Electro-Com BBS

By

Alex Tucker

Introducing Electro-Com

Introduction:

According to reports, Mr. Bowers built this program by modifying the BASIC source for Ivory BBS. Like the 648x line, it seems Ivory had many admirers who thought it was the foundation for something better.

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

648x W.F.C. screen? Or an AABBS reflection?

Most of the "configuration" type options have been placed in a separate configuration program where they belong.

A *real* configuration program.

There's no doubt that this program was conceived and built as a full-fledged BBS program, complete with a polling area, message bases, an "information" area, color/graphics support, and of course the obligatory transfers section.

The Electro-Com default main menu.

Of course, as a BBS program, it rates about average at best, mostly because of the slightly substandard message base construction, the almost featureless editor, counterbalanced with a few extras like the polling area, uppercase graphics support, a "file searcher" in the transfers area, and a chat request noise that sounds like a fart.

The Facts:

Hardware Information

Computer    :   Commodore 64 or 128 in 64 mode
Video       :   40 Columns
Drives      :   Commodore, limited CMD (no parts, no subdirs)
Modems      :   1670, Hayes, 300-1200
Input       :   Keyboard
Output      :   Screen, and printer for logs
RAM use     :   N/A
Special     :

General

Pgm Struct  :   Single program
Menu Struct :   Mostly modular, hotkey system
Translation :   PETSKI, ASCII
Access      :   8 levels, very limited configurations
Handle/ID   :   Handles allowed, users listed by id
User info   :   Handle, password, access, credits
User Logs   :   Calls and xfers to disk or printer
Calls/Time  :   Calls by access, time hard coded, idle timer built in
Network     :   N/A
Customizing :   Not easily done
  Programs  :   Compiled BASIC, not customizable
  Displays  :   Some SEQ files, menus.
  Commands  :   No
Areas       :   Mostly a modular system
  E-mail    :   At logon or from main menu
  Messages  :   Separate menu
  Transfers :   Separate menu
  Network   :   N/A
  Programs  :   N/A
  Text      :   See "Text Libraries"
  User Cmds :   Stats only from main menu
  SysOp     :   From waiting for call only
  Voting    :   From main menu
  News      :   At logon
  Help      :   See "Text Libraries"
Other       :

SysOp Utilities and Support

Offline     :   Menu maker, configuration and setup editor
Online      :   Chat, access, stats
Remote      :   View logs, some integrated functions
On-L Display:   Nada
W.F.C. Utils:   File editors, terminal, log viewers
Chatting    :   From a valid prompt
User        :   Complete editors
Msg Bases   :   Offline creators only
Transfers   :   Open system
Programs    :   N/A
Network     :   N/A
Drives      :   DOS access from transfers menu
Terminal    :   Xfer terminal available

News

Structure   :   Short 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      :   Post limit
            :   Enforced by system
Reading     :   By number, or new
Headers     :   Name, date, subject
Format      :   Text or upper/lower color/graphics
Writing     :   As new post only, no replies
Anonymous   :   Supported
Network     :   N/A
Other       :

Message Editor

Structure   :   Line editor
Commands    :   Return on a blank line brings menu
Editing     :   Rewrite lines only
Formatting  :   Wierd pseudo-word wrap (line wrap?) supported
Graphics    :   Uppercase and color/graphics, no cursor movements

Transfers

Bases       :   Open directory system
Storage     :   As open files on the transfer drive
Limits      :   Limits enforced by SysOp
Credits     :   Ratio system implemented, ratio set per user
Protocols   :   Punter (multi), and Xmodem
Headers     :   Filename, blocks, type, transfer time
Selection   :   By name
Listing     :   Directories or program searcher
Network     :   N/A
Other       :

Text Libraries

Structure   :   As "Information" files listable off main menu
Storage     :   As standard SEQ files
Network     :   N/A
Other       :

E-Mail

Structure   :   At logon, or from main menu
Sending     :   By name, from main menu only
Receiving   :   At logon only
Network     :   N/A
Other       :

Program Libraries

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


If you find anything in here you have questions or comments about, free to leave me email right here.

To return to my home page, click here.