ZBBS v1.2

By

Mr. Bill

Introduction:

"Mr. Bill" is Bill Fink, also the author of Elite BBS, founder of Elite Software, and co-author of the Zelch 128 BBS, all of which appear on these pages.

The genesis of this program is something I've never asked my old programming partner about, but apparantly now need to. I believe this program was adapted from another program whose source was available, but which program is not apparant to me at this point. Knowing Bill however, and having looked at the program, I can assure you its look and feel is as customized as any program can be. The colorful screens and darkterm font lend a definite style to this clean tight program.

The waiting for call screen has a big old last caller window.

ZBBS is fairly standard in the message base area, having a lot in common with the 648x message bases with an important exception-- options. Tons of options available from the reading menu, though it doesn't quite approach Color 64's highly linked system. The transfers area is open directory style.

The darkterm font and colorful lines of text give this BBS its charm.

There is a full main menu, though many of the options have been pushed to submenus almost to the C-Net extent.

Lots of choices here, though most of the fun is in the submenus.

The Facts:

ZBBS has a fairly standard set of options competently if not sophisticatedly implemented.

Hardware Information

Computer    :   Commodore 64 or 128 in 64 mode
Video       :   40 columns
Drives      :   1-4 CBM, limited CMD (no parts, no subdirs)
Modems      :   1650, 1660, 1670, Hayes & Rs232 (300-1200 baud)
Input       :   Keyboard
Output      :   Screen only
RAM use     :   N/A
Special     :

General

Pgm Struct  :   Single program
Menu Struct :   Hard coded hot key menus with SEQ file displays
Translation :   ASCII, PETSCII
Access      :   10 levels, limited configurations
Handle/ID   :   Handles allowed, users listed by ID
User info   :   Handle, name, phone, password, access, up/downloads, etc
User Logs   :   Handle, date/time
Calls/Time  :   No call limit, time same for all levels
Network     :   N/A
Customizing :   Not terribly, without the source
  Programs  :   Compiled BASIC, not changable
  Displays  :   Most displays are SEQ files, changable
  Commands  :   Not changable
Areas       :   Most things are in submenus
  E-mail    :   From main menu
  Messages  :   Separate area
  Transfers :   Separate area
  Network   :   N/A
  Programs  :   N/A
  Text      :   Separate area
  User Cmds :   From main menu
  SysOp     :   Separate menu
  Voting    :   Separate menu
  News      :   From main menu
  Help      :   N/A
Other       :

SysOp Utilities and Support

Offline     :   Configurator and setup utilities
Online      :   Chat and SysOp commands
Remote      :   User, file editors, and DOS wedge
On-L Display:   User window with handle and ID
W.F.C. Utils:   Local logon only
Chatting    :   From any prompt
User        :   Full editor available
Msg Bases   :   From configurator only
Transfers   :   From configurator and DOS wedge only
Programs    :   N/A
Network     :   N/A
Drives      :   DOS command prompt available
Terminal    :   Not implemented

News

Structure   :   Single opening bulletin
Header      :   No set header
Weeding     :   By SysOp only
Display     :   At logon, or on demand

Messages

Structure   :   Linear style, unlinked
Bases       :   Named bases, listed by number
Limits      :   Message limits settable
            :   Weeded by SysOp
Reading     :   By number, or local new
Headers     :   Name, to, subject, date
Format      :   Text and color/graphics
Writing     :   New posts only, replies are new posts
Anonymous   :   Anonymous posts allowed
Network     :   N/A
Other       :

Message Editor

Structure   :   Line editor
Commands    :   Insertion, deletion, edit, replace
Editing     :   Search/replace, line rewriting
Formatting  :   No formatting implemented
Graphics    :   Color/graphics supported

Transfers

Bases       :   Unknown, unoperative
Storage     :     "
Limits      :     "
Credits     :     "
Protocols   :     "
Headers     :     "
Selection   :     "
Listing     :     "
Network     :   N/A
Other       :

Text Libraries

Structure   :   List of files on a single menu
Storage     :   Standard SEQ files
Network     :   N/A
Other       :

E-Mail

Structure   :   From main menu
Sending     :   By handle or ID
Receiving   :   At logon, or on demand
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.