DMBBS BBS

By

Lee Vandoran and ARTIsoft

Introduction:

The basic DMBBS loader program.

DMBBS was originally written by Lee Vandoran based on CMBBS back in the mid 80's at JHU in Baltimore, Maryland. The name reflects Lee Vandoran's affection for the rock group DepecheMODE. The BBS was later sold to Chris Stephens (Ronin) and Jay (TheWizzKid) who created ARTIsoft.

DMBBS would fall under the catagory of the stock and standard Commodore 64 BBS program. Few if any features are notably lacking, and many of the later advances brought to the BBS scene by CMBBS, Color 64, and C-Net were incorporated into a colorful system.

A colorful and informative waiting for call system.

The documentation provided is complete, and the system is easy to set up. The hardware supported is reasonable for the year this version was released, and great care has been taken to milk the color-graphics abilities of PETSKI in every means possible.

The C-Net/CMBBS style main menu.

ARTIsoft, the makers of this system, are a very professional bunch as well. Offering online programs (modules) as add-ons, and offering subscriptions for a year of modules shows a lot of business sense. They reel you in with the basic setup and milk your pocketbook dry adding feature after feature, game after game, as external attachments available for a fee.

The Facts:

Hardware Information

Computer    :   Commodore 64 or 128 in 64 mode
Video       :   40 columns
Drives      :   CBM, limited CMD (no parts, no subdirs)
Modems      :   1650, 1660, 1670, Hayes (300-2400)
Input       :   Keyboard
Output      :   Screen, Printer
RAM use     :   Built-in RAMDOS configuration support
Special     :

General

Pgm Struct  :   Single self-sufficient program
Menu Struct :   Modular system, keyword entry.
Translation :   ASCII, PETSCII
Access      :   10 progressive levels, limited definability
Handle/ID   :   Handles allowed, users listed by ID
User info   :   Name, Access, Handle, Credits, Posts, Passoword, Location
User Logs   :   Name, Date/Time, and all commands entered while online
Calls/Time  :   Calls hard coded, time limit settable for all, idle timer
Network     :   N/A
Customizing :   Not terribly customizable
  Programs  :   Program is compiled BASIC, not changable
  Displays  :   Displays are SEQ files, easy to change
  Commands  :   Not changable
Areas       :   Almost all selections from main menu
  E-mail    :   Separate menu
  Messages  :   Separate menu
  Transfers :   Separate menu
  Network   :   N/A
  Programs  :   From main menu
  Text      :   Separate menu
  User Cmds :   Separate menu
  SysOp     :   Separate menu
  Voting    :   N/A
  News      :   At logon, or from main menu
  Help      :   From main menu
Other       :

SysOp Utilities and Support

Offline     :   Full Configurator and system editor
Online      :   Chat, access, file editing, dos, file copier, user editor, force off
Remote      :   File editing, DOS commands, file copier, user editor
On-L Display:   Screen-top bar/window with user name, access, and phone
W.F.C. Utils:   Terminal, log reading, printer toggle, logon, sysop availability
Chatting    :   From any prompt
User        :   Full editors available
Msg Bases   :   Offline configurator only, some integrated sysop options
Transfers   :   Integrated sysop functions available
Programs    :   Offline configurator only
Network     :   N/A
Drives      :   Full DOS access
Terminal    :   Full featured ascii/petskii transfer capable program

News

Structure   :   Single opening file
Header      :   No set header
Weeding     :   By SysOp only
Display     :   At logon

Messages

Structure   :   Linear style, mostly unthreaded
Bases       :   Named bases, listed by number
Limits      :   Overall post limits set per base
            :    Weeded by system
Reading     :   Scanning, or forward reading by number
Headers     :   Name, subject, time, date, location
Format      :   Text and color/graphics
Writing     :   New posts only
Anonymous   :   Not allowed
Network     :   N/A
Other       :

Message Editor

Structure   :   Line editor
Commands    :   Meta commands from blank line, editing, uppercase graphics, word wrap
Editing     :   Line replacement and deleting/inserting
Formatting  :   Word wrap (40 and 80 column)
Graphics    :   Supported, including uppercase graphics and smart deleting

Transfers

Bases       :   Named bases, listed by number
Storage     :   In directory files listing all downloadables
Limits      :   Enforced by SysOp only
Credits     :   Ratio system implemented
Protocols   :   Punter, multi-punter, Xmodem
Headers     :   Filename, blocks, date, type, descriptions
Selection   :   By number
Listing     :   Directory only as above
Network     :   N/A
Other       :

Text Libraries

Structure   :   Named libraries listed by number
Storage     :   As standard text files, filenames in a list file
Network     :   N/A
Other       :

E-Mail

Structure   :   On separate menu
Sending     :   By ID number
Receiving   :   At logon, or on demand
Network     :   N/A
Other       :

Program Libraries

Structure   :   Set of separate programs listable from main menu
Programs    :   Self-sufficient programs, explicit interaction with BBS code
Network     :   N/A
Other       :


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