RRRRRR OOOOO SSSSS 33333 22222 RR RR OOO OOO SS SS 33 33 22 22 RR RR OO OO SS 33 22 RR RR OO OO SS 33 22 RRRRRR OO OO SSSSS 333 22 RRRR OO OO SS 33 22 RR RR OO OO SS 33 22 RR RR OOO OOO SS SS 33 33 22 RR RR OOOOO SSSSS 33333 ** 2222222 U S E R ' S G U I D E User's Guide for Remote Operating System (ROS) Version 3.2 April 22, 1985 Albuquerque RCP/M (505)299-5974 Steve Fox - Sysop ROS.PAS and the associated support files (including this documentation file) are Copyright (c) 1985 by Steven Fox. Non-commercial, public distribution and use of this system is permitted. All commercial rights are reserved. Distribution of ROS should include this documentation. HISTORY AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The original SJBBS, written in Xitan Basic by Howard Moulton, was adapted to MBasic by Bruce R. Ratoff. Modifications to this system were made by Bruce Ratoff, James Underwood, Ron Fowler, Brett Berg, and many, many others. James Whorton and Eddie H. Curlin converted the RBBS to Turbo Pascal (copyright Borland International) in 1984 and called the system TPBBS. ROS version 1.0 (originally released as TBBS23 but changed to ROS to avoid confusion with TPBBS with which it shares no code or structure) was written using ideas gathered from these systems and from others operating on a wide variety of computers. Version 2.0 of ROS was revised to include indexed file support using B+ trees provided by Turbo Toolbox (copyright Borland International). Version 3.0 eliminated the need for support from programs such as BYE, XMODEM, and SD by incorporating these functions internally. This system would not have been possible were it not for the work of these individuals dedicated to making the concept of public domain software and telecommunications work. ROS v3.2 User's Guide page 3 PURPOSE OF THE SYSTEM ROS was designed as a traditional bulletin board system with private messaging capability. Messages left to all users are "public" and readable by anyone on the system, but messages left to a single user are "private" and cannot be read by anyone but the sender and the receiver. The sysop can, of course, read all messages at any time. KEY ENTRIES All commands are executed when the single keystroke displayed on the menus in angle brackets ("<>") is entered. Usually, a second prompt will be displayed which will indicate what further information is required to complete the operation. During most system display operations, the system will respond to Xon/Xoff control, i.e. when ^S (Xoff) is entered, the system will pause until another key is pressed. Usually this will be ^Q (Xon), but any key except ^C (ETX) or ^S will continue the listing. ^C will stop the listing completely. COMMAND SYSTEMS Almost 30 commands are available to users of ROS to enter and read messages, display directories, and transfer files. These commands are grouped into three primary command systems as follows: System Primary Use Message system Enter and read messages to/from other users Files system Transfer files Utilities system Miscellaneous functions The following sections describe each command of each system in detail. Common Commands This section describes commands common to more than one system. oodbye (logoff) This command is available in all systems. It is used to terminate the remote session. When "G" is entered, the system will ask if you wish to leave a message to the sysop. Enter "Y" to do so, otherwise enter "N." If you are not yet validated, the system will remind you of the need to request validation. iles System This command activates the Files system. It is available from ROS v3.2 User's Guide page 4 the Utilities and Message system prompts. ROS v3.2 User's Guide page 5 tilities System This command activates the Utilities system. It is available from the Files and Message system prompts. essage System This command activates the Message system. It is available from the Files and Utilities system prompts. Message System hange message area ROS supports multiple message areas, i.e. messages are filed in groups by topic. This effectively shortens the message file for any particular user and makes finding a particular message easier. After typing "C", enter the name of the desired message area or enter "?" and to get a menu of the message areas available. If the entry cannot be found, a short version of the menu will be displayed and the system will once again prompt for the message area. If an entry is not made before typing , the system will remain in the current area. uick-scan messages After typing "Q", the system will prompt for the starting message number. If the message number cannot be found, the system will start with next sequential message unless the requested number is outside the range displayed in brackets. In that case, the system will start the scan with the next message after the highest message on the system when last logged in. For example, if you call on Saturday and the highest message is 1842, when you call in on Tuesday and enter a in reponse to the "Start" prompt, the system will start the display with the next available message after 1842. The message number and topic of messages from the starting number until the last message will then be displayed. If the message is addressed to you privately, a "*" will be displayed. If the message is public, a ":" will be displayed between the number and the topic. can messages This command is similar to quick-scan. In addition to the number and topic, the sender and receiver will be displayed. ead messages After entering "R", this command will prompt for the starting message number in a manner identical to quick-scan and scan. In addition to all the information displayed in scan, this command also displays the text of the message. ROS v3.2 User's Guide page 6 If you are the author of the message or the receiver of a privately addressed message, the system will ask if you want to delete it. Respond with either "Y" to delete the message or with "N" to retain the message on the system. If the message is not the last message, the system will ask if you want to read the next sequential message on file. Respond "Y" to continue with the reading, or with "N" to terminate the command. nter message Until you are validated, this command will automatically enter all messages to the sysop. Use this command to send a message to another user, the sysop, or to all users (like posting a message on a bulletin board). If you enter only a in response to the "FIRST name" prompt, the message will go to all users. If you send a private message, the system will verify the recipient name. If this is mispelled, the system will inform you of the error and allow you to try again. To send a message to the sysop, enter "SYSOP" as the first name. The prompt for the last name will not appear. ill message This command is used to erase an existing message. After entering "K", enter the message number to erase in response to the "Message" prompt. If the message exists and you were the author or the individual recipient, the message will be erased. Otherwise the system will respond with a "not found" message. ewin display Display information about new uploads. ther systems list This is a list of the public Bulletin Board Systems (BBS's) in the local area. nfo for this sys This is a short description of this system. This information was displayed the first time you logged in. ulletin and <1> ... <9> System and general interest bulletins. The system automatically displays the Bulletin each time you log in. ROS v3.2 User's Guide page 7 Files System hange file section When you first log in, you will be placed in the "LOGIN" files section. To access other files sections in the system, use this command. After typing "C", enter the name of the desired file section or enter "?" and to get a menu of the file sections available. If the entry cannot be found, a short version of the menu will be displayed and the system will once again prompt for the section name. If an entry is not made before typing , the system will remain in the current section. If you are in a library (see next description) when this command is entered, the library will be closed before the system prompts for the new section. ibrary file entry/exit Libraries are a very useful tool to group related files. For example, a single library might contain source code, object or executable code, and documentation for a particular system. Such a library is actually a single file which contains a "directory" followed by the other files. The "directory" is used to separate the files. In order to simplify library usage on this system, the "L" command may be used to "enter" a library. When this is done, the system will prompt for the library name and then attempt to open the library for use. If successful, all subsequent Files system commands will relate to the files within the library. If not, an appropriate error message will be issued. If you are already in a library, entering "L" will cause the system to close the library. isplay directory This command alphabetically displays the directory of files. If you are in a library, only those files in the library will be displayed, otherwise, the section directory will be displayed. The file size will also be displayed in the current mode (see next description). ile size toggle Initially, the file sizes in the directory display will be shown in "k" (1024 bytes). The system can also display file sizes in minutes and seconds of transfer time (based on the current modem speed). Each time this command is entered, the system will alternate between these two methods. ROS v3.2 User's Guide page 8 ype ASCII or squeezed file using Xon/Xoff This command may be used to display the contents of text files even if the file has been squeezed to save space and file transfer time. Xon/Xoff may be used as described in the Key Entries section. end file (from ROS to you) using Xmodem protocol The Xmodem protocol is an essentially error free file transfer method that allows two computers to "discuss" each block of characters that are sent to ensure accurate transfer. Most terminal emulator packages have the capability of using this protocol. Use this command to send a file from this system to yours. After entering "S", enter the file name to transfer. If the system can find the file, it will display the transfer time and then the message "Ready to send..." Your emulator package should then be set to receive the file using either checksum or CRC (preferred). When the file transfer is complete, the system will return to the Files system prompt. eceive file (from you to ROS) using Xmodem protocol This command operates in a fashion similar to end, but is used to transfer files from your system to this. This system will try to receive using both CRC and checksum. Files will be received in a private "UPLOAD" area for later release, if appropriate. Uploads are always welcome. Utilities System ime and date This command will display the current time and date, the amount of time spent on the system today, and the amount of time remaining today. hat with Sysop During certain hours, the sysop may be available chat. When this command is entered, the system will try to summon the sysop (if during the chat period). If the sysop is available, you will be notified and a two way converation may begin. If the sysop is not available or if the current time is outside the hours to chat, you will be given the opportunity to leave a message. ROS v3.2 User's Guide page 9 ser list Alphabetically list all the validated users on the system. This command may be used to check the spelling of a user to whom you wish to send a message.

rompt bell toggle This command turns on and off the bell (or beep) used to indicate that the system is ready for your input. lter case and nulls When you first logged in, you set the number of nulls you needed and whether or not your system could display lower case. If your system changes or you want to change these two values for any other reason, use this command. Nulls may be sent after a carriage return to allow time for your machine to catch up before any printable characters are sent. Normally this value is set to "0" for CRT (display) terminals, and from 0-9 (try 2) for hardcopy printing terminals. Some terminals do not know what to do with lower case letters. If you respond "Y", lower case will be sent normally. If you answer "N", lower case letters will be converted to upper case before being sent to your system. ROS v3.2 User's Guide page 10