6487 (U.E.S)

By

Willie Goebel

Introduction:

The name of the program ("6487 Exchange" in one case, and "Ultimate Exchange" in another) suggests lowly roots in the 6480 line of BBS programs. However, from top to bottom, aside from certain suggestions of its past, this IS a new program.

In the first place, the system configuration and setup utilities are OFF-line! This means that such details as the name of your system, the modem you are using, and so forth are not set AFTER you boot the BBS! Another staple of the 648X line of BBS programs was the hard coded menus. Well, these have remained, but a very exciting twist has been thrown in (see below). One might almost think this program was meant to be a full fledged BBS program instead of a prototype FTP server like its predecessors.

Below you can see a faintly familiar waiting for call screen:

Fairly standard 648x W.F.C. screen

And here is the SysOp menu for comparison with the older versions:

Where's the loaded SysOp menu?

The truely remarkable thing about this software, however, is the odd area in which the author added flexibility to what was a very rigid program: op-codes! It seems the menus of this system, instead of being hard-coded commands and keys whose functions are written in BASIC stone, are actually lists of definable command keys which execute definable functions (op-codes) with data fields to further define the execution. What's odd, however, is that the text of the menus themselves remain hard coded in a sense-- they are generated from the command keys and descriptions provided instead of being drawn up by the SysOp. However, the command key/op-code system here has the potential of being a truely revolutionary system if taken to its logical conclusion, which it was not.

The above then points out another interesting point about this program. From the surprise of programmable menus, to the surprise of finding Nick Smith's name attached to one hacked copy, it seems two programs (All American and Zelch 128) appear to be have been strongly influenced by 6487/U.E.S. Zelch 128 was started in 1987, but Nick Smith was already going over to All American 128 by then, and so must have worked concurrently on the two.

You can see below some screen grabs from a configured system. This configuration is, of course, optional. :)

A fairly full main menu on this version.

Although it is surprising that the transfer options have been moved off the main menu, it is some consolation that they may be easily moved back with the off-line menu making program.

The default transfers menu-- now separate

The Facts:

Hardware Information

Computer    :   Commodore 64 or 128 in 64 mode
Video       :   40 Columns
Drives      :   (1-4) Commodore, limited CMD (no parts, no subdirs)
Modems      :   1600, 1650, 1660, 1670, Hayes, other 300-1200 RS232
Input       :   Keyboard
Output      :   Printer optional
RAM use     :   N/A
Special     :

General

Pgm Struct  :   Single program
Menu Struct :   Menus are command hotkeys executing definable op-codes
Translation :   ASCII only
Access      :   8 levels, very limited configurations
Handle/ID   :   Handle/name used, users listed by id
User info   :   Handle, password, access, credits
User Logs   :   Calls and xfers to disk or printer
Calls/Time  :   By access, 2 min idle timer built in
Network     :   N/A
Customizing :   As many menus as you want, each doing whatever you like
  Programs  :   Compiled BASIC, not customizable
  Displays  :   Not customizable
  Commands  :   Very flexible; keys and associated actions are definable
Areas       :   Depends upon configuration of a particular system
  E-mail    :   Associated op-codes may appear in any menu
  Messages  :   One op-code for entire system; separate area
  Transfers :   Associated op-codes may appear in any menu
  Network   :   N/A
  Programs  :   N/A
  Text      :   Associated op-codes may appear in any menu
  User Cmds :   "
  SysOp     :   "
  Voting    :   ", free answer system
  News      :   N/A
  Help      :   N/A
Other       :

SysOp Utilities and Support

Offline     :   Menu maker, configuration and setup editors
Online      :   User editors, disk access, terminal program
Remote      :   User editors, disk access
On-L Display:   User info line only
W.F.C. Utils:   Same as online utils
Chatting    :   From a valid prompt
User        :   Complete editors
Msg Bases   :   Offline creators only
Transfers   :   Open system
Programs    :   N/A
Network     :   N/A
Drives      :   CBM-DOS prompt available
Terminal    :   Xfer terminal available

News

Structure   :   Omni message (short text message) at logon
Header      :   No set header
Weeding     :   N/A
Display     :   At logon or on command

Messages

Structure   :   Linear style, unlinked
Bases       :   Named bases, listed by number
Limits      :   Only those enforced by SysOp
            :
Reading     :   By number only
Headers     :   Name, date, subject
Format      :   Text only
Writing     :   As new post only, no replies
Anonymous   :   Not supported
Network     :   N/A
Other       :

Message Editor

Structure   :   Line editor
Commands    :   Return on a blank line brings menu
Editing     :   Rewrite lines only
Formatting  :   No formatting supported
Graphics    :   Not supported

Transfers

Bases       :   Open directory system
Storage     :   On any drive
Limits      :   Limits enforced by SysOp
Credits     :   Ratio system implemented
Protocols   :   Punter (multi)
Headers     :   Filename, blocks
Selection   :   By name
Listing     :   Directories only
Network     :   N/A
Other       :

Text Libraries

Structure   :   Linear list of up to 99 files
Storage     :   As standard SEQ files
Network     :   N/A
Other       :

E-Mail

Structure   :   Sending opcode may appear in any menu
Sending     :   By ID number
Receiving   :   At log-on only
Network     :   N/A
Other       :

Program Libraries

Structure   :   N/A
Programs    :   N/A
Network     :   N/A
Other       :


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