



@C6Help is available for:

@C51) @H@C2--@R @C6Special control keys
@C52) @H@C2--@R @C6General system syntax & using the command prompt
@C53) @H@C2--@R @C6List of available @H@C4@F>@R@HHELP@C4@F<@R@C6 files
@C54) @H@C2--@R @C6System prompts & queries
@C55) @H@C2--@R @C6The type-ahead buffer
@C56) @H@C2--@R @C6How @HDo@R@C6 I? (@R@Hread@R@C6,@R@H download@R@C6, @R@Hetc.@R@C6)
@C57) @H@C2--@R @C6Alternate Commands
@C58) @H@C2--@R @C6ANSI Color Graphics

@H@C10) @H@C2--@R @C1Quit help system.@R

|?@H@C2Choose a number from the list above@R > 
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|>how-do-I 
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                          @H@B4@C3:: Special Control Keys ::@R

@H@C2PAUSING:@R
   @C6Hitting @H^S@R@C6 (@C3CTRL-S@R@C6) or the Semicolon will pause your screen for approximately two minutes when reading any text message on your screen.  To get out of pause mode, hit any key.

@H@C2ABORTING:@R
   @C6When reading messages or text files, striking any key other than @H^S@R@C6 or the semicolon will abort.  If the space bar is used to abort a message then it is ignored.  Any other key is placed into the typeahead buffer.

   There is one special abort key.  Hitting @H^D@R@C6 at almost any location in the system will immediately stop the current operation and return you to the main command prompt.  You must be careful not to get in the habit of using this key to abort.  If you are in the message editor, striking @H^D@R@C6 will immediately abort your message.  When reading messages or text files it is better to use the space bar.  This key is intended as a last resort means of aborting something, or a quick way to get to the main command prompt without going through menus.

@H@C2ESCAPE:@R
   @C6This key is used to abort the current line of input when at a command prompt or in the TTY Editor.  It also acts as the @C3CLEAR@C6 key in the ANSI Editor.  An approximate 1/2 to 1 second delay is to be expected after striking the <@HESC@R@C6> key before the system responds.@R

|>HelpFile
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                        @H@C3@B4:: System Syntax ::@R

@H@C3USING THE COMMAND PROMPT:@R 
   @C6The following control keys allow editing of the command prompt.  They are also available to the TTY editor.@R

   @C2@H^X@R - @C6Go to begining of input.@C2
   @H^E@R - @C6Go to end of input.@C2
   @H^A@R - @C6Insert character.@C2
   @H^K@R - @C6Delete character.@C2
   @H^B@R - @C6Delete to begining of line.@C2
   @H^T@R - @C6Delete to end of line.@C2
   @H^L@R - @C6Move left one space.@C2
   @H^R@R - @C6Move right one space.@R

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                          @H@C3@B4:: System Syntax ::@R

@H@C3GENERAL SYSTEM SYNTAX:@R 
   @C6All commands are described in the help files in the same format, and many of these commands allow optional parameters. The command word must be followed by one or more spaces before the parameters, and the parameters must be separated by commas, not spaces.  For example:

    @C7READ  GD,10,-C@C6

   It is never required for you to type in upper or lowercase.  The system will make the necessary conversions wherever it is needed.

   Many commands permit options.  These options are placed after the command word and must be preceeded by a dash.  For example, to read messages on base GD, starting at message 5 in Continuous mode, the command would be entered as:

    @C7READ GD,5,-C@R

|>HelpFile
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              @H@B4@C3:: DragonSoft System Prompts and Querries ::@R

   @C6When you log on, you find yourself sitting at an imposing '@C3>@R@C6'prompt.  This is your 'main command' prompt.  It will always take on the form of '@C3>@C6' or '@C3BT>@C6' where BT is the two-letter basetag of the base you are currently on.

   Many commands issue you with certain prompts.  Frequently these appear to be a string of meaningless garbage, but are actually a list of single-letter commands that are supported at this prompt (like @C3READ@C6).  These types of prompts will always allow you to strike the @H?@R@C6 key to obtain a list of what each letter or character stands for.

   Other commands issue you with a prompt where some of the letters are enclosed in a pair of Less/Greater (@H<>@R@C6) symbols.  Any time a letter in the prompt is surrounded by these symbols, it means that this letter is the @HDEFAULT@R@C6 condition.  If you strike the [@HRETURN@R@C6] key at this prompt, it will act the same as if the letter between the <>'s was struck.  For example:

  @C2@HDELETE? (Y/<N>) >@R@C6

means, striking @HY@R@C6 will delete, and striking @HN@R@C6 or the [@HRETURN@R@C6] key will not.@R

|>HelpFile
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                       @H@B4@C3:: The Type-ahead Buffer ::@R

   @C6This BBS supports a typeahead buffer.  This means that whatever you type will be recorded and acted upon as soon as possible.  you do not have to wait for the current command to complete before beginning to issue the next command, unless the act of typing something would have the effect of aborting the current process, such as reading a message.

   For example, when using the MAIL option to send someone mail.  As soon as you type @HMAIL@R@C6 and hit return, the system begins to search for the name of the person you are sending mail to.  You can immediately begin to type your message, starting with the title.  You do not have to wait for the title prompt.

   Also, during the read command, you may issue any key immediately.  you do not need to wait for the command prompt to show.  If, in the middle of reading a message, you were to hit @HF@R@C6 to move forward a base, the message you were reading would be aborted, and you would be moved to the next base in the system.
 
   The two keys that break this rule are the Semicolon and the Space Bar.  Striking the Space Bar while reading a message has the affect of aborting the message, or any text currently being printed, but the spacebar isn't recorded into the typeahead buffer.  The Semicolon has the same effect as striking @H^S@R@C6, which will pause the display.@R

|>HelpFile
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                      @H@B4@C3:: DragonSoft Helpfiles ::@R

   @C6Type @HHELP x@R@C6 to get help for a specific item, where "@C3x@C6" is one of the words listed below:@R
@H
     ACCESS      ADD1        ALTCMDS     ANSIEDIT     CHAT    
     COLORS      COMPRESS    CONFIG      COPY         CTALK   
     DEL         DIR         DL          DLX          EDIT    
     EMULATE     FB          FORM        GO           GRAPHICS
     JOIN        LINEDIT     LIST        LOG          MAIL    
     MAC-USER    MENU        OFF         PERM         POST    
     PROTECT     READ        STAT        TIME         TYPE    
     UL          ULX         UNJOIN      USERED@R

|>HelpFile
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                @B4@H@C3::  Alternates to DragonSoft Commands  ::@R

   @C6The BBS supports a Command Emulation feature for system level commands. These are substitutes to the command defaults of this bbs, and are defined by the System Operator.  If you would like a command added to the list, just ask the System Operator to include it. Because of the unlimited variety of substitutes, the complete list of alternate commands for this system can be seen by typing '@HHELP ALTCMDS@R@C6' at the system prompt.@R

|>HelpFile
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                       @B4@H@C3::  ANSI Color Graphics  ::@R

   @C6This BBS is capable of displaying ANSI Color Graphic codes.  In addition to having a computer that is capable of displaying these codes, your account on this BBS must be set to one of the emulation modes that use ANSI, and your Terminal program must also be set to the same mode.  If you do not posess the ability to use ANSI codes, you will still be able to use them (with the proper bit mask), but not see them.  For more information on terminal emulation, type @HEMULATE@R@C6 at the main command prompt.  To learn more about using ANSI Color Graphics, type @HGRAPHICS@R@C6 at the same prompt.@R

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|>HELPFILE
