##### && ##### # ## ###### ##### ## ## &^^& ## ## ## ##x ## ## ## ## ## ^## && #& ####### ####### ###### ####### #### ^ && &^& ## ## ## ## ## ## ## && & Revision 11 Questions and Answers for RemoteAccess 2.x ###### RA.Q&A ###### Updated on 02/04/96 By: Eric Staufer The Concession Stand FidoNet 1:374/6568 Table of Contents: Section: +------------------- +--------- * Message Menu Commands *Q&A* ...................... 1 +- More Message Areas +- Message Parameters +- Mass Mail +- Group Mail +- JAM Message Base Setups +- JAM Message Base w/ FastEcho +- Watchdog messages +- How to get rid of the '*' on AreaList +- A method faster than @all ? * File Area Commands *Q&A* ......................... 2 +- U/L problem from RA 1.11 +- More File Areas +- Installation of CDROM +- GENFBASE.EXE Help +- RAFILE.EXE Help +- RAMGR File Base Help +- How to import a FILE_ID.x +- Different Filelist Formats +- How to shorten the download counter +- How to Zip Comment Files off of CD-ROM * Language Editor/Control Codes *Q&A* ............. 3 +- Changing Colors in Language Prompts +- Color Code Chart +- K!xxxxx| Option * Security Level Setup *Q&A* ....................... 4 * Miscellaneous Features *Q&A* ..................... 5 +- How to get Multinode logs +- External Protocol Setups +- How to setup ANSI screens for Menus. +- How to get RA to check and download RIP Icons +- How to make RA not to echo password characters +- How to automatically notify a user whose had an incorrect password attempt +- How to get ESC, <--, ENTER, & TAB as hotkeys +- What to do if you have users logging in at 64000bps every time +- What to do if at each login, it says that you have an event coming up. +- Default Logon Preferences +- Not using FILEAREA.A?? or hard-coded areas +- Setting up different menus for different SLs * Multiple hotkey setup with RemoteAccess! ......... 6 * FAX with RemoteAccess ............................ 7 - 1 - #### Message Menu Commands #### Q. People say that there can be more than 250 message and file areas, how? A. If and when you do need more areas than 250 areas, you go into the RACONFIG under Manager, go over to the File Areas, and then hit PGDN to you reach 250, then all you do is hit the INS key, and 1 more area will be added, you do the same with the message areas. Q. How do I send mail to EVERY USER? {+} Registered Command A. This is not to hard of a task. MAKE SURE THAT THE GROUP MAIL IS SET TO SYSOP LEVEL, or every user will send mass mail to every user, once they find how to do it! Area 15 - * Sysop's Mass Mail * From: Eric Staufer (or your name) To: @all Subject: Then just enter the message. When it asks you for a a Return Receipt, put (N)o. Or you will add on a good size more mail. I have roughly 396 users (as of 12/11/93) and I had to send this 4k message to everyone, it ended up for me to use around 1.3 megs to send all the mail out! Imagine if you requested a return receipt! Q. How do I send messages to a specific security and group? A. Straight from the RA.DOC, here's what it says about this: Users having access to the Group Mail feature may use any of the following macros in the To: field of a message: To Field Action Description -------- ------------------ @group Post message to all users in group @ALL Post message to all users =security Post message to all users with security level equal to >security Post message to all users with security level greater than Q. How do I setup a JAM Message base with RA 2.x? A. JAM Message Bases are not that difficult to setup, here is an example of one of my JAM Message Bases: +----------------------------------------------------+ Message area 14 ++ | | | Name Fido: RA Support | | Origin The Concession Stand, 407-569-6568, RA/Beta, 33.6 Dual | | | | Read security 0 Type EchoMail AltGroup1 0 | | A flag -------- Status Public AltGroup2 0 | | B flag -------- Users Real names only AltGroup3 0 | | C flag -------- Days old 30 AllGroups No | | D flag -------- Days rcvd 7 NetReply 0 | | Max msgs 250 | | Write security 0 Echoinfo Yes | | A flag -------- Combined Yes | | B flag -------- Attaches No | | C flag -------- SoftCRs No | | D flag -------- Deletes No | | AKA 1:374/6568 | | Sysop security 100 Age 0 | | A flag -------- Group 2 | | B flag -------- Area type JAM | | C flag -------- JAMbase c:\ra\msgbase\jam\rasupp | | D flag -------- | | | +--------------------------------------------------------------------------+ * Notice the Area type -- JAM and * Notice the JAMbase -- c:\ra\msgbase\jam\rasupp The JAMbase asks you to state a path and a base filename of the JAM files.. Such as for this message base RA SUPPORT, all of the files for this message base will be named RASUPP.* These files will be created for this area: RASUPP JHR 171562 08-06-95 11:17a RASUPP JDT 404089 08-06-95 11:17a RASUPP JDX 5032 08-06-95 11:17a RASUPP JLR 304 08-06-95 11:17a Just remember when you DO fill out the JAMbase do NOT state a file extension ! *** SHARE must be loaded in order for JAM to work properly *** Q. How do I setup FastEcho with a JAM Message Base? A. With the example above, I will show you how to setup one (1) JAM message base with FastEcho. +---------------------------------- Edit Area -----------------------------+ | Name: RA_SUPPORT Group: A | | Comment: RemoteAccess Support Echo | | Origin: | | Type: Echomail | | Storage: JAM Board: | | Path: C:\RA\MSGBASE\JAM\RASUPP | | Use Aka: 1:374/6568.0 | | | | Mandatory: N Keep SEEN-BY: N Tiny SEEN-BY: N CPD: N Pass: N | | Convert Umlaut: N Keep users: N Kill read: N Disable Passive: N | | Manual changes: Y Hide area: N Keep netmails: N | | | | Purging # Msgs: 0 # Days: 0 # Rcvd Days: 0 | | Security Read: 0 Write: 0 | | | | Seen-by: 1:374/6568 | | Export to: | | | +--------------------------------------------------------------------------+ |Press F10 to save or ESC to abort editing... | +--------------------------------------------------------------------------+ * The STORAGE is JAM .. * The PATH is the path to the base filename of your JAM files for that |-- specific message area, which in this area would be RASUPP. | |-> (Remember that in the example above this one, the base filename for this messagebase is RASUPP, so make sure they both match). This works for me, and the echo tosses fine, and I can reply just fine. Q. What are the RAMSG parameters to link, purge, etc ... for the JAM Message Bases? A. The ones listed below is what I use, and it works fine for me. ramsg link -clean ramsg pack -jam -purge -delete -recover -renumber -overwrite -link Q. How do I get rid of those '*' which are to the left of the message areas? A. Just add a /NONEW in the optional data parameter in the menucmnd. Q. How can I setup mass mail on my board without filling up the harddrive and taking forever to do so? A. Bryan Fuller had sent me this information: Ok everyone. Listen up. This is for all of you complaining about how when you do a @all it makes hundreds of copies and fills up your drive,and besides that, is slow. I have a solution that is quick and easy. Make an area called Board Notices or something like that. Set it to No-Reply, read security should be set to your normal user security (Or whatever security level you want to be able to read it), write security should be set to sysop or co-sysop, and deletes not permitted. In your TOP menu, Make a command to read messages, set it to autoexec, set the security to match the read security of the area, and in the optional data do a "# /K=N" where # is the number of the message area. TA-DA! For those of you that don't know and want to know, the /K=N means to enter the N keystroke just as the user would, making it read new messages only. See the RA documentation for info on this feature, I just love it :). - 2 - #### File Area Commands #### Q. I just upgraded from 1.xx to 2.x, and how do I get uploads to work? A. Simple, you must first go into the menu manager in the RACONFIG, find your upload option and then change the optional data from the path to the area number, in which you have the New Upload area. 1.xx> Optional Data: d:\uploads 2.xx> Optional Data: 11 Q. People say that there can be more than 250 message and file areas, how? A. If and when you do need more areas than 250 areas, you go into the RACONFIG under Manager, go over to the File Areas, and then hit PGDN to you reach 250, then all you do is hit the INS key, and 1 more area will be added, you do the same with the message areas. Q. How do I install a CD-ROM disc that have Files.BBS in each directory? A. First, you must make areas in the RACONFIG, that match the number of areas you have on your CD. For Example,if you were installing Night Owl v19, they have areas on the disc like 001a - 052a or something close, (make sure you know what area 001a is, like Games A-Z, or something. You should set your areas to like this. +------------------------------------- File area 140 +ger -----------| |--------+-- ###########| Name CD-ROM: Harddisk Utilities | areas |## ###########| Path E:\UTILS |roups |## ###########| |e areas|## ###########| DL security 50 New No AltGroup1 0 |roups |## ###########| A flag -------- Dupes No AltGroup2 0 |tocols |## ###########| B flag -------- CD-ROM Yes AltGroup3 0 |guages |## ###########| C flag -------- Free No Device 0 |Fn keys |## ###########| D flag -------- LongDesc No AllGroups No |nts |## ###########| DirectDL No |us |## ###########| List security 10 PwdUL No | files |## ###########| A flag -------- UL scan No |bined |## ########## | B flag -------- ArcType |its |## ###########| C flag -------- DL days 0 |--------+## ###########| D flag -------- FD days 0 |########### ###########| MoveArea 0 |########### ###########| UL security 100 Min age 0 |########### ###########| A flag -------- Password |########### ###########| B flag -------- Group 3 |########### ###########| C flag -------- Def.cost 0 |########### ###########| D flag -------- Uploads 0 |########### ###########| |########### -----------+------------------------------------------------------+----------- **Note** Please make sure that you change the Name of the Area, Drive Letter, D/L security, List Security, and U/L security to suit your needs. CD-ROM has to be set for YES, and the NEW has to be set for NO, if set to yes, it would search this area in the NEW FILES SEARCH Q. How do I import descriptions from the CD to the file manager? A. Well, seeing how you should have already setup all the CD file areas, you should now run GENFBASE, be sure that you remember the area numbers that begin with your CD areas and the area that ends them. +++ I advise that you backup your TXT, HDR, and IDX, directory before you start this, you might mess it up and some words might be missing, from the descriptions. +++ It will ask: Start at area#: xxx End at area#: xxx Then it will ask about download counters.. put in NO. Then it will ask about LF/CRs or something... check your Files.BBS on the CD, to see whether or not if it has multiple descriptions, if it only has 1 line description (ie Monster Disc II), put in NO. but if it does have multiple descriptions (ie Night Owl vx.0) put in YES. If it asks about something having to do with indentation with the Files.BBS, leave it at the default, 0. +++ like I said, make a backup of the TXT, HDR and IDX dir, before you go on with this thing. +++ Q. I just switched from RA 1.11 to RA 2.x, and this RAFILE thing is sorta screwey to me.. how do I make it generate a newfiles list, a master list, and main board files (this is if you have CD-ROM areas) ? What is this /B option, the /D option, and the *.LST files used in the RAFILE FILELIST command? A. Here are my examples, the ones I use, and I organized it show I'll show you what each one does. rafile filelist d:\ra\files\concess\master.txt /Brafile.ban +-- path plus file name. +- banner to make appear before the list. rafile filelist d:\ra\files\concess\concess.txt /Brafile.ban @CONCESS.LST +-- path plus file name. +- Banner +- which area I want to be shown on the list rafile filelist d:\ra\files\concess\newfiles.txt /Brafile.ban /D7 +-- path plus file name. +- Banner +- Newfiles in 7 days. you can change (How CONCESS.LST reads: the 7 to any number. 1-39 1-39 are the file areas that I want included on one of the lists that I generated. Change it to anything that you want it to be. The /Dx number shows the newfiles in how many days (x=days) (optional) The /Bxxxx.xxx option gives you the option if you want a banner file in the filelist, you do not have to use this if you decide not too (optional). RAFILE FILELIST This is required, of course to make it run the filelist program. ^^^^^^^^ d:\ra\files\concess\newfiles.txt The path of course, is required, please change to suit your needs. ^^^^^^^^ The @xxxxxxx.xxx option, lets you have which areas in the list that you want to have or not. The @ is required beforehand. (optional) Q. How do I enable the (T)agging prompt on the Keyword Search and the Filename search commands? A. Simple, just add in the Optional Data line for these commands a /T parameter, this will fix this up for you. *** Here are the listing of all the RAMGR Fx keys *** +---------------------------------------------------------- Command summary + | (ESC) Escape back to file area selection list | | (ENTER) Edit the highlighted file or comment | | (F2) Edit the description of the highlighted file | | (SPACE) Drop anchor for file block | | (DEL) Delete the highlighted file(s) | | (INSERT) Insert a new file entry at the highlight position | | (SHIFT-INSERT) Insert a new comment at the highlight position | | (ALT-A) Adopt orphaned files | | (ALT-B) Buffer operations (copy, paste, edit, import, export) | | (ALT-C) Copy highlighted file(s) to another area | | (ALT-D) Toggle file listing display format (user mode is slower) | | (ALT-F) Find a file (wildcards valid) | | (ALT-G) Generate a text file from the current area (FILES.BBS) | | (ALT-H) Hurl (move) highlighted file(s) to another area | | (ALT-I) Import a text file as comment lines | | (ALT-K) Find a file (keyword description search) | | (ALT-M) Move highlighted file(s) within the current area | | (ALT-P) Put a copy of the highlighted file(s) in any directory | | (ALT-R) Rename the highlighted file | | (ALT-S) Sort highlighted files | | (ALT-T) Touch upload date on highlighted files | | (ALT-U) Update highlighted entries from DOS information | | | +---------------------------------------------------------------------------+ Q. How do I import a FILE_ID.x into the RA's FDB, without using an external utility? A. Here is how to do it: 1.> Go into the RAMGR and pick a filearea in which you would like to do this to. 2.> Then press ALT-B and this should pop-up: +---------- Buffer +e Date DL# Last DL Flags +-- Keyword --+ | Copy to buffer |---------------------------------------------------------- | Edit buffer | | Paste to comment | TCS Filelists/NewFiles | +-to description | | Import from file |ailable : 4 Average Downloads: 227 | Export to file |ze : 654Kb Total Downloads : 2045 +------------------+ File : RAFILES.ZIP downloaded by 796 users CONCESS.ZIP 223145 26-Jan-96 0652 26-Jan-96 F------ FILESTAT.ZIP 7603 26-Jan-96 0012 23-Jan-96 F------ NEWFILES.ZIP 6319 26-Jan-96 0492 21-Jan-96 F------ RAFILES.ZIP 207933 26-Jan-96 0796 26-Jan-96 F------ ----------Area 1: TCS Filelists/NewFiles (13 entries) (FREE)-----------+ 7+ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (F1) Command summary Well, not necessarily these files that I have on my bbs should appear :) But this little box in the upper right hand corner should appear, then move the cursor down to the IMPORT FROM FILE: +-- Name --+ Size Date DL# Last DL Flags +-- Keyword --+ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ TCS Filelists/NewFiles Files available : 4 Average Downloads: 227 Total size : 654Kb Total Downloads : 2045 +-------------------------------------------------- Import file to buffer + | | C| ###################################################################### | F| | M+-------------------------------------------------------------------------+ NEWFILES.ZIP 6319 26-Jan-96 0492 21-Aug-96 F------ RAFILES.ZIP 207933 26-Jan-96 0796 26-Jan-96 F------ ----------Area 1: TCS Filelists/NewFiles (13 entries) (FREE)------------+ 7+- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (F1) Command summary This box should pop up in the center of the screen after you press enter on the IMPORT FROM FILE. Simply, enter the name of the file in which you would like to import. Then press ENTER. The file will be put into RA FDB's Buffer. In which you can edit by bringing up the pop-up menu again, but pressing ALT-B and down to EDIT BUFFER. Then, once you have everything setup properly, hit ALT-B again, and move it to the +- to description and press ENTER. Then this will pop up: +-- Name --+ Size Date DL# Last DL Flags +-- Keyword --+ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TCS Filelists/NewFiles Files available : 4 Average Downloads: 227 Total size : 654Kb Total Downloads : 2045 +------------------------------------------------ Paste buffer to description + | | | Paste the buffer into the description of the highlighted file (Y,n,esc)? # | | | +-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+ NEWFILES.ZIP 6319 26-Jan-96 0492 21-Jan-96 F------ RAFILES.ZIP 207933 26-Jan-96 0796 26-Jan-96 F------ ----------Area 1: TCS Filelists/NewFiles (13 entries) (FREE)-----------+ 8+- Main BBS Files on The Concession Stand, updated nightly! (NO CDs) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (F1) Command summary Then whichever file you are on it will ask you this question, once you hit ENTER the current file description will be erased with the one in the buffer. Then just press F2 and edit the description to suit your needs. It's great to use after you download a files description from another RA 2.x bbs! Q. I would love to create different filelist formats with RemoteAccess, but I am not an artist, and cannot figure this out. A. Creating different filelist formats isn't that hard to do once you've experimented.. Listed below are all of the different options you can put in the format.. (Taken from the RA.DOC) List Format ------------------------------------------------------------ Using this option, you may configure the format in which file database entries are displayed to your users. This is accomplished using a template for the display line. This method allows you to completely customize the way in which your file lists are presented. The following table lists the macros that are supported within this field as well as within the "Missing format" field described in this section. {+} Registered only. Macro String Data Represented by This Macro ------------------------------------------------------------ @NE Filename, uppercase, with extension. @NN Filename, uppercase, no extension. @SB File size in bytes. @SK File size in kilobytes. @UL Name of the file Uploader. @UD Date on which file was uploaded. @FD Actual file date. @LD Date on which the file was last downloaded. @TD Number of times file has been downloaded. @Kn Keyword [n] for the file (where n = 1 to 5). @CS Cost of the file in credits (deducted from user's credit). @DF Formatted description of the file. @DU Unformatted description of the file (also referred to as user mode). @FR Displays (Free) if the file is free, spaces if it is not. @NA Displays (NotAvail) if the file is marked as not available. @NW Displays an * character if the file is new, space if it is not. @PW Displays (Password) if the file is password- protected. Here are some sample formats. Remember you can only change this if you are a registered RemoteAccess SysOp. (For all of the colors look below in the next section, all of the colors and how to make the "White K" is listed below: I left out the colors, but this is the main idea: ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- @NE @SKk @FD@NW [@TD] Uploaded By: @UL| @DF 01 FileName.Ext 243k 01-01-80* [0000] Uploaded By: John Doe This is where the file description is................................ And this is where it continues......... (Note: After the pipe there are three (3) spaces) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- @NE @SB @FD@NW [@TD] @DF 01 Filename.Ext 29324 01-01-80* [0000] This is where the description goes and this is where it continues..... ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- @FR @NA @PW|+-- @NE @SKk @FD@NW [@TD] Uploaded By: @UL | @DF 01 (Free) (NotAvail) (Password) +-- Filename.Ext 234k 01-01-80* [0000] Uploaded By: John Doe This is the file description and it keeps going on and on and on.. etc This is where it continues.... (Note: Most of the time (Free), (NotAvail), and (Password) will show up, and there are seven (7) spaces after the second pipe and before the @DF) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- |@NE @SB @FD New: [@NW] | + Special_Att: @FR @NA @PW (Sent to us by Paul Webb) | + Description: @DF 01 Filename.zip 34566 01-01-80 New: [*] + Special Att: (Free) (NotAvail) (Password) + Description: Formatted Description here.... ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- |@NE (@SKk) @FD@NW @DF 01 Filename.zip (234k) 01-01-80* Description.......... ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- |+> @NE @SB @FD@NW [@TD] Uploaded by: @UL| +> @DF 01 +> Filename.ext 24958 01-01-80* [0000] Uploaded by: John Doe +> This is the file description ....... To get the neat little ascii characters such as + hold in the ALT key and then while it's being held down, press 212 (using the numeric keypad) once you punch in 212, release the ALT key, and then + should show up).. fool around with it until you get it, there are plenty more ascii characters! :-) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- I'll most likely add more in the next release, but this should give most of you sysops some ideas on how to improve or replace your existing filelist format, if you are going to. I have one other thing to say, if you add TOO many color codes to your file- list format, then it will go crazy on you and totally mess it up until you delete a few color codes or so. I've experienced this quite a few times when creating my filelist format...... Q. How can i shorten the [0000] 4-digit download counter to [000] 3 3 digits or [00] 2? A. Right before the @TD for the download counter add a #02 for 2 digits or #03 for 3 digits, then you must have to restore the value back at normal.. sounds complicated, but it's not. Watch. [#02@TD#00] that would make it read [00]. [#03@TD#00] that would make it read [000]. Note that the #00 MUST be placed immediately back, or your filelist format will be totally messed up. Q. How do I add a Zip Comment to a file which was copied from the CD-ROM to the HardDrive? A. You should be able to run a batch file from the language prompt: "One Moment, Transferring files." -- Prompt #626 I exported this message which Pete Rocca wrote to someone concerning how to do this: In your "Copying files from CDROM" message, do a ^X*C /C PROCESS.BAT *N| before the prompt, that will execute the program PROCESS.BAT and pass it the node number. Then.. PROCESS.BAT @echo off cd \temp_directory_for_cdrom_files\%1 for %%c in (*.ZIP) do PKZIP %%c -z < COMMENT.TXT for %%c in (*.ARJ) do ARJ command to insert comment exit The files should have new comments when done..... Thanks Pete! - 3 - #### Language Editor/Control Codes #### Q. People say that I can change colors in the RACONFIG Language Prompts I have always wanted to change a particular word/phrase or letter, how? A. This is not difficult at all. When you are in the Language Editor, go find your prompt that you want to edit. Once you find it, you have many choices to turn the letters a different color. Here is the color codes that RA can support . Background Normal Color Foreground -------------|------------------- Black 0 Blue 1 Green 2 Cyan 3 Red 4 Magneta 5 Brown 6 Gray 7 Foregound Color Color # --------------|-------------------- Black 0 Blue 1 Green 2 Cyan 3 Red 4 Magneta 5 Brown 6 Gray 7 Dark Gray 8 Light Blue 9 Light Green A Light Cyan B Light Red C Light Magneta D Yellow E White F For Example: --> K[0A - Green Foreground on a Black background |-> K[3C - Red Foreground on a Cyan background | **NOTE** to make a the K, do have to do this in the Language Editor press | Ctrl-P (the cursor should flash), then press Ctrl-K, a White K | should appear in the space where you put it. | | Here is an example of a text being edited: | | Normal Text Line: Enter your current password |---> Colorized Text: Enter your K[0Acurrent password This would make the CURRENT PASSWORD change to green. Q. How do I display a textfile immediately after the other text file with the new control code? {+} Registered Command Only. A. Here is my WELCOME.ASC screen for my bbs. Notice the last line below doubled line. The ^K!WELCOME3| Hi, ^FW, and welcome back to The Concession Stand! We have just added a few new door games, so check them out! Blah and blah blah blah.. Press ENTER to Continue^A ^K!WELCOME3| The ^K!WELCOME3| will automatically display the text file Welcome3.xxx after the user hits Enter (notice the ^A, meaning the user has to hit enter). The will work with any textfile. ==AND== in the Language Editor! The best textfile to use this feature, which I think, is the file ONCEONLY.xxx if you want to display more for the user to see only one time, use it on this. It works nicely. Q. How do I put a text file as the prompt in the language editor? A. Just add the ^K!filename| option in there, make sure that you have the .ANS/.ASC/.RIP/.AVT made (not everyone has RIP and AVT on their bbs). For instance: The language prompt is: Autologoff in 10 secs; press "!" to disconnect or "S" to remain online. Instead of that Autologoff message, you can do this, like what I have done: K!autolog| Which would display the textfile (ANS/ASC/AVT/RIP): it appears like this: [ ^KG, ^KI, ^KJ] Total Time Online: ^FU mins * Auto logoff in ten seconds, "!" to disconnect or "S" to Stop * Of course I had just given you the ASCII version of it, and my colors are not shown up on here, but this is great for you to use! -= Please remember that the ^ stands for CTRL. =- - 4 - #### Security Level Setup #### Q. How do I edit/create Security Levels? A. In the RACONFIG, there is the feature under Manager.Limits File System Options Modem Manager ---------------------------------------+------------------------------- Edit + #######################################| | #+------------------------------ Select| Security 50 57600 0 | #| Level Time 1200 2400 9600 14400 | Time 45 64000 0 | #|-------------------------------------| 300 200 Local 1000 | #| 10 30 0 150 200 350 | 1200 450 RatioNum 0 | #| 50 45 450 740 1250 1300 | 2400 740 RatioK 0 | #| 60 90 2500 2500 2500 2500 | 4800 1000 PerMin 0.000 | #| 61 90 2500 2500 2500 2500 | 7200 1000 FlexTime 0.000 | #| 81 90 2000 2000 2000 2000 | 9600 1250 Session 0 | #| 100 800 5000 5000 5000 5000 | 12000 1250 Reset Never | #| | 14400 1300 ResetOfs 0 | #| | 16800 1500 ResetAmt 0 | #| | 19200 1500 | #| | 21600 1500 | #| | 24000 1500 | #| | 26400 1500 | #| | 28800 1500 | #| | 31200 1500 | #| | 33600 1500 | #+-------------------------------------| 38400 1500 | #######################################| | ---------------------------------------+-------------------------------------+ Time : Daily Time Limit per day 300 - 64000 : Download Limits per day (BPS) Local : Local Daily Download Limit per day RatioNum : Download Ratio Limit (number of files) RatioK : Download Ratio Limit (in K) PerMin : Per Minute Logon Cost (deducted from Credits) FlexTime : Credits to deduct after time limit expired. Session : Max time limit per session (0=Disabled) Reset : How often to reset credits ResetOfs : When to reset credits from above field (RESET) ResetAmt : Credit Amount to adjust users accout by - 5 - #### Miscellaneous Options #### Q. Since I run multinode, how do I obtain a log for each node? A. This is also simple. Where it asks for your System's Log path. Enter the path, but instead of just C:\LOGS\RA.LOG do this at the field. C:\LOGS\RA*N.LOG If a user logs on to node 1, then it will produce the log named: C:\LOGS\RA1.LOG If a user logs on to node 5, then it will produce the log named: C:\LOGS\RA5.LOG -- etc... Q. How do I get RemoteAccess to display RIP Screens with RemoteAccess? I have already made up the RIP Screens, but cannot get them to display. A. Your RIP screens, MUST have the extension .RIP on them, and they must be placed into your textfiles directory (the directory which contains all of your ANSI/ASCII files). Q. How do I setup ANSI menus with RemoteAccess? A. This is really quite simple to do, here is the overview then I'll go into detail: +---------------------------------------+ C:\RA\ENGLISH\MENUS\RAMSG.MNU ++ | |***| Display-H | RAMSG | | |'1'| Read msgs | 14 | | |'2'| Read msgs | 15 | | |'3'| Read msgs | 16 | | |'4'| Read msgs | 13 | | |'A'| Post msg | 14 /T= | | |'B'| Post msg | 15 /T= | | |'C'| Post msg | 16 /T= | | |'D'| Post msg | 13 /T= | | |'Q'| Clear/Goto | MESSAGES | | | | | +--------------------------------------------------------------------------+ here is an overview of the menu itself. Notice how nothing is displayed in the DISPLAY column. Also, notice the first command on the menu DISPLAY-H with a hotkey of *** (autoexec). Here's that command: +-------------------------------------------------------+ Edit Menu Item ++ | | | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 | | 1234567890123456789012345678901234567890123456789012345678901234567890123 | | ; | | | | RAMSG | | | | Action Display .ANS/.ASC file with menu HotKeys (Type 40) | | Display | | OptData | | HotKey | | AutoExec Yes | | Colour Colour example | | | | MinSec 0 TimeUsed 0 FlatCost 0 | | MaxSec 0 TimeLeft 0 TimeCost 0 | | A flags -------- Age 0 Terminal Any | | B flags -------- MinSpeed 0 Nodes | | C flags -------- MaxSpeed 0 Groups | | D flags -------- Credit 0 DayTimes | | | | | +---------------------------------------------------------------------------+ It's a simple TYPE-40 command with the optional data of the ansimenu only giving the BASE FILE NAME (no extension), and the AUTOEXEC has is set to YES. On each of the other commands, there MUST BE a semicolon (;) in the display field what this does is it keeps the menu from not scrolling up, you'll know what I'm talking about if you forget to put in one. Q. How can I get RemoteAccess to check and download Icons? A. Anthony Haxton sent me a copy of Mike Ehlert's letter on how to do this, here it is: How to get RemoteAccess to check and download RIP Icons. * By Mike Ehlert, forwarded by Anthony Haxton. >> the most difficult thing to implement was to have my top menu >> check to see if the user had my icons in their terminal already >> or not, and if they didn't have them I send them over automaticly. >Would you mind telling me how you managed to do it? :-) In my top menu, I have several auto-execute menu options, and the last two look like this: |***| Display-H | RIPCHECK |***| Goto menu | MAIN So the file RIPCHECK.RIP is displayed just before the main menu is entered, (if the user is using RIP of cource). This RIP file asks the users terminal if they already have a particular ICON file. The users RIP returns a "1" if they do, or a "0" if they don't. Here is how my RIPCHECK.RIP looks: !|1F000000pcm-file.icn|#|#|# So this checks the users icon directory for pcm-file.icn, and if it does not exits, then RIP "presses" the "0" key, which i check for in my main.mnu, and that hotkey runs (gosubs) my loadicon.menu: |***| Display | RIPICONS |***| Execute | c:\protocols\dsz.com port *p sz c:\icons\*.* |***| Return | So this menu first sends a RIP file to inform the users terminal that an icon download is about to take place via zmodem, and then it runs a type-7 which uses DSZ.COM to zmodem the icons to the user, after which it returns to the main menu. RIPICONS.RIP looks like this: ^L !|1K|1B0000020PVS030E000F080700000F07000000|Y00000100 !|1U0303HO990000<><>|S0101|B0H0DH98Y|Y08000300 !|1B0000020QO6030E000F080700000F07000000|1U4R06CI0R2100<>PACIFIC COAST MICRO<> !|Y05000600|1B0000020W74030F000F080000080F07000000 !|1U1617GJ2X0000<>Reciving Icon Images...<>|9^[07020000*.ICN<> !|#|#|# (Note that the 1st line is a real ctrl-l not the "^L" characters) (and the ^[ character is really an ESC character) This displays a fancy window to the user, telling them they are recieving icons, and then tells their terminal to start recieving icons via zmodem. Regards, Mike Q. How can I get RemoteAccess not to echo the password characters? A. Simply go into the RACONFIG->OPTIONS->SYSTEM->Pwd Echo: _ Then in there use the DELete key to erase the current key, and hold in the ALT key then by using the numeric keypad hit 0, then release the ALT key, nothing should be in the box (it's ALT-0) Hit ESC and then save it.. reboot RA and see what happens.. when it prompts you to type in your password, NOTHING should be echoed after the password prompt. Be sure to update your Password language prompt in the RACONFIG... I have mine set to: Password (no echo): Also, note that using the DELete key instead of a ALT-0 would appear to work; however, if you setup the User's Input text say White on Blue, and the user mistyped a letter of their password then hit backspace to fix it, the cursor placement would be a little out of whack... just a note.. Q. How can I automatically post a message to a user whose account has had a incorrect password attempt? A. Go into the RACONFIG->OPTIONS->SYSTEM->Watchdog Areas: _ simply supply a message area and then create a textfile in your system's directory (e.g. C:\RA) named WATCHDOG.MSG. My WATCHDOG.MSG looks like this: This message is to inform you that on the date and time this message was created, an attempt was made to logon to this system using your account. However, this attempt failed due to incorrect password entry. If this was you, disregard this message. If this was NOT you, then be advised that someone has tried to gain access under your user account. Eric Staufer Q. How do I get the ESCape, TAB, BackSpace, and ENTER keys as hotkeys? A. It's not that difficult. Come time to enter the hotkey, do this: Hit CTRL-P (cursor will blink) then the key. If you did it correct, this is what should come up: o ESC Key .. White [ .. then disappears .. then a little <-- will show up o ENTER Key .. White M .. then disappears .. then a music not will show up o TAB Key .. White I .. then disappears .. then a diamond will show up o BackSpace .. White H .. then disappears .. then a diamond in a shade shows What I mean by disappears, after you hit Enter and save the hotkey it will go blank, and no hotkey will appear to be recorded, however it will still be there. Then when you go back to the whole menu display (after exiting the edit a command function), the arrow, music note, diamond, or diamond in a shade will show up for the keys. These special commands can come in handy, especially if you're a registered RA SysOp. I have ESC as a global command to goto my Files Menu, TAB to go to my Doors Menu, and BackSpace to goto my Message Menu (I dont use ENTER as any of my commands). Q. How come users are logging in at 64000bps? A. If your users are logging in at 64000bps, go into the RACONFIG and then to the modem setting, check to see that ALL of your CONNECT MESSAGES are filled in properly. Q. How come everytime someone logs onto the bbs, it says that there is an event scheduled in a few minutes? A. Make sure that there isnt a DOBBSx.BAT file residing in your main \RA directory or in your mailer directory. Q. How can I make users have default preferences when they logon? Some users are complaining to me about having a newfiles search and mail check at logon, while others want it, and some of them dont even want to be prompted if they want to have it or not. So, here's a method you can use. A. This can be all done through a questionnaire off of the TOP.MNU. A sample one is below. ClearScreen Display "|" Display "|" ChangeColor 7 0 Display "You will be asked some questions about your logon preferences. You will|" Display "only see this set of questions once, unless it's modified later on.|" Display "|" Display "|" ChangeColor 3 0 Display "At logon, would you like to scan for mail in your [0Fmailbox[03? (Y/N): " GetChoice YN 1 If 1 = "Y" SetFlag B1 ON EndIf If 1 = "N" SetFlag B1 OFF Display "|" ChangeColor 7 0 Display "Okay, remember, if you post me a message and expect a reply, you are|" Display "going to have to do a mail-box search off of the Message Menu, 'Y'.|" EndIf ChangeColor 3 0 Display "|" Display "At logon, would you like to scan for [0FNew Files[03? (Y/N): " GetChoice YN 2 If 2 = "Y" SetFlag B2 ON EndIf If 2 = "N" SetFlag B2 OFF EndIf Display "|" Display "At logon, would you like to see the [0FOneLiners [03Door? (Y/N): " GetChoice YN 3 If 3 = "Y" SetFlag B3 ON EndIf If 3 = "N" SetFlag B3 OFF EndIf Display "|" Display "At logon, would you like to be shown [0FWho[03'[0Fs Online[03? (Y/N): " GetChoice YN 4 If 4 = "Y" SetFlag B4 ON EndIf If 4 = "N" SetFlag B4 OFF EndIf ChangeColor 7 0 Display "|" Display "|" Display "Thank you for filling this out, if you would like to change any of|" Display "your defaults you can do so off of the Main Menu by pressing 'C'.|" Display "|" Display "[03Press [07ENTER [03to Continue[08]:[03" WaitEnter SetFlag B8 ON Quit [end] I had to wrap some parts of a line to the next line due to the importing of the questionnaire.. anyways.... Mail-box Search uses flag B1 New Files Search uses flag B2 OneLiners door uses flag B3 Who's Online program uses flag B4 After the users finishes the questionnaire, it turns Flag B8 ON, so that they will never have to see this questionnaire again.. Now whats all on the Top.Mnu (in this order): Display Menu Type/Command Opt.Data: Flags: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ; Type 12 (Execute Q-A) defaults B8 set to 'O' ; Type 22 (Mailbox Scan) B1 set to 'X' ; Type 37 (New Files Scan) /T /K=Y B2 set to 'X' {+} ; Type 7 (Execute Door) blah blah B3 set to 'X' ; Type 7 (Execute Door) blah blah B4 set to 'X' {+} The /K=Y which inputs a 'Y'es for the new files scan will only work if your copy of RemoteAccess is registered... The last two Type 7's were for my OneLiners and Who's Online Doors... Last two important things... In the RACONFIG, Mail Scan & New files Scan must be set to 'NO' Last thing, I also put this questionnaire as an option off of my Change Your Info Menu, so that they can change their default values at anytime.. Q. I dont want to use the built in file area listing, and I cant use the external textfile FILEAREA.??? because if I do that, then some of my users who have a lower security level will see areas which they arent supposed to. How can I get around this? A. Here's what one of the users had sent me pertaining to this: Phillip Macartney had sent me this: One thing that has annoyed me for over a year was the hard coded 'File area list' as I wanted a two column list but numbered down the page (to keep like areas together) & as I have some restricted areas, even shuffling the areas around wouldn't fix the problem! Also because I have areas that all users are not to see using FILEAREA.??? was not the answer. So the solution I worked out is make an empty file called FILEAREA.ASC in the TXTFILES directory & make a number of ans/asc displays of the file areas put them into the TXTFILES directory, make the area select command goto another menu set this menu up to AutoExec a TYPE 5 Menu & display the appropriate ans/asc area list for the appropriate security level/flags/age (repeat as many times as nessary for all the different security levels) after these a TYPE 50 Select File Area AutoExec (this will only display the "select area" prompt) finally a TYPE 1 Goto another menu AutoEexec to return to the file menu (this is working fine on my BBS, the only problem I have at the moment is having to have a press ENTER to continue prompt on the bottom of the area list). Q. How do I setup different ANSi menus on my board for different security levels? A. On my board, I did the this... And it's very simple to do, but I had MANY questions about it. All you have to do is: Keep setting up different Type-40 Commands with the menus, but make sure you limit the MinSec and MaxSec to fit your standards. Display: Hotkey: MenuCmnd: Opt. Data: MinSec: MaxSec: ----------Å---------Å------------------------Å------------Å--------Å-------- ; *** Type 40 (ANS w/hotkeys) MAIN 0 49 ; *** Type 40 (ANS w/hotkeys) MAIN50 50 50 ; *** Type 40 (ANS w/hotkeys) MAIN 51 0 In this example, the screen MAIN will be shown to users from SL 0-49, 51-65535 And then, the screen MAIN51 will be ONLY shown to users with SL of 51. - 6 - ###### Multiple Hotkey Setup ###### Everyone wants to be able to have multiple hotkeys within RemoteAccess. Well, without setting up tons of menuing and making your users get rid of their "hotkey" flag, you know the thing which allows you punch in a menu item while the menu is being displayed.. You can simply have your menu a questionnaire! Yep, thats right, a questionnaire. This enables you to have SEVERAL hotkeys (heck ones even upto 30+ hotkeys!). Here's a sample questionnaire on how I run my Doors Menu with double digit hotkeys (ie 10, 11, 12, etc). This is very easy to follow, even if you dont know what you are doing with questionnaires. First, I will show you the questionnaire, then I will redisplay it for you on what is what with the questionnaire. :LOOP ClearScreen DisplayFile DOORS Display "Your Selection: " Ask 2 1 If 1 = "1" MenuCmnd 7 *C /c c:\ra\tradewar.bat *N *UTradeWars *M Goto LOOP EndIf If 1 = "2" MenuCmnd 7 *C /c c:\ra\pit1.bat *N *UThe_Pit *M Goto Loop EndIf If 1 = "3" MenuCmnd 7 *C /c c:\ra\bre.bat *N *UBRE *M Goto Loop EndIf If 1 = "10" MenuCmnd 7 *C /c c:\ra\bbslist.bat *N *D *UBBSLIST *M Goto Loop EndIf If 1 = "11" MenuCmnd 7 *C /c c:\ra\ezhang.bat *N *UHangMan *M Goto Loop EndIf If 1 = "18" MenuCmnd 7 *C /c c:\ra\usurper.bat *N *UUsurper *M Goto Loop EndIf If 1 = "20" MenuCmnd 7 *C /c c:\ra\fishing.bat *N *UFishing *M Goto Loop EndIf If 1 = "" Goto Loop EndIf If 1 = "/" MenuCmnd 4 MainMenu EndIf If 1 = "P" MenuCmnd 7 c:\ra\icechat\icechat.exe *! *UIceChat *M Goto Loop EndIf If 1 = "G" MenuCmnd 4 Logoff EndIf If 1 = "Q" MenuCmnd 4 MainMenu EndIf [end] step by step now: :LOOP <-- main loop of the questionnaire ClearScreen <-- clears the screen DisplayFile DOORS <-- displays the ans/asc/rip screen "Doors" Display "Your Selection: " <-- my menu prompt Ask 2 1 <-- asks for a 2 character input/question #1 If 1 = "1" <-- hotkey #1 MenuCmnd 7 *C /c c:\ra\tradewar.bat *N *UTradeWars *M <-- run tradewars Goto LOOP <-- back to the loop and display file/prompt EndIf <-- gotta be here to end the IF If 1 = "2" <-- hotkey #2 MenuCmnd 7 *C /c c:\ra\pit1.bat *N *UThe_Pit *M <-- run ThePit Goto Loop <-- back to the loop and display file/prompt EndIf <-- end the if statement If 1 = "10" <-- HotKey #10 MenuCmnd 7 *C /c c:\ra\bbslist.bat *N *D *UBBSLIST *M <-- runs BBSLIST Goto Loop <-- goes back to the loop EndIf <-- ends the IF statement If 1 = "20" <-- HotKey #20 MenuCmnd 7 *C /c c:\ra\fishing.bat *N *UFishing *M <-- runs Fishing Goto Loop <-- back to the loop EndIf <-- ends the IF If 1 = "" <-- if the user hits "ENTER" as a hotkey Goto Loop it will go back to the loop, then EndIf ends the if If 1 = "/" <-- HotKey / to go back to the main menu MenuCmnd 4 MainMenu <-- Clear Gosubs/Goto Menu "MainMenu" EndIf <-- Ends the if statement If 1 = "P" <-- HotKey P MenuCmnd 7 c:\ra\icechat\icechat.exe *! *UIceChat *M <-- brings up IceChat Goto Loop <-- yep.. back to the loop EndIf <-- ends the if If 1 = "G" <-- HotKey G MenuCmnd 4 Logoff <-- goes to my logoff menu using Menu Type 4 EndIf <-- ends the if If 1 = "Q" <-- HotKey Q MenuCmnd 4 MainMenu <-- goes back to the main menu EndIf <-- ends the If Statement [end] if the user inputs an invalid hotkey, say 9S or something, my questionnaire brought me back to the main menu.. simply to pull up this "menu" from another menu, it's just this command from another menu: Hotkey: Menu Command: "Opt.Data": ~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~ D 12 DOORMENU Even some people have now setup their mainmenus as a questionnaire, having such hotkeys as FILES, DOORS, and QWK, etc.. Just follow the sample above, and you're capable of doing just about anything that a menu can do as far as menu commands are concern. - 7 - Q. How can I do FAX with RemoteAccess? A. Download the latest copy of BGFax, and then following this guide sheet: in RACONFIG.MODEM.COMMANDS the following setting should work: Please NOTE that this setup worked for my old Zoom 28.8 modem... check into BGFAX's docs for other modem setups.. init-1: ATZ+FCR=1;+FDCC=1,5,0,2,0,0,0,0| init-2: AT+FLID="407 569 6568"| Busy : ~ATH1| Answer: AT+FAA=1;A| since the RACONFIG only allows 2 init strings, and three would be nice to have, you can always add your init string that you use to one of the others, remember, this size of the init string are really big in the RACONFIG. (I added on the Z to the first init 1 string right after the "AT" this should reset your modem to the init string in it's memory). Sub in your modem for the init-2. In RACONFIG.OPTIONS.ERRORLEVELS: set an errorlevel for FAX For this example I will be using errorlevel 105 in your main batch file that you run RA, have something in there like this: :recycle ra if errorlevel 105 goto fax :fax cd\bgfax bgfax /fast c:\bgfax\in 1 Z cd\ra goto recycle If /fast doesn't work try /fcon instead. The '1' means com1 and the Z mean ZyXEL fax format. A 'Q' can be used instead for Quick Link II Fax format. Most of this stuff should work for you, different modems have different ways to show a connection of a fax... take for instance, my Zoom 28.8 shows a connect like this: +FCON It doesnt have any of that CONNECT stuff.. if you download BGFax, it'll have a help file in it, just unzip it, and then it will have many different textfiles in there, ones for Hayes 288's, USR DS's, Supra, and a few others. * Trouble Shooting: +--> I use this setup in shell to mailer mode. This should work fine with just RemoteAccess by itself, since it has a CONNECT and an ERRORLEVEL field. If for SOME reason after you receive a fax and then someone calls up and your board says, "Times up for today, call back tomorrow" or some- thing close to that, there is a DOBBS0.BAT in your \RA directory. You must delete that after every incoming fax. This should really not happen if you are just loading RA by itself, because the DOBBSx.BAT is created by a mailer. Just a quick note if you do see something like this..and.. yes, you can use this to setup BGFax with FrontDoor or another mailer... Q. How can i shorten the [0000] 4-digit download counter to [000] 3 3 digits or [00] 2? A. Right before the @TD for the download counter add a #02 for 2 digits or #03 for 3 digits, then you must have to restore the value back at normal.. sounds complicated, but it's not. Watch. [#02@TD#00] that would make it read [00]. [#03@TD#00] that would make it read [000]. Note that the #00 MUST be placed immediately back, or your filelist format will be totally messed up. ###### RA.Q&A ###### Total Lines: 1452 Total Size: 62k