\input man.sty
\twosided
\title A Caller's Guide to Fido\copyright Version 12
\endtitle

\author
Written by Scot Kamins \\
August, 1988 \\ \\
\rm for Fido Software \\
164 Shipley \\
San Francisco CA 94107
\endauthor


This is the Caller's Guide to Fido Version 12. Its entire
contents are copyright 1988 by Tom Jennings. 

``Fido'' and ``FidoNet'' are registered trademarks of Tom
Jennings

This guide is distributed through BBSs and information utilities
under the honor system. If after using it for two weeks you find
it worth keeping, send \$5.00 to Fido Software and you'll receive
a beautiful printed manual, typeset with the \TeX typsetting
system, and printed on a mediocre dot matrix printer. Please send
your praises, complaints, corrections, and suggestions to the
author, Scot Kamins, at the address above.

Also write to receive general information on the Fido/FidoNet
Bulletin Board program (prices, current version, datasheet, etc). 

\bigpagebreak
\heading Fido's structure \endheading

Fido is divided into three major sections--MAIN, MESSAGES,  and
FILES. The Messages and Files sections can in turn each have up
to 200 separate areas, each area covering a separate topic. (Most
Fidos have fewer than 10.) Which of these sections and areas you
can use, and the commands you can use in each, depends on your
privilege level. The system operator determines what a caller's
privilege level is.

\subheading{Message Section} The Message Section holds messages
that a caller writes to another person or to anybody who cares to
read it. A caller can make a message private so that only the
message writer and the person specified (and the system operator)
can read it.  The system operator determines the length of
messages that callers can leave. Different types of messages
usually go into different message areas. 

\subheading{Files Section} The Files Section holds files that a
caller can download. These files come from the system operator
and from callers (maybe you) who use special Fido commands to
upload them. The system operator checks these files to make sure
that they're either in the public domain or that the file's
copyright holder has given permission for their distribution.
Like messages, different types of files usually go into different
file areas.

Many boards have a special electronic mail (FidoNet) section. In
this section a caller can send a message to anyone who calls into
a FidoNet (or compatible) board anywhere in the world. As of this
writing, over 2000 FidoNet compatible boards with FidoNet in
operation are operating in all 50 states and 17
countries\footnote{Please don't quote me on this; the size of the
amateur FidoNet changes week by week; it doubled in size for the
first four years.}.

You'll read more later about entering and editing messages,
uploading and downloading files, and sending and getting FidoNet.

\bigpagebreak
\heading Calling Fido \endheading

When you call a Fido board, there's a process you have to go
through before you can start reading or entering messages or
files. It's called the log-on procedure (because you
electronically sign your name in the log book). Except for the
first time you call, it only takes a few seconds. Here are the
steps you take to call and log on:

\example
\demo{test} see if this works. \enddemo

\demo{First} Make sure your modem is turned on. Of course, it has
to be attached to your computer properly, and you must have
communications software running that works well with your
computer and your modem.\enddemo

\demo{Second} Dial the Fido's number. How you do this depends on
your communication software; see the manual that came with that
software for details. Assuming the Fido's number isn't busy and
that the Fido you're calling is up and running, after a few
seconds the word CONNECT (or something similar) will appear on
your screen.\enddemo

\demo{Third} Wait for a few seconds. This gives Fido a chance to
check and match your modem's baud rate--the speed your modem is
sending and receiving information. If you get no response after
waiting five seconds or so, press Enter two or three times.
(Older Fidos with version numbers less than 12  can't tell the
baud rate of a modem automatically.)\enddemo

\demo{Fourth} Wait for a few seconds. Read what Fido puts on your
screen and follow the directions\footnote{If you've waited ten
seconds or so and nothing happens, press \return a few times;
older Fidos (and some other BBSs), couldn't tell your modems baud
rate automatically, and needs you to do this to get it started.}
You'll see the name of the board, and probably some introductory
information the system operator wants you to read. Then Fido asks
for your name.\enddemo

\demo{Fifth} Type your name\footnote{Fido lets you use names with
one, two or three words. If you enter only one word, Fido will
ask you for your LAST name, where you can enter zero, one or two
words followed by \return. This sounds awfully complicated to
explain but it isn't.} See the comments after this list in the
section called {\it ``About Names''}. Fido checks to make sure
you've typed your name correctly; answering ``N\return '' for no
lets you retype your name from scratch, and ``Y\return '' or just
\return tells Fido you are have it right.\enddemo

After you enter ``Y\return '' or \return Fido checks to see if it
knows who you are. If it does, it asks for your password. If not,
something else happens; skip to the section called {\it ``First
time Log-ons.''}

\demo{Sixth} Type your password and press Enter. Fido makes sure
you are who you say you are. If everything is OK, your log-on is
complete. Fido might show you some notices; usually you can enter
Control-C (or Control-K) to skip them. At any rate, Fido will
soon present you with a deathless quotation that you can ponder
as the Main Menu scrolls onto the screen.\enddemo
\endexample

\bigpagebreak
\heading About Names \endheading

Some system operators want you to use your real name; others
accept ``handles''--aliases you use instead of your real name to
reflect some fantasy or role appropriate to the kind of Fido
you're calling (``The Hacker,'' ``Top Whip,'' or ``Creampuff'' to
name some typical handles). Custom dictates what's acceptable and
what isn't on a particular BBS. In some cases, a system operator
asks for your real name in a questionnaire and then allows you to
use a handle everywhere your name would ordinarily appear on the
board. In any case, you can sign on with whatever name you want;
later, you can change your name and password.

Fido requires that you give a first name; whether you give a
middle or last name is up to you. To skip giving a last name,
just press Enter without typing anything else. when Fido asks for
it You need to be consistent, however; if you sign on the first
time with a first and last name, you must give both each time you
call--otherwise, Fido will think you're somebody else. Also, if
you give just a first name the first time you call, you can never
give a last name when you log on. Again, you can change all this
from within Fido. (See C)hange command, below.)

\bigpagebreak
\heading First Time Log-Ons \endheading

Logging on for the first time takes a little longer (and
sometimes a lot longer) than usual. You'll be asked to choose a
password so that only you (and the system operator) will be able
to read your private messages and so that nobody else can use up
your time. (Many Fidos allow you only so much time on the system
per day; some Fidos charge you for the time you use.) Some Fidos
also ask you to fill out an electronic questionnaire the first
time you call. 

A few Fidos are semi-private or private systems; you have to be
approved by the system operator before you can use most of the
system's features. Some Fidos won't let you on at all unless you
belong to a particular company or club, or unless the system
operator has already enrolled you on the caller list that Fido
keeps.

Whatever the procedure is, the Fido you're calling will let you
know what's up and will prompt you for the information it needs.
You ordinarily only have to go through this procedure the first
time you call a particular Fido.

\bigpagebreak
\heading Signing up--again\! \endheading

All Fidos keep track of (among other things) the date that you
call. Most Fidos purge your name from the caller list if you
don't call again for so many days, usually 30. So you might find
a Fido that you infrequently call forgetting who you are. When
this happens, you'll have to go through the first time log-on
procedure again.

\bigpagebreak
\heading Choosing a Password \endheading

Your password can be up to 15 characters long. It must start with
a letter, and it can't contain any spaces. It should be something
that's meaningful to you and to no one else, or it should be
completely meaningless. The idea is to come up with something
that nobody else can use to rip off your messages or Fido time.
Some people like to change their passwords at least once a month.
(See {\it ``C)hange''}.)

\bigpagebreak
\heading The Main Menu \endheading

Fido is a menu-driven system. This means that you choose commands
from menus to decide what happens next. (Advanced callers can
shut the menus off and type commands directly; see {\it ``Help
Levels''}, for the details.) To choose a menu command, you
usually type a letter and then press Enter. You see the menu in
the Main section first; here's what it looks like:

**
MAIN Section:
M)sg-Section F)ile-Section B)ulletins 
S)tatistics C)hange P)age-Operator 
L)ist-Callers A)ns-Questionnaire V)ersion 
O)utside E)xitDOS G)oodbye 
Command (?=help): 
**

You might not see all these commands if your privilege level
isn't high enough. (In fact, it's extremely unlikely that you'll
see either O)utside or E)xitDOS.) Your system operator decides
what commands you can see; if you can see it, you can use it. 

\subheading{Privileges and such} The system operator controls who
can use which sections and, within sections, which commands.
Different system operators have different rules to determine who
gets to use what. System operators generally make it clear what
you have to do in order to get to use these ``higher order''
commands. If you're curious, leave a message for the system
operator asking about it. 

Here's what each command does, in brief. The ones that require
further explanation have their own detailed sections later on:

\subheading{M--Message section} This brings you to the message
area you last looked at on your most recent call. If this is the
first time you've used the M command, you go to whatever message
area the system operator sets for first-time callers. See {\it
``Message Section''}.

\subheading{F--Files section} This brings you to the file area
you last looked at on your most recent call. If this is the first
time you've used the F command, you go to whatever file area the
system operator sets for first-time callers. See {\it ``File
Section''}.

\subheading{B--Bulletins} Gives you a numbered list of bulletins
you can look at. To see a particular bulletin, type its number
and press Enter. The following example comes from the Ch@os board
in San Francisco:

**
--- Bulletins ---
1) The current ``New caller'' welcome 7 July 87
2) THE INTENT OF THIS BBS
3) PRIVACY & CENSORSHIP
4) General notes on Bulletin Boards in the ``real world''
Bulletin #: 
**

\subheading{S--Statistics) Lets you know how often you've called,
how much time you've got left on this call, and other
information. This comes up: 

**
28 Jul 87  21:12:51
                 Total   Limit   Remaining
Total Calls:       264
Your Calls:         41
Connect Time:        1      60      59
24 Hr Time Limit:          240     239
Credit:         $24.00          $24.00
**

The credit line lets you know how much credit you have in your
account for using FidoNet, a special feature of Fido systems that
lets you send electronic mail to and receive electronic mail from
any of over 2000 Fido systems throughout the world. See {\it
``Sending and Receiving FidoMail''}, later in this chapter, for
the details.

You're limited in the amount of time you can spend on the system,
both per call and per day. Some systems are extremely busy, and
they might limit you to less than an hour a day.

\subheading{C--Change your setup} Lets you change your name,
password, help level, and system stuff (screen width and length,
whether your modem needs nulls, and so on): 

**
---- Personal Info ----
Name             : John Scribblemonger
Address          : Lake Woebegone Minnesota
Password         : Scribe
Help Level       : All

----- Your System -----
Number of Columns: 80
Number of Lines  : 24
``More[Y,n]''      : ON
Tab Expansion    : ON
Filler Nulls     : 0

N)ame A)ddress P)assword H)elp-Level W)idth 
L)ength M)ore T)abs F)iller-Nulls 
Command (?=help): 
**

See {\it ``Changing Caller Settings''} for details. 

\subheading{L--List callers} This command shows you the names of
all people currently on the caller list, the last date and time
they were on, and where they're from. You can also hunt for an
individual caller's name--a great way to see if a friend uses
this board, or to see the last time that somebody was on:

**
Name or part of name to match (CR = all): 

Scott Dean      28 Aug 87  22:12:35  Fresburg Ca
Jack Friday     06 Sep 87  09:40:53  Kathmandu Nepal
Al Taddeo       25 Aug 87  23:40:28  Burbank Ca
Ed Johnson      08 Sep 87  20:25:05  San Francisco Ca
Rob Taylor      19 Sep 87  20:41:57  Fresburg Ca
Jeff McNeal     03 Sep 87  22:38:49  Pittsburg Ca
**

\subheading{P--Page the system operator} If s/he's around and
feeling communicative, s/he'll answer.

\subheading{A--Answer the questionnaire} Some Fido systems have
questionnaires on various subjects. Try this command; if there's
no questionnaire on this system, Fido tells you so.

\subheading{V--Version number} This tells you what version of
Fido this system is using. Many versions of Fido exist (over a
dozen at the time this manual was written); the number of the
version you're calling can be useful if you're a veteran caller
or system operator. For example, use it to see if this Fido is
version 12--the version this guide describes.

\subheading{O--Outside} Ordinarily available only to callers with
high access levels, the O)utside command quits Fido and delivers
an errorlevel to DOS. Generally, this command exits to a batch
file that lets a caller use programs that live somewhere on the
system operator's disk.

\subheading{E--Exit to DOS} Ordinarily available only to callers
with the same access level as the system operator, the E)xit-DOS
command quits Fido and delivers an errorlevel to DOS. More often
than not, it exits to a batch file that lets the system operator
run the system remotely.

\subheading{G--Goodbye} Use this to log off the system.
(Actually, you can just shut off your modem if you want to.)
Often this will give you a chance to leave a private message to
the system operator.

\subheading{?--Help} Gets you on-line help, telling what each
command does. It's like the list you've been reading, except
briefer (usually).  Anytime you can't figure out a command in
Fido, just type a questionmark and press Enter.  Later versions
of Fido (version 12 and higher) also have something called
contextual help. See {\it ``Help Levels''} below for more
details.

\bigpagebreak
\heading Changing Caller Settings \endheading

To change a setting:

\example
\demo{1} Type C from the Main Section and press Enter.\enddemo

\demo{2} Type the proper letter for the setting you want to
change; then press Enter.\enddemo

\demo{3} Type in the new info. If you press Enter without typing
anything, the old information remains intact.\enddemo

\demo{4} Repeat steps 2 and 3 for all necessary items. \enddemo

\demo{5} Press Enter without typing anything else when you've
finished making changes.\enddemo
\endexample

Here's what you can change:

\demo{N--Caller name} Leave a space between your first and last
name -- that's how Fido tells the difference when you sign
on.\enddemo

\demo{A--City and state} This is the place you usually call from.
If you're paranoid, lie. (Computers are stupid and will believe
anything.)\enddemo

\demo{P--Password} Change this every once in a while so that the
bad guys can't use your time, or post libelous messages under
your name. The system is pretty secure, but realize that the
system operator can easily find out your password. Try not to
worry about it. (Heh-heh.)\enddemo

\demo{H--Help level} Fido has three help levels; everybody starts
off automatically set to Novice level. For the details, see {\it
``Help Levels.''}\enddemo

\demo{W--Width of your screen} in characters (the Number of
Columns item).\enddemo

\demo{L--Length of your screen} in lines (the Number of Lines
item).\enddemo

\demo{M--Turns the [More?] prompt on and off} When this is set to
ON, Fido pauses when your screen is full (as determined by the
settings under Width and Length, next in this list) and puts the
message * [More?] * at the bottom of the screen: if you type
``N'' and press Enter, Fido aborts the rest of the message or
bulletin and returns you to Command level; if you type any other
key and press Enter (or just press Enter without typing
anything), Fido gives you another screenfull of text. When More
is set to OFF, the text of a message or bulletin just keeps
coming, scrolling information off the top of the screen as
necessary. When the word More appears without a questionmark (as
in * [More] *), you can't abort the rest of the message.\enddemo

\proclaim{Killing a listing} Usually you can abort any bulletin
or message as it's being displayed by pressing Control-C or
Control-K. If using Control-C or Control-K doesn't work, the
system operator has disabled this option for the particular
message or bulletin you're currently reading. The abort keys
might work for other messages; continue to question
authority.\endproclaim

\demo{T--Tab Expansion} If this is set to ON, Fido sends the
appropriate number of spaces for each CONTROL-I it encounters. If
this is set to OFF, Fido will send a Control-I to your modem each
time it comes across a Tab character in a message or bulletin.
Tab defaults to ON. If your screen looks OK, ignore this setting;
if tables don't line up properly or if you get spurious
characters at the far right edge of the screen, change this
setting to whatever it's not.\enddemo

\demo{F--Filler-Nulls} Some printing terminals need to be sent
null characters for timing purposes. Most terminals don't need
any; see the manual that came with your terminal if you
experience loss of characters at the beginning of lines.\enddemo

\bigpagebreak
\heading Help Levels \endheading

Fido has three help levels--{\bf Novice, Regular, or Expert}.  To
set the help level, choose the C command from the Main Menu; then
type a number for the level of help you want:

\demo{1} You're an expert. You have everything memorized. You
just want the system to tell you that it's time to give it a
command:\enddemo

**
Main Command (?=help):
**

\demo{2} You're an experienced caller with a crummy memory. You
don't want a lot of help--just a list of all the letters you can
type at this command prompt:\enddemo

**
MAIN Section:
Commands: M F B S C P L A V G (?=help):
**

\demo{3} You're a novice. You want full help--a one or two-word
explanation of each command, plus the list of all the letters you
can type at this command prompt:\enddemo

**
MAIN Section:
M)sg-Section F)ile-Section B)ulletins 
S)tatistics C)hange P)age-Operator 
L)ist-Callers A)ns-Questionnaire V)ersion 
G)oodbye 
Command (?=help):
**

You can enter a questionmark for more detailed help on a
section's commands, no matter what the help level is set at. You
can get even more detailed help for a particular command: Type
the command's letter immediately followed by a questionmark (for
example, L?). If you get a message telling you that the help file
is missing, leave a message for the system operator saying so;
it's probably an oversight.

\bigpagebreak
\heading Message Section \endheading

The {\bf Message Section} holds all the messages that callers
leave, either directly by typing them into this Fido or
indirectly by typing them into the FidoMail section of some other
Fido, and sending them to this Fido via FidoNet. Fido can have up
to 200 message areas, with an unlimited number of messages in
each area. All the commands and prompts in all message areas are
exactly the same, except for some special prompts in the FidoNet
FidoMail message area. (See {\it ``Sending and Receiving
FidoMail''}, later in this chapter, for the details.)

You get to the Message section by entering the M command in the
Main Section. Assuming the Help level is set to 3 (Novice),
something close to this appears:

**
Message Area 2: Shred of Dignity Skaters' Union
Total messages:    40
Highest message:   53
Highest read:      22

N)ext P)revious E)nter K)ill T)o-You 
A)rea-Change R)eply C)ontinuous L)ist 
S)earch U)pdate-Msg O)verride-Path 
G)oodbye M)ain-Menu 
Command or Message Number 1-53 (?=help) [22 N]:
**

You go to the message area you were in the last time you called
this Fido. If you've never given the M command before, you
automatically go to the area that the system operator has
determined is the place where new message readers go. The title
you see (Shred of Dignity Skaters Union) is the name of this
message section.

Fido is preset to let you read mail as soon as you enter a
message section. The N within square brackets at the end of the
command prompt [22 N] stands for N)ext, telling you that Fido is
ready to display the next message you haven't yet read; all you
need do is press Enter.

Fido numbers messages as they're entered. In this example,
Message area \#2 has 40 messages in it, with the highest message
numbered 53. Some messages have been deleted for one reason or
another (at least 13--the difference between 53 and 40), either
by the people who entered them, the people they were left for, or
by the system operator.

Fido keeps track of the messages you've already read so that you
don't waste your time rereading old messages. In the example, the
caller has read up to message number 22. If the messages have
been renumbered by the system operator to get rid of holes
previously occupied by now-deleted messages, the numbers change
accordingly. If you haven't been on before, Fido gives you the
lowest number it can for the last message you read-- the number
1.

Here's what each command does, in brief. The ones that require
further explanation have their own detailed sections later on.

\demo{N--Next message}  This sets the direction of the next and
subsequent message numbers that Fido displays for you. ``Next''
is defined as the number that appears after the bracket ([) just
before the end of the prompt, +1. In the example above, the
number is 22; so N gets you message #23. If message #23 doesn't
exist (because it was deleted) or if #23 is a private message,
Fido looks for the next existing non-private message. If no more
unread, non-deleted, non-private messages are left, Fido says
Highest message (which means that you've read all the messages
possible to read in this area) and prompts you for another
command. To start at the very beginning of the message list in
this area and read forward towards the end, type < and press
Enter.\enddemo


\demo{P--Previous message} This changes the direction of the next
and subsequent message numbers that Fido displays for you.
``Previous'' is defined as the number that appears after the
bracket ([) just before the end of the prompt, minus 1. In the
example above, the number is 22; so P gets you message #21. If
message #21 doesn't exist (because it was deleted) or if #21 is a
private message, Fido looks for the next existing non-private
message with a lower message number. If no more unread, non-
deleted, non-private messages are left, Fido says Lowest message
(which means that you've read all the messages possible to read
in this area) and prompts you for another command. To change the
direction, enter the N command. To start at the very end of the
message list in this area and read back towards the start, type >
and press Enter. \enddemo


\demo{E--Enter a new message} Fido prompts you for appropriate
information. Here's an example:\enddemo

**
This will be message #54
From: Studley Whackburn
To: John Scribblemonger
Subject: Rights of Man
Private? [y,N]: n
Maximum message length, lines: 37
Enter your message, blank line to end
Words will wrap automatically

 1: 
**

(1: is the number of the line you're about to type; you'll find
this line-numbering useful if you need to edit the message after
you've written it.) When you enter a message, Fido automatically
puts in the message number--always one higher than the highest
message number in the current area--and fills in the From: field
with your name. 

You fill in the To: and Subject: fields.  (If you press Enter
without typing something into either of these fields, Fido
assumes you want to cancel the message.) The To: field holds up
to 35 characters, and the Subject: field can hold 71 characters.
If you want to make your message unreadable by all callers other
than you, the addressee, and the system operator, answer Y to the
Private? prompt.

\proclaim{About privacy} System operators can read private
messages. Keep this in mind when you leave messages for people.
If the information you want to leave is so private and so
personal that you wouldn't want anybody to read it, don't leave
it on any bulletin board. This applies doubly to FidoMail,
because sometimes FidoMail goes through several boards before it
arrives at its destination--and each system operator along the
way can read the mail. System operators as a group probably have
as much integrity as any general cross-section of the population.
But integrity aside, even some postal employees find it
irresistible to read the occasional postcard.\endproclaim

The system operator decides how many lines long a message can be.
(Not just yours--the maximum message length applies equally to
all messages.) You type in your message until you've finished.
You can ignore the ends of lines--Fido takes care of carriage
returns and line feeds for you (although you can force carriage
returns, like at the ends of paragraphs, by pressing Enter). You
press Enter twice to let Fido know you've finished. Fido then
brings up a set of special editing commands:

**
 1: Forget it, John; it's not worth it. There's no way that
 2: your mother will let you keep a python in the bathtub.
 3:

S)ave C)ontinue-adding A)bort L)ist E)dit-Line
D)el-Line I)ns-Line H)eader (?=help): 
**

The commands do what you think they do (Del is short for Delete
and Ins is short for Insert).  E)dit-Line, D)el-Line, and I)ns-
Line all refer to the body of the message; use H)eader to edit
the information in the To:, Subject:, and Private? fields. (To
keep the old information, just press Enter at the appropriate
prompt). If you need help with a command, type its first letter
and a questionmark, and then press Enter.

\proclaim{Spelling counts in Fido} A private message left for
Vladmir Jons will never be read by Vladmir Jones, or by anybody
else for that matter (except the system operator). Make sure the
spelling in the To: field is correct before you save the
message.\endproclaim

Later, when your message has been read by the person you've sent
it to, Fido adds the tag (RECV'D) to the message's header line.
The number in square brackets before the tag tells you how many
times this particular message has been read by anyone coming
across it (in this case, 5). The date is when the message was
entered:

**
#39  26 Jul 87  17:06:31 [5]  (RECV'D) 
From: Studley Whackburn
To:   John Scribblemonger
Subj: Rights Of Man
**

\demo{K--Kills the message you just read}, assuming you wrote it
or it was addressed specifically to you. You can't kill a message
that isn't yours--only the system operator can do that. \enddemo

\demo{T--Looks for the next message addressed to you}--that is,
messages that have your name in the To: field.  What ``next
message'' is depends on the number and letter that appear between
brackets ([]) just before the end of the prompt; it will be a
message with a higher number than the one in brackets if the
letter  is N, lower if the letter is P (See N and P, earlier in
this section.). To go from the very start of the message list
through to the end, enter < T; to go from the end of the message
list and work back to the start, enter > T. (Note the space
before the T in both cases.) \enddemo

Fido displays these messages for you one at a time, giving you
the chance to reply to a message and then delete it as soon as
you've read it. (Some Fidos run on floppy disk, where space is at
a premium; so it's always a good idea to throw away a message you
no longer need.) Here's what a message retrieved using the T
command looks like. In this example, Help level is at 2:

**
Commands: N P E K T A R C L S U G M 
or Message Number 1-112 (?=help) [1 N]: t
#81  26 Jul 87  13:12:45 [1]
From: Studley Whackburn
To:   John Scribblemonger
Subj: Complaints

We don't accept complaints. Sorry.
**

It's a good idea to reply to a message before you delete it. When
you reply to a message you've just read, Fido fills out the TO
field for you.

\proclaim{The bonus RK command} After you've read a message
(addressed to you) that you want to reply to, use the command RK.
The RK command lets you reply to a message, and then
automatically deletes the original. That way you don't clutter up
the disk with old messages.\endproclaim

\demo{A--Area change} This command shows you all the message
areas:\enddemo

**
----- Message Areas -----
  1) Ch@os
  2) Shred of Dignity Skaters Union
\star 4) FidoNet Messages
  5) 'Zine reviews & ads
Message Area [2]: 
**

The area marked with a \star is always the FidoNet FidoMail
section. The number between square brackets at the end of the
prompt is the area you were just in, and the area to which you'll
automatically return if you press Enter without typing another
number.

\proclaim{About missing numbers} The numbers of the areas that
appear in the areas list might not be sequential. (For instance,
3 is missing in the example.) Those areas do exist; you just
don't have access to them. Each individual system operator
determines who can see what areas and who can use which commands.
If you need access to some area that you know exists but that
doesn't appear on your screen, leave a note for the system
operator asking for access.\endproclaim

\demo{R--Reply to the message you've just read} You can reply to
any message, whether it's addressed to you or not. When you reply
to a message, Fido automatically fills out the From:, To:, and
Subject:  fields for you. (The To: field becomes REPLY To:) You
need to fill out the Private? field yourself. For details on how
to enter a message, see the E command, earlier in this section.
\enddemo

\proclaim{Use R rather than E} Fido keeps track of all replies to
a message such that a running conversation can occur. For
example, Fred enters a message that Gerry replies to. Alice reads
Gerry's reply and replies to it, adding her own comments. Phil
sees Alice's reply and adds comments of his own by replying to
her message, and so it goes. Later, anyone can trace the
conversation using the special + command (described later), and
read only the series of messages (called the thread in BBS
terminology) concerned with this topic. To take part in the
threaded conversation, always use the R command. You can use E to
write a new message to anybody in the thread, of course; but
people who use + won't see your comments.\endproclaim

\demo{C--Continuously show messages} All the messages from the
one you last read through the end of the message list scrolls
onto your screen without stopping. This happens even if you have
``More?'' turned on in the C)hange part of the Main section. To
go from the very start of the message list through to the end,
enter < C; to go from the end of the message list and work back
to the start, enter > C. (Note the space before the C in both
cases.) To stop the list temporarily, press CONTROL-S. (Press it
again to continue.) To abort the command, press CONTROL-C or
CONTROL-K. \enddemo

\demo{L--List the headers (To:, From:, Subject: fields)} of all
readable messages in the area, starting at the current one and
going through either to the start or to the end of the message
list, depending on the current direction--N or P.  (You can't
search the body of a message.) A ``readable message'' is one that
isn't public, or if private is one that's addressed to or from
you. To go from the very start of the message list through to the
end, enter < L; to go from the end of the message list and work
back to the start, enter > L. (Note the space before the L in
both cases.) This command is useful when you want to know who's
leaving messages, who's getting messages, or what the subjects of
people's messages are. (Of course, this assumes that people --
which includes you--leave really descriptive subject lines.)
\enddemo

\demo{S--Search the header} This command looks in the headers of
the current area's messages for a specified word, name, or
phrase. The search starts at the current message and goes through
either to the start or to the end of the message list, depending
on the current direction (N or P). When it finds a match, Fido
displays the header and the rest of the message. To search for
the next match, type S and press [CR] twice; Fido remembers the
last search string entered. To go from the very start of the
message list through to the end, enter < S; to go from the end of
the message list and work back to the start, enter >JS. (Note the
space before the S in both cases.) To stop the list temporarily,
press CONTROL-S. (Press it again to continue.) To abort the
command, press CONTROL-C or CONTROL-K.\enddemo

\demo{U--Update the message you just read} The message must be
one that you entered. Use this command to edit a message you've
written to someone and already saved. You edit an already-saved
message in exactly the same way that you edit a message you're in
the process of creating for the first time: Fido displays the
message and brings up the editing commands:\enddemo

**
#86  27 Jul 87  12:52:16 [3] (EDITED)  
From: Studley Whackburn
To:   John Scribblemonger
Subj: The World Ends Thursday

1: I have bad news, old chum. The world is coming to an end
2: tomorrow at exactly 4:15 PM. This is especially annoying,
3: since we had dinner planned for seven. Sorry.
4:

Loaded 3 lines
You may now display and edit message #86

S)ave C)ontinue-adding A)bort L)ist E)dit-Line
D)el-Line I)ns-Line H)eader (?=help): 
**

Ater you've edited and saved the message, Fido adds an extra line
at the start of the body of the message, saying when the editing
occurred. This ``editing trail'' is an integral part of the
message; Fido adds it as you save the message, and displays it
every time someone reads the message:

**
#86  27 Jul 87  12:52:16 [3]   
From: Studley Whackburn
To:   John Scribblemonger
Subj: The World Ends Tomorrow

[Message changed on 31 Jul 87  10:57:29]
I have bad news, old chum. The world is coming to an end tomorrow 
at exactly 4:15 PM. This is especially annoying, as we had dinner
planned for seven. Sorry.
**

\demo{G--Goodbye} Use this to log off the system. (Actually, you
can just shut off your modem if you want to.) Often this will
give you a chance to leave a private message to the system
operator.\enddemo

\demo{M--Main menu} Returns you to the Main section.\enddemo

\bigpagebreak
\heading Special Navigation Commands \endheading

Fido has a few special character commands to help you get around
in an area's message section better. A few of them have already
been mentioned, but you'll see them again here:

\example
.      Display (or redisplay) the current message. The current
message is the one whose number shows within square brackets
(along with the direction indicator N or P) just before the end
of the prompt line. 

<     Reset the current message number to the lowest in this area
and set the direction to N (Next). When you press Enter, the
lowest numbered readable message in the area will appear on the
screen.

>     Reset the current message number to the highest in this
area and set the direction to P (Previous). When you press Enter,
the highest numbered readable message in the area will appear on
the screen.

+    Read the reply to the last displayed message, if a reply
exists. This lets you follow a discussion thread composed of
related messages (a reply to a reply to a reply\dots) without
having intervening messages on other subjects interfere.

-    Read the message that this one is replying to (if this
message is a reply). Keep entering the minus sign to get back to
the original message that started the discussion. (Fido will let
you know when you've reached the original message.) That way you
can follow the discussion thread through to the end by using +. 
\endexample
\bigpagebreak
\heading Sending and Receiving FidoNet Mail \endheading

At this writing (January, 1988), Fidos that exchange electronic
mail (FidoNet) are operating in 17 countries and in all 50 of the
United States\footnote{Sigh\dots here we go again.}. Fidos that
exchange FidoNet mail can connect directly with each other, or
they can connect indirectly via ``host'' Fidos. The public
FidoNet network that uses Fido's system of exchanging mail
currently has over 100 hosts and around 2500 nodes. (A host
accepts mail for all Fido nodes in its immediate geographic
vicinity in order to keep telephone costs down.) FidoMail usually
gets exchanged in the dark of night, when telephone costs are
cheapest.

\demo{How you might use FidoNet} Assume that you live in San Francisco, and you have a friend or business associate who lives
in Boston. S/he has a modem and a computer, and you have a modem
and a computer. While costs are determined by each individual
system operator, you can write a message of a few hundred words
and send it overnight from the Fido that you use in San Francisco
to the one that s/he uses in Boston for about 25 cents. \enddemo

Not all Fidos use FidoNet, the part of Fido that makes exchanging
electronic mail possible. To see if the Fido that you regularly
call uses FidoNet, use the A)rea command in the Message section:
Look for a message area name that has an asterisk (\star) next to
it. If no name has an asterisk, then either that Fido isn't using
FidoNet or you need to have already set up a FidoNet account
before you can even get into the FidoNet area. (See the next
section of this manual.)  Leave a message for the system operator 
asking if s/he runs FidoNet and, if so, how you can set up an
account. If s/he doesn't run FidoNet, leave a nasty message and call another Fido.

\bigpagebreak
\heading Setting Up a FidoNet Account \endheading

Sending an individual FidoNet message is very cheap. (In fact,
sending a message to a Fido within your local dialing area is
probably free.) But a FidoNet system operator might find that
s/he has dozens of long-distance FidoMail messages going out
every night. The phone bill for the system operator can add up
fast. So most system operators insist that you have an account
set up with them before you start sending FidoMail. You'll
usually find a bulletin telling you how to set up a FidoNet
account. If you can't find the information you need, leave a
message for the system operator asking for details.

The Credit line that you see when you enter the Change command in
the Main section shows how much you have to spend on FidoMail.
The system operator credits your account when you send whatever
s/he requires (or when you fulfill your part of whatever
arrangement you have). 

\proclaim{About charges} Your account gets charged for each
FidoMail message you make, and the account is reconciled after
mail gets sent. You always know how much it costs to send a
message before you send it; a list of prices is always available.
(You'll find details on how to find prices in the next
section.)\endproclaim

\bigpagebreak
\heading Using the FidoNet Message System \endheading

(This section assumes you're in the FidoNet message area as you
read along.) You use the same process to leave a message in the
FidoNet area as you do in any other Message area, except that you
also have to add a FidoNet address. Here's what you see after you
tell FidoNet you want to enter a message:

**
This will be message #46
From: Studley Whackburn  on Fido 1:125/101
To: 
**

The number at the end of the From: field is the address of the
Fido you're calling from. A full address has three sections to
it, and it's written in the form zone:net/Fido. (The colon and
the slash are important.) When you send FidoMail to somebody, you
need to include a FidoNet numeric address. To continue the
example:

**
This will be message #46
From: Studley Whackburn  on Fido 1:125/101
To: Tim Pozar
Current Net is NET      125 SF Bay Net, San Francisco CA, $0.26
Z)one N)et F)ido (or numeric FidoNet address) (?=Help): 1:101/318
**

This piece of FidoMail is going to the Fido board whose complete
address is Zone 1, Net 101, Fido 318.

The first number in the address is the zone number; it represents
some vast geographic area, usually a country. Zone is a feature
that's just starting to be used; you can usually ignore it.

The second number (101) represents the net, the affiliation of
Fidos in a particular geographic area--in the example, the state
of Massachusetts (and one or two stragglers from Rhode Island).
Note that this number is always followed by a slash.

The third number (318) is the Fido number--the number of a
specific Fido board. Only one Fido in a net has this number. 
Somebody in another net might have that same node number, just as
somebody in a different telephone area code might have same
seven-digit telephone number.

So you can write this complete FidoNet address as either
1:101/318 or simply 101/318.

\bigpagebreak
\heading Finding an address \endheading

The problem is how to find the address of the Fido that somebody
uses. Unfortunately, there's no international FidoNet caller's
directory. Ideally, you know the complete numeric address of the
Fido that your friend uses. Short of that, FidoNet can help you
find the Fido's address if you know the Fido's net number, its
name, or its city. Assume for this exercise that your friend has
an account on the PC WEEK board in Boston, Massachusetts.

\bigpagebreak
\heading The N Command \endheading

The N command shows you a list of all the nets:

**
NET        1 Int'l Tech Coord, So Roxana IL, $0.22
NET       10 Calif Nevada, Lompoc CA, $0.26
NET      102 SoCalNet, Los Angeles CA, $0.26
\dots
\dots

NET       16 New England, CT ME MA NH RI VT, $0.20
NET      101 MassNet, Gardner MA, $0.20
\dots
\dots
NET      713 QLD NET, BRISBANE QLD AUSTRALIA, $2.38
NET       59 OCEANIA INDEPENDENT, SOUTH PACIFIC, $2.38
**

(The \dots indicate items present in the listing, but left out of
this example.) The number on a particular line is the number of
the net described. The next item on the line is the name of the
host of that net (or a creative contraction of the host's name).
The third item is the location of that host. The final number is
the amount of money it costs to send a message to that host from
the Fido that you're using at the moment. (In most cases, that's
also how much it costs to send a message to every Fido served by
that host.)

This list shows just a few of the nets; there are over 100 of
them. The idea is to browse through the net list until you find
one that's likely to encompass the board you're looking for. When
you find a likely candidate, you can stop the list by entering
CONTROL-C or CONTROL-K. 

Assume that the best candidate for a net likely to hold Boston's
PC WEEK board is net 101, the MassNet board located in Gardner,
Massachusetts. When Fido prompts you, you type 

101/ [CR]

This rather arcane message tells Fido you want to send a message
to some board affiliated with net 101.  Here's what the prompt
looks like after you've searched the Net list and entered the net
designation:

**
Current Net is NET      125 SF Bay Net, San Francisco CA, $0.26
Z)one N)et F)ido (or numeric FidoNet address) (?=Help): 101/
Current Net is NET      101 MassNet, Gardner MA, $0.20
Z)one N)et F)ido (or numeric FidoNet address) (?=Help): 
**

The current net number has changed; it's now 101. The current net
number determines what you'll see when you enter the F command.

\subheading{The F Command}

The F command lists all the Fidos in the current net:

**
Current Net is NET      101 MassNet, Gardner MA, $0.20
N)et F)ido (or numeric FidoNet address) (?=Help): F
NET        101 MassNet, Gardner MA, $0.20
            14 WayStar, Marlboro MA, $0.20
            27 Daves Fido, Gardner MA, $0.20
\dots
\dots
           318 PC Week, Boston MA, $0.20
           366 Westboro Fido, Westboro MA, $0.20
\dots
\dots
**

Again, there are too many boards in MassNet to list them all, but
you don't have to--PC WEEK is Board number 318 in net 101, or
101/318.

Yes, it is indeed crude, but it's effective. A better way of
locating a board's address is coming someday. Just hang in there
for now.
 
Try entering some fake FidoMail now to somebody in your own net,
just for the experience. (Remember to delete fake mail when
you're through.)

\bigpagebreak
\heading Sending a File \endheading

If you have a high enough access level, Fido will ask if you want
to attach a file to your message. You can send any file along
with your message, as long as the file exists somewhere on the
system operator's disk. Fido prompts you for a full pathname:

**
Attach File(s)? [y,N]: y
Full PathName(s): 
**

As you can see, you have to have very high access to be able to
attach files: Most people don't know what pathnames to use to get
around a system operator's disk. (The descriptive names in the
File Area list won't do as full pathnames.)

Why everybody can't attach files: Most system operators don't let
the majority of callers attach files to their messages because of
the expense and because of the access to the disk drive(s) this
command gives people. As to the expense: It's one thing to send a
message of a couple hundred words across the country at 1200
baud; that costs only a few cents. But sending a 50,000-byte file
across the country gets really expensive. The price you see in
the nodelist only covers a message; it can't take into account
the prices for sending files. (At present, FidoNet's accounting
system isn't very sophisticated.) Additionally, the Attach Files
feature gives a caller full access to the entire disk system.
This means, theoretically, that a caller could use MS-DOS
wildcard commands to attach the file \star.\star to a message--and send everything on the system operator's disk to, say,
Bangkok.

\bigpagebreak
\heading Files Section \endheading

The Files section holds files you can copy for your own use.
Callers (including you) donate files to the board using the
Upload command; the system operator then checks the files to make
sure that they're either in the public domain or that the file's
copyright owner has given permission that they be distributed
without charge. (See the section below called {\it ``Honor System
Distribution.''})  Fido can have up to 200 file areas in the
Files section, with an unlimited number of files in each area.
All the commands and prompts in all file areas are exactly the
same.

Here's what you get when you choose F)iles from the Main section: 

**
File Area 1: General Rock & Roll
F)iles D)ownload U)pload A)rea-Change T)ype 
S)tatistics L)ocate R)aw-Display 
K)ill-File O)verride-Path G)oodbye 
M)ain-Menu 
Command (?=help):
**

(Actually, you're likely not to see several of these commands:
R)aw-Display, K)ill-File and O)verride-Path are ordinarily
reserved for callers with the same access level as the system
operator. They're shown here for completeness.)

The first line tells you the number of the current file area, and
gives a brief description of the kinds of files this area holds.
The other lines list the commands. 

Here's a description of what each command means. Commands
preceded by a \circle are ordinarily available only to callers
with very high access levels :

\demo{F--Files list} Shows you the names of the files in this
section, the size of each file in bytes, and a brief description
of what the file does:\enddemo

**
CUTEFONE.EXE     7680 Turns your phone # into possible words
AREACODE.EXE    19328 Tells area codes for cities, and vice versa
QUOTES.BBS      17557 the quotes you get when you log on 
CH@OS.AD         1463 Text bomb to drop on other BBSs
\dots
**

You can use the MS-DOS wildcard characters \star and ? to list
specific files:

**
Command (?=help): *.EXE

CUTEFONE.EXE     7680 Turns your phone # into possible words
AREACODE.EXE    19328 Tells area codes for cities, and vice versa
**

See your MS-DOS manual for details on wildcard characters.

\demo{D--Download one or more files} Use this command to transfer
a copy of any file in the Files section to your computer. The
system you're using must have some kind of a storage device to
hold the file you're getting (which lets you out if you're using
just a terminal with no disk drives), and the telecommunications
program you're using to call Fido must have a file transfer
protocol that Fido can understand. Here's what you see:\enddemo

**
Command (?=help): D
A)scii, K)ermit, X)modem, XC)modem-CRC, T)elink
Transfer Type: A K X XC T (?=help): 
**

Fido tells you the size of the file in blocks (1 block = 128
bytes except for Kermit where it equals something strange), and
how long it will take to download the file using the protocol
you've selected. If you don't know what you're doing, use Xmodem. 

\proclaim{Honor System Distribution} There's a difference between
public domain software, ``Freeware'' (software, documentation,
and/or data that the producer is allowing people to use--usually
with certain restrictions--without charge), and ``Shareware''.
``Shareware''  is software, documentation, and/or data (often
copyrighted) distributed on the honor system: You get it free,
but you're honor-bound to send payment or a donation to the
producer if you continue to use it after a trial period. More
often than not, the income from Shareware is the only income the
producer gets. So if you don't send the money, you're literally
stealing somebody's paycheck.\endproclaim

You can use the MS-DOS wildcard characters \star and ? to
download several files in a row if you use the Telink or Kermit
protocols. See your MS-DOS manual for the details on wildcard
characters; see the manual that came with your telecommunications
software for information on Telink and/or Kermit.

\demo{U--Upload a file} Use this command to send files for
general posting in an appropriate Fido file area. This works
essentially like Download, except in reverse. (Fido can't tell
how long it will take to upload the file or how many blocks it
has, of course, as it does when you download a file.) The system
operator will ordinarily check the file you've sent to make sure
that it's either in the public domain or that the file's
copyright owner has given permission that the file be distributed
without charge. \enddemo

You can use the MS-DOS wildcard characters \star and ? to upload
several files in a row if you use the Telink or Kermit protocols.
See your MS-DOS manual for the details on wildcard characters;
see the manual that came with your telecommunications software
for information on Telink and/or Kermit.
 
Got enough room? Use the Statistics command in the Files section
to  check the available free space on the Fido you're using
before you use the Upload command. Fido has no way to warn you in
advance that your upload might get chopped off in the middle --
which happens when Fido runs out of upload disk space.

\demo{A--Area change.} This commands shows you all the file areas
and lets you change to another one:\enddemo

**
----- File Areas -----
  1) General Rock & Roll
\star 2) FidoNet Files
  4) IBM-PC Software
  5) Macintosh Software
File Area [3]: 
**

(The area marked with a \star is always the FidoNet Files
section.) The number between square brackets just before the
prompt is the area you were just in, and the area to which you'll
automatically return if you press Enter without typing another
number. Type the number of the file area you want to move to and
press Enter.

\proclaim{About missing numbers} The numbers of the areas that
appear in the areas list might not be sequential. Those areas do
exist; you just don't have access to them. Each individual system
operator determines who can see what areas and who can use which
commands. If you need access to some area that you know exists
but that doesn't appear on your screen, leave a note for the
system operator asking for access.\endproclaim

\demo{T--Type a text file on screen} This command scrolls the
contents of a text file onto your screen. (Files with the suffix
.DOC, .ASC, and .TXT are almost always text files.) It's
essentially the same as downloading a file using the ASCII
protocol.\enddemo

\demo{S--Statistics.} This shows the same information as does the
statistics command in the Main section, except that files
information replaces the FidoNet credit information.
Specifically, you'll see information on the number of bytes
you've uploaded or downloaded, and the space available for
uploading files in this area:\enddemo

**
28 Jul 87  21:13:22
                 Total   Limit   Remaining
Total Calls:       264
Your Calls:         41
Connect Time:        1       0       0
24 Hr Time Limit:            0       0
Disk Space:                 20M     17M
24 Hr Dnld Limit:            0K      0K
Downloaded:          0
Uploaded:            0K
**

\demo{L--Locate a file in any file area} that you have access to.
Use this command to find out if Fido has a file you're looking
for, and if so what area it's in:\enddemo

Command (?=help): L
File(s) to search for: TWIX.DOC
  1) General Rock & Roll
\star 2) FidoNet Files
  3) Tools
TWIX.DOC     774 accurate but ugly
  4) IBM-PC Software
  5) Macintosh Software

Found 1 matching files
**

You can use the MS-DOS wildcard characters \star and ? to locate
specific files. See your MS-DOS manual for wildcard character
details.


\circle \demo{R--list all files and subdirectory names in the
current directory} (The Files command in reality just presents
some of the contents of a file called FILES.BBS, an ordinarily
hidden file that holds a list of essential data about all
available files, but that doesn't necessarily show the complete
contents of any subdirectory.) Most often, this command is used
by the system operator to perform Fido housekeeping tasks from
some location other than the terminal connected to the computer
that's actually running Fido.\enddemo

You can use the MS-DOS wildcard characters \star and ? to locate
specific files. See your MS-DOS manual for wildcard character
details.

\circle \demo{K--delete a file and removes its entry from
FILES.BBS} (The contents of FILES.BBS is what gets displayed when
you give the File command.) Most often, this command is used by
the system operator to perform Fido housekeeping tasks from some
location other than the terminal connected to the computer that's
actually running Fido.\enddemo

\demo{O--Override the normal pathname} Ordinarily available only
to callers with a privilege level equal to that of the system
operator, the O)verride-Path command lets you specify a different
pathname for the display of files summoned by any command in the
File section (except the A)rea-Change command). The original
pathname is reset as soon as you leave the current area (for
example, by using M)ain-Menu, A)rea-Change, or G)oodbye). Most
often, this command is used by the system operator to perform
Fido housekeeping tasks from some location other than the
terminal connected to the computer that's actually running
Fido.\enddemo

\demo{G--Goodbye} Use this to log off the system. (Actually, you
can just shut off your modem if you want to.) Often this will
give you a chance to leave a private message to the system
operator.\enddemo

\demo{M--Main menu} Returns you to the Main section.\enddemo

\bigpagebreak
\heading Fido's Command Buffer--An Undocumented Feature
\endheading

Experienced callers can save a lot of time by skirting many of
Fido's prompts. You do this by putting several commands on the
same line, separated by spaces. For example, assume that you
start from the Main Section,  and that you want to list the files
in area 7--an area different from the one you looked at the last
time you used the File section. Here's how you'd do it:

**
	F A 7 F [CR]
**

You'll go directly from the Main Menu to a list of the files in
Area 7. This is possible because Fido's commands are all (or
nearly all) one-character commands, a bunch of which Fido can
remember in its command buffer.

Here's a further shortcut: Use a vertical bar to represent a
carriage return. For example, at the signon prompt, Fido expects
to see up to three names (First, Middle, Last). Use the vertical
bar to indicate you've finished with your name, then go on to
confirm that the name is correct and add your password:

**
	John Scribblemonger | Y Scribe [CR]
**

You'll end up going directly from the signon prompt to the post-signon messages without going through the prompts in between.

The More? prompt clears Fido's command buffer. This means that if
a system message is so long that it puts the More? prompt at the
bottom of the screen, Fido waits for you to press the Enter key
before going on--and then forgets whatever other commands you've
entered. For example:

**
John Scribblemonger | Y Scribe F A 7 D X Mortcalc.EXE | G N [CR]
**

This line would log John Scribblemonger onto the system (using
his password Scribe), go to area 7 of the Files section, use the
Xmodem protocol to download a program called Mortcalc.EXE, and
log off the system without leaving a message for the system
operator. But if the system operator has a long post-signon
message that invokes [More?], all the commands after the password
get trashed. The solution is to use the C)hange command to turn
off the [More?] prompt--and pray for a clean phone line.


Just to be complete: Other things that flush this type-ahead
buffer (as it's called in the trade) are CONTROL-C, CONTROL-K,
CONTROL-S (which pauses output), and CONTROL-F (whose only
purpose is to flush the type-ahead buffer).

\bye
