OASIS BBS UPDATE by Glenda Stocks No one else will tell you all about OASIS, so I will. $25.00 will get you 3 DS/SD diskettes with 6 sides of info, including two drive sample BBS with 23 modules working in it. All new docs written by me, each mod is also given separately with its own docs. There are 22 main menu options that each sysop decides what to offer from them. Totally flexible, customizable. Every main menu option's letter can be picked by sysop. The following features can be executed from any of the 22 main menu options: o User lister o Caller log o Sysop created menu o Add a BBS number module o User poll o Trivia game o User stat lister o Survey game o RLE movies o BBS daily stat lister o Download base o User ul/dl ratio lister o Eliza game All of the above could be on one single sysop created menu. The download base program allows sysop to name and create his own subdirectories (or use no subdirs at all) and offers user ability to search files by the following criteria from a simple small menu: o Filename o Language o Type o User level o Date o Files per page displayed o Categories to include or not in search (search all) o New files since last logon DL base automatically displays 40 or 80 columns from one module. Eight msg bases that can be created first and allow msgs to be any size and compact at logoff. For ML programmers OASIS IV has added many new equates and built in BBS routines just for programmers to write modules for OASIS. The following modules need to, or can be written, of course I cannot write them all, as I am working on other programming projects, including OASIS V. o Automatic board backup at set times o Automatic msg base exchange (networking) o Upload module to get correct file extensions from users o Any game module o Password application procedure o Logon sequence o Logoff sequence o Download base with file descriptions o Ymodem batch file transfer o Modem call answering sequence o Waitscreen stat lister for sysop waitcall screen o Various sysop online utils including other DOS functions These are just some ideas of what can be done, based on the equates provided and sample modules already in use. Added to that will be OASIS.PAL which will allow offline debugging of modules. Also, I will be revising the current 30 modules (8 of which are required to run OASIS IV and they total 10,054 bytes = 78 single density sectors of your system disk, which means all other modules are optional, and the BBS can otherwise run completely without any other modules needed to be online... important for small system operators), the source code to each revised module will be posted. There are three OASIS support boards, which will be beefed up as I revise modules, to provide plenty of access to support. XBN-I 617-767-0760 PC PURSUITABLE MABOS node. XBN-II 508-580-8722 XBN-III 508-559-6844. Other Oasis Features: o Eight msg bases that can be created first and allow msgs to be any size and compact at logoff. o Eight random mini messages at main menu prompt, great for BBS ads. o Various methods of user security levels including many within modules that can be controlled by sysop. You can have a totally open BBS and still support special group in a secure way. More Features: o Online sysop term program including 1k XMODEM/CRC protocol, and text capture. o User support for VT52 (for ST) and ANSI (for IBM/PC) graphics o Mini menu o No-apply PW module o Users can write your trivia, surveys and polls and run them on your BBS o Msg bases can already be exchanged among oasis boards o Fmail can already be sent on oasis boards o Arcview of files online will show ALFcrunch also o Online GLU.COM sysop module o Jump to DOS and use all internal SpartaDos functions online o Validate users online o UL/DL ratio, and ability to allow free DLS from a certain drive, great for Zmags or user groups to get files not counted against their ratio. o 300 baud lockout and user level lockout options o Modules can be only up to 5632 bytes = 44 single density sectors o Not a limitation but rather a restriction that demands tight program code as opposed to loose and sloppy code, and also insures the continuance of the OASIS theme of big system power on small system storage. o DLBase is a prime example of the power than can be packed into a small module. o 98% of all OASIS menus and modules and the message base reading functions are all HOT KEYED o Users do not have to WAIT for menus to finish displaying or messages to finish printing. Users just hit the key they want and the BBS interupts what it was doing and executes the option selected. o Modules written by me include sysop alterable functions, not just text prompts. There are actual program functions that can be determined by the sysop without his having to be a programmer in such languages as basic, ML, or action. o Sysop can control HOW a module works and customize how it interacts with his system's drive partitions. OASIS modules are not use as is, but rather sysop modifiable. You also are not restricted as to where modules are kept on your system, nor where their support files are kept. CONTROL-C can be used almost everywhere on menus and modules to abort functions, also CONTROL-S and any key to resume is available throughout the BBS. Also, the more prompt can be continued with any keypress, not limited to just return. Yes and no questions can be answered NO with any key other than [Y]. Downloads can be sent and arcviewed in the message bases. Modem and BBS configuration is setup according to two codes that your modem sends to the software. Multiple options are provided to assist you in configuring your modem to send one of these two codes. Instructions help you to run a test mode to find which standard setup your modem fits. Some of the standard equipment that have options are: o AVATEX NON/HC, 850 o P:R o MIO o ATR Any modem/interface combination can produce one of the two codes. Once you find your config, your BBS runs perfect, meaning that it resets immediately on all dropped carriers everywhere on the system including such trouble spots as: during logon, during uploads and downloads, while reading messages, while within a running module, at the main menu, everywhere you are assured of system security by fast reset, within 2 seconds or less, so no one can logon as someone else after a dropped carrier. Also you can issue any modem commands to your modem at the waitscreen and at logoff, great for the multi-featured smart modems. Almost any modem and interface combo can be configured to run OASIS, even the SX212 can run it DIRECT CONNECT! with no interface required! The theme of OASIS IV and will be for OASIS V, is small system storage CAN run big system features. Small tightly coded external and optional modules, allow larger systems to add more. Easy to setup and well written docs that leave all to your imagination and the sample BBS allow current sysops to go online immediately, customize as they learn the BBS, and then redo their own BBS from scratch, totally customized to look and do what they want. Low and reasonable price of $25.00 and ample support from three support boards all run from the same household insure timely postings of new modules on all 3 boards at the same time, and the ability to get help if a line is busy. PC Pursuit access is available from one board. OASIS strives not to be like any other BBS, does not consider itself 'behind' any other BBS, but rather OASIS is a powerhouse BBS, packed with behind the scenes practical sysop power for small system owners. OASIS can run on an XE-Game system, SX212 modem direct connect, and XF551 DD/DS drive. OASIS is filled with user convenient amenities, like HOTKEY, control-C abort, and pause/resume capabilities throughout. Also simple and straight forward use of msg bases and download bases, that means that user use your BBS to its fullest without the need for help files, or much fumbling around and getting discouraged. Note: Just thought it was worth mentioning that OASIS helped in preparing this text for re-print in ZMag, it [OASIS IV] gives the user the power to format his screen.