.TOPIC:                                           
Main Configuration - Screen One

                                           VBBS 6.12 Documentation -- 2-A-1


         ͻ
          CHAPTER TWO ANNEX A    1. MAIN CONFIGURATION -- Screen One     
         ͼ

         1) BBS Name
            
            This is where you enter your BBS' name, so that VBBS can
            display it as needed.

         2) Sysop Name
            
            This field contains your name or handle, or the name or
            handle of the primary system operator.

         3) Timeout
            
            This numeric value determines how long a user may remain
            inactive (not typing anything) before being automatically
            logged off the BBS.  The value is expressed in seconds,
            and the user will receive a "beep" warning at the midpoint
            of the interval.

            For example, a setting of 360 would allow for 6 minutes of
            inactivity; the user would receive a warning after 3 min-
            utes, and would be logged off after 3 more minutes of in-
            activity.

         4) Start-Up Script
            
            This is the first script that is run after a user logs on.
            For the default VBBS setup, this is START, which reflects
            the small START.V script included in the VBBS archive.

         5) PAUSE string
            
            This allows you to customize your "press any key to con-
            tinue" prompt.

         6) Idle Modem
            
            This setting defines what, if anything, to do with the
            modem when the BBS is busy doing certain offline func-
            tions, such as unpacking network mail, running external
            events, doing daily maintenance, etc.  The choices are
            "Modem Off-Hook" and "Do Nothing".

            If you select "Modem Off-Hook", then VBBS will "busy out"
            your phone line as needed for offline functions.  When the
            offline function is completed, VBBS will re-initialize the 
            modem and resume servicing callers.  Note that setting the 
            MODEM off-hook does NOT set an attached PHONE off-hook; if
            a call comes in while the modem is off-hook, the phone
            will still ring (and this can be QUITE annoying).

                                           VBBS 6.12 Documentation -- 2-A-2


         7) Registration #
            
            This is where you enter your VBBS registration number,
            when you get one.  The only way to get a valid registra-
            tion number is to register VBBS with Virtual Technologies.
            Please note that registration numbers are different for
            the DOS and OS/2 versions.

         8) New User Password
            
            In this field, you may specify your system's new-user
            passowrd.  Leaving this field blank disables the new-
            user password entirely.  The presence of a password in
            this field will require that a first-time remote caller
            actually know what the password is.

         9) Blank WFC Screen
            
            This setting configures the VBBS automatic WFC (Waiting
            For Call) screen blanker.  Like the "Timeout" option,
            this value is expressed in seconds; a value of 300 in
            this field would blank out the WFC screen after 5 min-
            utes.  A value of 0 in this field disables screen blan-
            king entirely.

         A) Reserve Space
            
            This setting, expressed in kilobytes (KB), instructs VBBS
            to reserve some of your hard-drive space so that suffi-
            cient space to operate the BBS is always available on your
            hard drive.  When the free space on your upload drive
            drops below this value, uploads will not be allowed onto
            the board; this is for your protection.

            A value of 0 in this field disables this feature.

         B) Using WATCH.COM
            
            WATCH.COM is a small shareware utility that senses unan-
            swered telephone rings to your system and will reboot the
            computer after so many rings, or arbitrarily every few
            hours.

            This is a YES or NO setting; if YES, VBBS will issue com-
            mands to WATCH.COM as needed.  If NO, the feature is dis-
            abled.

         C) Allow Handles
            
            This setting determines whether a user's primary means of
            identification on your system is a "handle" or his real
            name.  Note that some networks and networked message bases
            do not allow the use of handles.

                                           VBBS 6.12 Documentation -- 2-A-3


         D) Daily Clean-Up
            
            This setting specifies the time VBBS will run automatic
            database cleanup.  The time must be entered in HH:MM for-
            mat using military time.  A setting of 00:00 disables
            this feature, but this is not recommended unless you make
            some provision for some kind of cleanup utility as an ex-
            ternal event.

         ͻ    Not setting a cleanup time is a common mistake among new
         ͼ    sysops; if you notice the messages piling up and your
                hard-drive space diminishing rapidly, this is a good place
                to start looking for the source of the problem.

         E) Allow 255 Remote
            
            This feature may be used as an extra security measure to
            prevent someone from ever gaining sysop access via remote.
            If you need to access the sysop functions of your BBS re-
            motely, or wish to give a co-sysop or other individual
            that privilege, then choose YES for this setting.

         F) System Password
            
            This field contains your system password and is an op-
            tional level of security.  All users with a security level
            (SL) of 255, or sysop security, will be prompted for the
            system password when logging in.

         G) Registration Code
            
            When you register VBBS with Virtual Technologiesr, you
            will be sent a letter with your registration code. Enter
            that code in this field EXACTLY as it is shown on the card.
            Put the letter in a safe place where you'll KNOW where it
            is.

            The combined entry of a valid registration number and your
            registration code "unlocks" your copy of VBBS and enables
            full operation (see "Registration" for details).

         H) Use FOSSIL Driver
            
            This setting lets you tell VBBS to use a FOSSIL driver.
            FOSSIL drivers are especially useful in certain multi-user
            applications of VBBS, although they are not required.  If
            this is set to NO, VBBS will use its own internal COM rou-
            tines.

         ͻ    The internal serial routines in VBBS are preferred to
         ͼ    the use of fossil drivers.

                                           VBBS 6.12 Documentation -- 2-A-4


         I) Sysop Page Control
            
            This option allows you to select between two different
            methods of detecting sysop availability.  The most popular
            choice is to let the lighted [Scroll Lock] key toggle sys-
            op availability.  Sysops with non-standard keyboards may
            set this to toggle by hitting the [A] key at the WFC
            screen.  Note that the [Scroll Lock] key may be toggled
            at any time anywhere in the system.

         J) WFC Drive List
            
            This is the list of hard drives you want displayed on the
            WFC screen.  The drive letter, size, free space, and per-
            centage of space free will be displayed; if free space
            drops below a particular percentage, that display line
            will change color.

         K) # Active Channels
            
            This setting lets you optimize VBBS for the number of si-
            multaneous online users (active ports) that you are set up
            for on your multi-user VBBS installation.  If you have two
            lines running into your multi-user VBBS, set this to 2; if
            you have four lines, set it to 4, and so on.

            Single-line VBBS installations should set this value to 1.

         L) Log Detail Level
            
            This defines the level of detail that VBBS maintains in
            its BBS.LOG file.  There are two settings:  NORMAL, which
            shows the typical actions of a user (logon time, door
            calls, etc.); and EXTENDED, which also shows the indivi-
            dual keystrokes the user makes at the various menus within
            the system.

         ͻ    The EXTENDED level is useful for tracking users' progress
         ͼ    within the BBS; it can be particularly helpful in identi-
                fying users who head straight for the game or transfer
                sections.

         Z) SCREEN TWO
            
            Takes you to the second screen of MAIN configuration.

