	The Tandy Trader BBS Version 3.0 User Documentation
			James E. Howard
			Mar 14th, 1988

I. The Tandy Trader BBS Entry

	1. Title screen

		The first thing displayed on your screen is 
the title screen sent by the BBS. It will tell the name of 
the system and various other tidbits of information. You 
will sit back and watch at this point!

	2. Entering your name

		When the title finishes printing, you will 
be asked to type in your first and last name. You may type 
either a space or a semicolon between the first and last 
name. You may backspace with your usual backspace key 
(control-H) or use the power backspace that erases the whole 
line (control-X). Press (enter) when finished typing your 
name. Note: (enter) is called (return) on some computers.

		Now the system redisplays your name on 
the next line for you to verify. Answer "Y" if the name is 
correct or "N" if the name is incorrect. You will get three 
tries to get your name typed in correctly before the system 
logs you off and hangs up.

	3. Entering your password

		Registered users will now be prompted for their
password. If you are a new user, this step is skipped and you
will be given limited time and access to the system.

		As in the name prompt, you will be given 
three tries to get your password correct. Each character you
type will echo back as an "*" so that someone looking 
over your shoulder will have a tough time figuring out
your password. Once the system accepts your password, you
will see the login information presented.

	4. Entering City,State and Terminal Width

		If you are not a registered user or for some
other reason have not entered your city,state and terminal
width before, you will be prompted for these at this time.
Enter your city and state in 20 or less characters. Enter the
width of your screen using 32 through 80 columns. You may
change the screen width from the Utility Menu later.

	5. Autologon (optional)

		Power users may want to set up a macrokey or
autologgon string to answer all the above prompts by 
touching one or no key at all! This system follows a common
format of FIRST;LAST;PASSWORD where FIRST is your first 
name followed by a semicolon, LAST is your last name 
followed by another semicolon and PASSWORD is your password
followed by a carriage return. No spaces allowed except after
your password. The system will send a control-E to prompt your
terminal program to send this preselected autologon string of
characters or alternatively you can set up a macrokey to send
the whole string upon pressing a single key (see your terminal
program instructions)

	6. Logon information presented:

		a) Date of last call in the format MM/DD
		b) Time you have left today in minutes
		c) Access level
		d) Number of messages in message base
		e) Number of last message you read
		f) Headings of any messages to you

	7) System Bulletin or System Notes

		Following the logon information you
will be prompted to "Press any key" to continue. This prompt
will come up many times in the system and usually comes before
the screen will be cleared or erased. When you are ready to
move on, press a key and the System Notes from the SysOp will
be displayed to registered users. They are dated so that you
may read until you come to notes that you previously read and
then stop reading. New users will read the System Bulletin
instead of the System Notes. Both files are available in the
Bulletins option off the Main Menu.

		To pause the system at most times, press either
the letter "P" or a control-S. To continue press most any key except
control-S. Most people use (enter), spacebar or control-Q. To
abort what you are doing and go to the "press any key" prompt,
type "S" or control-K.

II. The Tandy Trader Main Menu

	1) Bulletins & Such

		This option gives you a choice of reading
several textfiles. One gives you a basic idea of what to
expect on the system. It gives general information on the
background of this BBS software, types of files on the system
and hints on using the catalog of files and message base.
Additionally, it lists the hardware that the BBS is using.
Another bulletin lets you read the System Notes. It is used to
check out the new files since your last call that you want to
download. The notes are updated every few days and are always
dated. It is suggested that you read the notes until you see a
date earlier that your last call. The complete User
Documentation is also in this section. As in all text files on
the system, you can use the "P" key (or control-S) to pause
reading or the "S" key (or control-K) to stop reading. Pressing
most any key will restart a paused file. 

	2) File Transfer Menu

		This selection switches you to the section of
the BBS that enables you to send (upload) or receive (download)
files from the various catalogs.

	3) Goodbye

		This selection will enable you to leave the 
BBS and eventually disconnect the phone line. You will be 
given a chance to back out of this selection if you 
accidentally enter this command or change your mind about 
leaving. You are also given a chance to leave a private note
to the SysOp.

	4) Help for Main Menu

		This lets you read a help textfile on using
the this menu similiar to this user document.

	5) Message Base Menu

		This switches you to the Message Base Menu
where you send and receive messages. You may also scan message
headings for persons or subjects, toggle on/off various
messages areas, and see a list of the users of this system.

	6) Utility Menu

		This menu selection takes you to the Utility Menu.
Here you may page the SysOp for a chat, add or remove
linefeeds/nulls, change your password and level of menu
prompting.


	7) Register New Users

		This last option shows up for unregistered
users. It presents a questionaire that must be filled out
before obtaining access to leaving messages or exchanging
files.


III. The Tandy Trader Message Base Menu

	1) Back to Main Menu

		This selection returns you to the Main Menu 
of the system. From there you can move to any other part of 
the BBS.

	2) Goodbye

		This selection enables you to leave the BBS.

	3) Help for Message Base Menu

		This lets you read a help textfile on using
the this menu similiar to this user document.

	4) Leave a message

		Registered users may leave messages on any 
of several SIGs or bases. You many also leave messages as an
option while reading messages.

		The first step after selecting "L" is to 
pick the message base to leave your message on. The system 
will display all possible bases with a letter in front of 
the name. Press the letter of the base that you desire. If 
you pick an invalid base for any reason, you will receive an
error message. Next you will be prompted to fill in the TO 
and SUBJect fields. Pressing (enter) in a field will abort 
leaving the message and send you back to the Message Base 
Menu. Verify the information by typing "Y". On some bases 
you will be prompted to tell the system whether the message 
is to be private or public. Generally, type "Y" to make 
messages public unless absolutely necessary! Now, you leave 
the text of your message. Each line may be as long as 60 
characters. Press (enter) on a blank line to exit.

		This system does not feature automatic
word-wrap while entering messages and you must terminate each
60 character or less line with a carriage return. The system
does wrap the display of messages however so you must enter
messages carefully to get predictable results. The main thing
to remember is to indent paragraphs with at least one space or
start each desired new line with a period (.). The system will
accept prepared messages from your terminal program buffer if
sent in a "prompted ASCII" mode (Each line must be 60 or
less characters long, ended with a carriage return, and the
terminal program must wait for the ">" prompt before sending
the next line of text.)

Options sub-menu:

		Continue: Continue adding to end of current 
			message

		Delete: Delete a complete line, rearranging 
			other lines

		Help: Display a short help textfile

		Insert: Insert a complete line, rearranging 
			other lines

		List: List all lines of the message again using
			line numbers. SEE VIEW.

		Parent: Redisplay the text of the message that
			you are replying to (if any).

		Replace: Replace a string or complete line

		Save: Save current message to disk file 
			permanently

		View: Display the message word-wrapped to your
			current screen width without line
			numbers. SEE LIST.

		Quit: Exit message entry, optionally saving 
			or erasing the message

	5) Private message to SysOp

		This option lets you leave the SysOp a 
message on his printer instead of saving it to the message 
base disk file. This is desirable for messages that don't 
need replies such as information on uploaded files. You will
also get a chance to leave a similiar message at logoff time.
Even unregistered callers may use this option.

	6) Read messages

		This selection enables callers to read 
public message on most bases and private messages to/from 
themselves. Note that the SysOp sees all messages when you 
leave private messages. It is suggested that you call on a 
regular basis (say once a week or so) in order to stay 
"caught up" on reading and replying to messages. You are 
given the option of reading new messages since your last 
call (if there are any). Otherwise you will need to pick a 
message number to start reading. It must be between the two 
numbers displayed as starting and ending message numbers on 
the system. Next you are asked if you want to pause between 
messages. If you want a quick listing of all the messages, 
then type "N" and the system will display the messages in a 
nonstop fashion. Use "P" or control-S to pause, "C" to change
subjects, and "S" or control-K to stop displaying messages.
Alternately, you may elect "Y" to have the system pause between
messages displaying the sub-menu below of options. In either
case, the messages are displayed of all bases toggled on and
grouped by subject area. This is called "always follow on
replies". If a message has replies you will see * replies * at
the end of the messages. If the message is at the end of the
replies, you will see * end of replies *.

Options sub-menu:

		Again: displays the last message over again

		Back: goes back to the previous message on
			the subject (or previous subject)

		Change: This skips the rest of the messages
			on the current subject.

		Help: Display a short help textfile

		Jump: goes back to pick a new start of 
			reading message number

		Next: goes to the next message on subject 
			(or next subject)

		Reply: leave a message to the FROM person on 
			the same SUBJect

		Stop: exit the reading of messages

		Top: goes to the first message on this 
			subject

	7) Scan message headings

		This is used for scanning the message 
headings to find a particular person's messages (either to 
or from) or to find messages on a specified SUBJect. You 
will first answer questions identical to (R)ead Messages in 
order to establish a starting position for the scan. Next 
you will choose a search key. Type any series of characters 
you desire to match in either the TO, FROM, or SUBJECT lines
of a message heading. If you want to list all messages then 
just press (enter). Remember, like (R)ead, you will only see
messages on bases that you have toggled on with the (T)oggle
option.

	8) Toggle message bases

		Here you can toggle all message bases to 
which you have access. "READ" means you want to read the 
base, a "SKIP" means don't read the base, and "LOCK" means
that you don't have access to the base. This information is
saved and restored when you call the system back later. You
may toggle as many bases in one command as desired.

	9) User list of callers

		This option displays the users of the system.
You may select the (S)hort listing which just shows the user
names or (D)etailed listing which adds the dates of last call
and the highest numbered messages read. You may enter a search
key to find all the JIM's or HOWARD's.

IV. The Tandy Trader File Transfer Menu

	1) Back to Main Menu

		This selection returns you to the Main Menu 
of the system. From there you can move to any other part of 
the BBS.

	2) Catalog of files

		This selection enables you view the various
catalogs of files on the system available to registered users
for downloading. After you press (C) for catalog, the system
will display all the catalogs available to you. Choose one by
typing the letter in front of the catalog name. This will
become the current catalog and you may only use that catalog
unless you use the (C) option again. Next you will be asked if
you want the short or detailed display. The short display gives
you the filename, extension and number of sectors (256 bytes
each so divide by 4 to get the Kbytes or multiply by 2 to get
the number of blocks during xmodem transfer). The detailed
display adds a short one line description of the file and a
code telling which computer will run the file. Lastly, you will
be prompted for a Search Key. To list all the files in the
catalog just press (enter) instead of typing a search key. To
find a certain file, enter all or part of the name then press
(enter). You may also search for extensions such as:

BASic files - BAS TeXT files - TXT DOCument files - DOC

	3) Download a file

		This selection allows registered users to 
download files to their computer. Some files may be 
downloaded into your buffer but Xmodem protocol is highly 
recommended for all transfers (and required on many)! After the
system displays the current catalog, you will be asked for a
filename to download in the TRSDOS format (FILENAME/EXT) or
MsDos format (FILENAME.EXT) then press (enter). If the file is
in the current catalog, the detailed entry is displayed along
with the approximate transmission time. You should answer "Y"
if you want to download the file or "N" if you don't. Press
(enter) on the filename prompt if you want to go back to the
Download Menu. If the file requires xmodem you will not have
a choice, but ASCII files allow you to choose between ASCII
and xmodem transfer. If you choose ASCII, you will get an
additional choice of buffer control codes. If your terminal
program supports these codes, the BBS will open and close
the buffer for you avoiding "garbage" characters on
both ends of the file. Otherwise, you will have to open and
close the terminal program's buffer manually. Either way you
will probably have to save the buffer to disk manually. If
you choose xmodem protocol transfer (and your terminal
program supports it), your terminal program should
download with error correction and save the file to disk.
This BBS presently supports only CheckSum Xmodem mode.
(Don't try Ymodem or CRC Xmodem!) Note: Since TRSDOS style
ASCII files don't contain linefeeds, it is suggested that MsDos
users download ASCII files using the ASCII option which allows
TT-BBS to add linefeeds back into these files. The same advice
goes out to Model 100/102 users.

	4) Goodbye

		This selection enables you to leave the BBS.

	5) Help for File Transfer Menu

		This lets you read a help textfile on
using the this menu similiar to this user document.

	6) Upload a file

		This option is used to send your file up to
the system for sharing with other users of the BBS. Xmodem
checksum protocol is required! Answer the filename prompt as
in the download directions then verify the name by typing "Y"
if it is correct. You will be prompted to leave the system
operator a message with the computer type, operating system
required, and a full description of the use of the file sent.

***** ALL UPLOADED FILES MUST BE IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN *****

V. The Tandy Trader Utility Menu

	1) Back to Main Menu

		This selection returns you to the Main Menu 
of the system. From there you can move to any other part of 
the BBS.

	2) Chat with SysOp (system operator)

		With this selection you can page the system 
operator (SysOp) for a "chat" on the keyboard. If you are
having trouble with the system, this is a way to get immediate 
help. If the SysOp is available, he will answer but it might
not be right away. Once you press this selection the SysOp's
screen is marked for the duration of your call, so go on 
about your business and the SysOp will "break in" when he 
gets a chance. Please, don't bother the SysOp until you have
read the bulletin and help files from the menus.

	3) Goodbye

		This selection enables you to leave the BBS.

	4) Help for Utility Menu

		This lets you read a help textfile on
using the this menu similiar to this user document.

	5) Linefeed toggle

		The system sends out carriage returns and 
linefeeds at the end of every line. If everything is double 
spacing on your screen, then press "L" to toggle the 
linefeeds off. If you want them back on again later, just 
press "L" again and they will toggle back on. I suggest that
you leave them on if you aren't having any problems. Note: 
Most text files in the system do not have linefeeds added. 
If you download them with xmodem, they will still not have 
linefeeds. If your computer requires linefeeds (MSDOS, Apple
are two that do) then download text files in ASCII and the
system will add the linefeeds back in. This information is
stored and restored each time you call the system back.

	6) Nulls

		If you are losing a character or two from 
the start of every line, you need nulls. Try adding nulls 
until you don't have any more problems. Very few users will 
need to add any nulls but if you need them, they are 
available. This information is stored and restored each time
you call the system back.

	7) Password change

		You may change your password at any time and
it is recommended occasionally. Just answer the questions on
your screen to change your password or just press (enter) to
keep your old one. Be sure to remember your new password, as
it will be required when you call back next time.

	8) Width of Screen

		You may change the width of you screen from the
value used at logon with this option. Select a width between
32 and 80 columns. All text files, menus and messages will be
word-wrapped to this value. Like most options, your screen
width is saved so that it can be restored for you on the next
call.
   
	9) eXpert toggle

		You start out on the system with full length
menus. Once you gain proficiency on the system you may want 
to shorten the menus to a single line to speed up use of the
system. You can always get the long menu by pressing (enter)
at the command prompt. This is especially recommended for 
long distance 300 baud callers. Remember that you don't have
to wait for a menu to completely display before typing a 
command key! This information is also saved and restored 
when you call back.

That's all folks! Enjoy!
