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Version 2.38
This file tells you what you need to do to succesfully install
Pandora on your system (PC/Atari e.d.)
The following files are nessecary:
PANDORA.EXE (PANDORA.TTP) The real thing
CONFIG.EXE (CONFIG.TTP) Maintain CONFIG.BBS
PASSW.EXE (PASSW.TTP Maintain USER.BBS
TRUESIZE.EXE (TRUESIZE.TTP) Maintain FILES.xxx
INITIAL.EXE (INITIAL.TTP) Creates an initial system
PANDORA.ARC (PANDORA.ARC) Help and Others screens
INSTALL.DOC Installation manual
GUIDE.DOC General sysop manual
USER.DOC User manual
Disclamer
Disclamer
We, the authors of Pandora and Utilities, accept no responsability
for any damage/harm done by/with these programs.
Licence
Licence
These programs may be freely copied and used on a non commercial
basis. No charge may be asked. For use on a commercial or governmen-
tal basis the authors written permission must be asked.
When a person whishes to use Pandora and Utilities on a daily basis,
a registration letter with your name, address, zone:net/node numbers
must be sent to the following address: (see LICENTCE.TXT)
J.P.Middelink
Larenseweg 81
7451 EN Holten
Holland
Copyright 1986, 1987, 1988 by J.P.Middelink and J.Kersing.
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Short description of the environment and commandline switches used by
Pandora.
Environment
Environment
YELL=(ON|OFF) default ON
Disables the Yell function, so users can't ring you out your
bed.
HAYES=(ON|OFF) default ON
The use of a HAYES compatible modem is encouraged, but is not
nessecary for the correct operation of Pandora, but of course
The-Box, which dails out, will need a Hayes modem.
PORT=(1|2|3|4) default 1
On IBM systems the modem can be connected to any of the COM
ports. Pandora must know the proper port for a correct
communication with the modem.
PANDORA=path default CONF\
Path used to locate CONFIG.BBS, PANDORA.ARC MAILER.NET and
MAILER.NOD. Since these files are accessed often, but do not
change during a Pandora run, these files are excellent
candidates for a RAMdisk. On systems with an harddisk
installed this setting is rarely used.
Switches
Switches
-e Show extra information during up/download.
-l Log all what the user types in the log file.
-y Disable Yell function, overrides environment setting
num Set the baudrate on which a caller called. Since the baudrate
is already known Pandora assumes no Comport or modem
(de-)init is nessesary.
Copyright 1986, 1987, 1988 by J.P.Middelink and J.Kersing.
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Files
Files
CONFIG.BBS
contain information over the system configured by the local
sysop. Also contains info about the different area's which
are accessable for the users.
USER.BBS
contains information about every user known to the system.
This file must be safeguarded with your life because when it
get's lost, every user is lost!
LASTREAD.BBS
contains information which message in every area each user
last read. (usefull, but not critical when lost)
MAILER.NET
MAILER.NOD
these files are nessesary to substitue the net/node numbers
for the appropate nodelist name. The last file also contains
a cost field, for which the user will be charged when sending
a message to the specified node. When these files aren't
found, none of the above actions is made. Cost will default
to 0.50 cents.
TERMCAP.BBS
Here are the terminals which can be installed in Pandora
Change Settings. The strings include ClearScreen, GotoXY,
Insert/Delete line and Normal/Reverse video.
PANDORA.ARC
This file is vital for the operation of the BBS. It contains
several important textfiles (like the bulletins, editorial
and welcome). The files in this archive are STORED. This
means that no compression is used! (Use PSARC or ARC but not
PKARC!)
Copyright 1986, 1987, 1988 by J.P.Middelink and J.Kersing.
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Setting up your first Pandora Bulletin Board System.
Setting up your first Pandora Bulletin Board System.
If you follow the directions in this section exactly you will end up
with a basic BBS. It will have 4 independend message and 4 indepen-
dend file areas. The BBS itself will be public. (public means that
every-one can log-on and become a GUEST user.)
Floppy disk users:
Floppy disk users:
1. Get two empty disks and format them.
Place on one of them sub-dirs with names:
"CONF", "FILE", "UPLD", "MSGS", "MAIL", "OUTMAIL", "MAILER"
2. Extract the archives which contain PANDORA, PASSW, CONFIG and
INITIAL. Place these files in the root directory.
3. Extract Pandora.arc out Pandor-E.arc, do NOT unarc this file
futher!
4. Run INITIAL with the commandline options U T C. This will
create the next files in your CONF sub-dir:
TERMCAPS.BBS, USER.BBS, CONFIG.BBS and LASTREAD.BBS.
Hard disk users:
Hard disk users:
1. Backup your harddisk.
2. Create a subdir for Pandora(1) (like \PANDORA). Make this
your current working directory. In it place the following
subdirs:
"CONF", "FILE", "UPLD", "MSGS", "MAIL", "OUTMAIL", "MAILER"
3. Extract the archives which contain PANDORA, PASSW, CONFIG and
INITIAL.
4. Extract Pandora.arc out Pandor-E.arc, do NOT unarc this file
futher!
5. Run INITIAL with the commandline options U T C. This will
create TERMCAPS.BBS, USER.BBS, CONFIG.BBS and LASTREAD.BBS in
the subdir CONF.
Now edit BBS.BAT for your situation: Setup the proper environment
strings, and call Pandora with the proper switches.
Your now made an initial BBS installation. It can be tested by
typing BBS. A valid username is SYSOP (no lastname, just type <CR>)
with password WHAT
1): the more elements in your path, the slower your BBS!
Copyright 1986, 1987, 1988 by J.P.Middelink and J.Kersing.
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The Pandora utility CONFIG
The Pandora utility CONFIG
This utility manages the CONFIG.BBS file. When running it can be
aborted by pressing ^C or leaved by pressing Q. (=Quit)
When you run the CONFIG program, you will see the Main menu and a
list of options valid there. In CONFIG are 5 more menus (Msgs, File,
Times, Change and Init), which I will describe later on.
I'll now describe the Main options:
I'll now describe the Main options:
number The visable area is changed to <number>, so you can change
the parameters for Msgs and File there.
I) Change all installation parameters for Pandora.
T) Change the different times used in Pandora.
C) Change Pandoras Main command privileges.
M) Change the Msg parameters for the visable area.
F) Change the File parameters for the visable area.
N) Change your international Network address. Enter only a valid
address here, otherwise the Network mail won't work. Valid
numbers can be obtaint by your friendly nearby Sysop. They
will know the way to apply for a real Network number.
S) Enter here the name under which you'll be running the BBS.
When a users enters a message to 'Sysop', it will be
redirected to this name. Also $s prints this name.
P) Type of BBS you can be running:
closed: no new members. Only already installed members are
allowed to log in.
privat: GUEST privilage for new members, which may call in.
The will NOT be upgraded to NORMAL privilage when
they call a second time!
public: New members are allowed, and they get for the first
time, GUEST privilage. But the second time they call
in, they will automaticly upgrade to NORMAL users,
which allows them to do more things on the BBS.
V) View all areas in this BBS installation. The +/- tells
whether or not the area in accessable.
W) Copy the visable area to given area. (Both File and Msgs part
are copied at the same time!) The iesiest way to use this is
to create a proper area and copy it several times so only
minor changes have to be made.
To add new areas copy to the last area+1.
To change the order of two areas, area 99 may be used. First
area <a> to 99, area <b> to <a> and 99 back to <b>.
TAKE CARE: The last (** default **) area is not saved on disk.
If you've got areas 0 till 20 (use the view command)
then only areas 0 till 19 will be saved.
X) Toggle eXpert mode. When off the menu explanation will be
supressed. It will speed up things, if you're know what
you're doing.
Q) Quit. Update CONF\CONFIG.BBS and leave to DOS prompt.
Copyright 1986, 1987, 1988 by J.P.Middelink and J.Kersing.
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Now for the Init menu options
Now for the Init menu options
A) Initial privelage assigned when a new user calls. We
recommend GUEST level so the user can play around the BBS
without taking up too much time.
B) Initial MSGS group access bits assigned when a new user
calls.
C) Initial FILE group access bits assigned when a new user
calls.
D) Cost factor. For fast global changes in msgs costs. Suppose a
sponser takes over half the cost, you can either change the
costlist in XLTLST.CTL or set Cost at .50
E) Upload path where all upload files are placed. Leave empty
for default directory or enter used path with an extra \ at
the end.
F) File path, here the FILES.xxx files are searched. See E)
G) Modem initialise string, send to modem once on startup.
H) Modem deinit string, also send once, but at the end.
I) Modem startup baudrate. Usaly the highest possible baudrate
of your modem. All Pandora internal communications will go at
this speed. Use -number when your modem supports locked
baudrates. (See your modem documentation for this feature.)
The Times menu options
The Times menu options
A) Maximum download quota for one day. Enter as <Priv> <number>
B) Maximum inlog time for one call. Enter as <Priv> <mins>
C) Maximum inlog time for one day. Enter as <Priv> <mins>
D) Pandora open times. Pandora will quit to DOS outside these
hours.
E) Mail window times. Currently not used.
F) Yell times. Pandora will only allow yells at the sysop
between these times. These times can for example exclude your
dinner time.
The Change menu options
The Change menu options
number Every command in Pandora has a minimum privilage a user must
have to execute this command. Also printing of those commands
for which the user hasn't enough privilage will be suppressed
HIDDEN privilage excludes even the sysop from using this
command!
Copyright 1986, 1987, 1988 by J.P.Middelink and J.Kersing.
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List of Msgs menu options
List of Msgs menu options
A) Area name under which this area will be known.
P) Path to msg-file (please DO ADD trailing '\' here.)
B) Group acces mask. This mask is and-ed with the user mask. If
the result is <> 0 the area is open for that user. If the
mask is 0 the area is closed for everyone (including sysop).
Areas unavailable for user are not shown in the A)rea command
in your BBS.
C) Area type. (normal messages, mail or echomail)
D) Ask for killing of received messages. If on then the user
will be asked whether he wants a private message (that has
been received) to be killed or not.
E) Ask for Private. If off then no private messages possible
(for everyone, including sysop). Mostly turned off in
echomail areas.
F) Mail area only: ask for KILL/SEND. (Kill a message after it
has been transmitted.)
G) Enable the display of Ctrl-A lines for the sysop.
H) Enable the display of SEEN-BY lines under messages. Works for
user and sysop.
J) Jump directly to given area without leaving M)sgs.
number Privileges for the Pandora command options when the users is
in this Msgs area.
The File menu options
The File menu options
A) Area name under which this file area will be known.
B) Group acces mask. This mask is and-ed with the user mask. If
the result is <> 0 the area is open for that user. If the
mask is 0 the area is closed for everyone (including sysop).
Areas unavailable for user are not shown in the A)rea command
in your BBS.
C) Upload area. This number denotes to which files.xxx the user
file description will be append.
J) Jump directly to given area without leaving F)ile.
number Privileges for the Pandora command options when the users is
in this File area.
ATTENTION:
The command R)awread is not functioning properly in the ST version.
To prevent problems assign privilege HIDDEN. K)ill is not implemen-
ted. May be set to HIDDEN also. Won't cause any dammage if not.)
The command line switch -x enables an experienced sysop to go
directly into expert mode.
Synopsis: config -x
Copyright 1986, 1987, 1988 by J.P.Middelink and J.Kersing.
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The Pandora utility PASSW
The Pandora utility PASSW
This utility manages the USER.BBS file. When running it can be
aborted by pressing ^C or leaved by pressing Q. (=Quit)
For savety reasons a USER.BAK is generated.
Run the PASSW program. You will see a menu and a list of options. I
will describe these options shortly:
number The utility will position at this user record. (If not beyond
the end of the list.)
V) Shows all users on your system.
U) Change the name of the current user.
C) Change the city of the current user.
I) Change the intro the user will see when he/she logs on. (Ad-
vanced feature, will be explained later on).
R) Nothing at all.
D) Mark this user as DELETED. When you are leaving this program
all removed users will be deleted. (Use the same command to
'un'delete a user accidently marked for deletion.)
A) Account. The amount of money the user has for sending Network
mail.
O) PasswOrd. This changes the password of the user. A valid
password should start with a CAPITAL and all other charac-
ters lower case.
N) Add a new member to the user list.
X) Toggle eXpert mode.
P) The users privilege.
M) bit mask for valid message areas. (explained later on)
F) bit mask for valid file areas.
Q) Leave the program.
The command line switch -x enables an experienced sysop to go
directly into expert mode.
Synopsis: passw -x
Copyright 1986, 1987, 1988 by J.P.Middelink and J.Kersing.
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The Pandora utilities TRUESIZE & INITIAL & XLTLST
The Pandora utilities TRUESIZE & INITIAL & XLTLST
Utility: TRUESIZE
Utility: TRUESIZE
This version of TRUESIZE will run unattended, it will simply
determine the size of all files named in FILES.xxx and overwrites the
given length. Future options will include the removal of those files
which aren't found anymore. It also formats the file to a more
readable format.
Synopsis: truesize
Utility INITIAL
Utility INITIAL
This is an extremly dangerous program to leave around on your disk
once you have Pandora running and tuned for your own needs.
When used in creates (or replaces!) initial versions of CONFIG.BBS
and or USER.BBS/LASTREAD.BBS and/or TERMCAP.BBS.
(It should ask if you're sure, but it doesn't.)
It has the following commandline switches
C/c Rewrite CONF\CONFIG.BBS
U/u Rewrite CONF\USER.BBS and CONF\LASTREAD.BBS
T/t Rewrite CONF\TERMCAP.BBS
Synopsis: initial {C|U|T}
Utility XLTLST
Utility XLTLST
This utility will be documented in another document, but in short it
will create from NODELIST.xxx and XLTLST.CTL the two files,
MAILER.NET and MAILER.NOD, which can then be copied into CONF for
proper Network cost and nodename checking used in Pandora.
Synopsis: xltlst
Copyright 1986, 1987, 1988 by J.P.Middelink and J.Kersing.
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Format used in Pandora HELP & FILES.xxx files.
Format used in Pandora HELP & FILES.xxx files.
format of FILE\FILES.xxx
format of FILE\FILES.xxx
These files contain the names of all files available for download.
The format is:
SHOWNAME DISKNAME LENGTH DESCRIPTION<NEWLINE>
!
First character on line.
SHOWNAME Is the name the user sees when he gives the F)iles
command.
DISKNAME Is the name of the file on disk including path. This
name is used by PANDORA for opening the file. The
file can be on an other disk, just specify the
correct path to it and PANDORA will find it.
LENGTH Is the exact length (in bytes) of the file on disk.
(Used this way to reduce the diskaccess.)
DESCRIPTION Is the description for this file. Listed with the
F)iles command. (rest of the line is used so spaces
are allowed.)
<NEWLINE> Lines must always end with a newline!
Use any number of spaces or tabs to seperate these items. (But make
sure the linelength is kept under 90 characters!)
Instead of SHOWNAME the next characters may apear at the first
position of the line.
'-' or ' ' Shows this line exactly to the user. Including the
leading character!
'\' or '/' Stop listing the file to the user. (Sysop sees entire
file)
Files listed below this character are 'hidden'. ALL
files are available for download.
';' Comment line. Not listed.
<NOTHING> this line results in a <CR><LF> (also empty line) to
the user.
Format of .HLP files in Pandora.arc:
Format of .HLP files in Pandora.arc:
Every commandline option in Pandora is given a help entry, which is
leadin by :option:<NEWLINE> and terminated by the next :option:.
All which stands between those marks gets printed. The menu, which
will be shown by a single ? in given a special name :*: to prevent
conflicts with ?? (also :?:).
Copyright 1986, 1987, 1988 by J.P.Middelink and J.Kersing.
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Recent changes in Pandora
Recent changes in Pandora
Updating from Pandora 2.35
Updating from Pandora 2.35
If you've used Pandora 2.35 till now and you don't want to start
configuring all over again, please get hold of the program CONF58.
TTP. This program will adapt the old configuration file to the one
Pandora 2.38 needs.
Also a couple of things have been changed:
- All files with the name FILES.xxx have to be in ONE sub-dir.
(default called "FILE\".
Uploads to your system will mess up the system if the path
isn't correct. (The FilePath will be adapted by CONF58).
- You'll have to install the modem initialisation and modem
reset string (and baudrate). This is done in the I)nit part
of CONFIG.
- Run the program INITIAL with the T option.
BE CAREFULL: the other options will destroy your C)onfigur-
ation or U)serfile!
Also a few more $ escape commands have been added:
$$ Displays a single $$
$K Clear entire user screen and leaves cursor at (0,0)
$h Places user terminal in normal video color.
$H All futher printing will be done in inverted video mode
Use with care, since user can ^C before $h code!
(see SYSOP.DOC for more information over these $ escapes)
Take care when using % escapes commands, they use an undefined
internal stack, so random numbers will be displayed. Use %% for a
single %.
Copyright 1986, 1987, 1988 by J.P.Middelink and J.Kersing.
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Winding up:
Winding up:
That's all for now folks. I know it's a mess so don't bother to tell
me. If anyone likes to write manuals he's welcome. If you got
questions PLEASE ask them. Bug reports are 'welcome' too, we really
don't think PANDORA is bug free. (in fact, we know it isn't!)
Questions and/or bugs:
Questions and/or bugs:
If you have access to a Fido Mail Network you can send us you message
directly, use for:
Questions: Pandora Questions at 2:508/17
Bugs: Pandora Development at 2:508/17
(please use a to the point topic, it will speed up our answers)
(So no 'PANDORA', 'bug', 'error' or 'question' or things like that!)
Another possiblity is to get a connection to the TB&P_BUG echo.
This is the echo for Pandora and The-Box bugs.
Last but not least, you can write us at:
J.P.Middelink
Larenseweg 81
7451 EM Holten
Holland
The Future of Pandora:
The Future of Pandora:
Currently machines of which PANDORA runs:
Pandora ST, this is the Atari ST version.
Pandora PC, the IBM (and compatibles) version.
We're working on Pandora CP/M, a version for those good old CP/M
computers.
Available utilities:
passw The user-file mannager.
config The configuration manager.
truesize Updates filesizes in FILES.xxx.
initial Creates initial Pandora BBS CONF\* files.
The-Box (ST only) FidoNet mail interface.
If you miss any utilities then let us know. May be we'll write them,
or supply the information you need to write them yourself.
Copyright 1986, 1987, 1988 by J.P.Middelink and J.Kersing.
Installation manual 0.5
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