188 pages to 273 pages) including many more examples, screen captures, explanatory text, and an index o Automatic "maximum" adjustment eliminates need for manual adjustment for maximum values in SCFG o Maximum configurable options per SCFG menu increased from 254 to 500 (raising the ceiling) o Addition of WWIV Color Codes 8 and 9 o Node activity text can be overridden to include any text and optional user variables (including age, gender, location, etc.) o Hot Keys are now optional o New user default setting screen can be toggled off by sysop o Callers log now contains time logged on o User listings now contain date last on o Username "look-up" available Security ~~~~~~~~ o Current message group, sub-board, file library, and file directory ARS parameters o RIP and ANSI ARS parameters to limit access based on terminal support o Disallows invalid birth dates, incomplete phone numbers, single word real names, locations without a state, etc. o Users can be set to expired account values when out-of-time o Quick Validation Hot-Keys can be disabled (default) o Configurable maximum posts per day and E-mails per day based on user level External Programs ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ o Ability to swap out of memory almost entirely for any executable from anywhere in the BBS to XMS, EMS, Extended Memory or Disk (no more "Shrinking" or use of SHROOM) o Up to 500 configurable timed external events with optional exclusive execution and shortening of users' time online o Online External Program (door) sections for organizational purposes and easier manuverability (Group/Sub principle) o RIP and ANSI ARS parameters to limit access based on terminal support o MODUSER.DAT supports simultaneous addition and removal of flags File Transfers ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ o New storage format lowers storage space requirements, and speeds up searches o First line of FILE_ID.DIZ or DESC.SDI imported into short description o Viewable, Testable, and Extractable File Types can have ARS parameters specified for limiting to specific users or file areas o Download Events for modifying files (e.g. adding comments) just before download (with attached ARS) o Up to 500 Compressable File Types can be defined for QWK packet creation and temp archives (with attached ARS, of course) o ARS attachment to Transfer Protocols o Up to 500 Alternate File Paths o Directory operators definable per directory via ARS o Exempted users can be defined for each directory via ARS o Credit percentages configurable on a per-directory basis o Each directory's data can be stored on any drive, in any DOS directory o Upload semaphore files supported on a per-directory basis o Sysop can allow blind (unsolicited) batch/bi-dir uploads o Uploads can be forced rated using any alphabetic rating scheme o Individual directories can be eliminated from duplicate upload name search Message Base ~~~~~~~~~~~~ o New storage format lower storage space requirements, increases maximum storage capacity, lowers memory requirements, and speeds up import/export (Download SMB_1*.ZIP for details) o Support for moderated sub-boards (via ARS) o Sub-board operators definable per sub-board via ARS o ARS to restrict users from reading a sub-board while still seeing it o Message data can be stored on any drive, in any directory, on a per-sub basis o Messages (including E-mail) are purgable by age (via SMBUTIL) o Optional and configurable duplicate message checking o Operator/Sub-op messages can be automatically permanent o Operator/Sub-op can move messages between areas o Read messages can be automatically purged o Self-packing and Fast Allocation storage methods available for each sub o Network Gateway Security o Separate EchoMail semaphore file per sub-board o Message pointers can be set by date or number of messages from end o Bulk E-mail capabilities (via ARS or user names) o Start message number specified for message text searches o Received mail can be forwarded to multiple users o Message listings include "To" user as well as "from" and "subject" QWK ~~~ o Incredible speed increase (via SMB) o Multiple archive formats supported (user selectable) o Automatic inclusion/exclusion of file attachments o Optional inclusion of Un-read, All, or No E-mail o Optional automatic deletion of E-mail (user configured) o Optional exclusion of messages from user o Scan configuration and pointer adjustment from QWK menu o Inclusion of new files list is optional (user configured) o NetMail can be sent by sending to "user@addr" o New conference numbering scheme to allow for more subs per group o New QWK control messages: YOURS, RESET, RESETALL, FILES, ATTACH, MAIL, OWN , DELMAIL, and CTRL-A Networking ~~~~~~~~~~ o Up to 500 FidoNet AKAs supported o Optional use of "Default Outbound Address" for Fido/UUCP gateway convenience o Separate NetMail and EchoMail semaphore files o EchoMail Gateway security to eliminate unintentional gating o Pending QWKnet REP packets appended with new messages before call-out o Internal support for outbound Internet mail storage with file attachments (SMB compliant UUCP gateway required) o Public message base specification (SMB) insures 3rd party developer interest and support for EchoMail programs, gateways, editors, offline readers, etc. Chat ~~~~ o Multiple Artificial Gurus - can be separately attached to different chat channels o Multiple MultiNode Chat Action sets, separately attached to different chat channels o Real-time InterNode Telegrams with store-and-forward if user is offline o Real-time key-by-key chat available from anywhere via Ctrl-P o Whisper command in MultiNode Chat o InterNode messages can be sent by node number, user number, user name, or user chat handle (with search for partial names) o Chat options (echo, action commands, pagability, action alerts) are now saved between logons /* End of V200A.NEW */