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Table of Contents
1. ARTICLES ................................................. 1
Bodies Behind the BBS: New FidoNews Column .............. 4
Discovery Press Conference Day 2 ......................... 5
DOS? What, me worry? ..................................... 14
NAFT Not Another File Tosser!? ........................... 15
National MegaList ........................................ 19
2. COLUMNS .................................................. 20
Bodies Behind the BBS: Rick Moore ....................... 20
Rogel's Corner: Introduction; Xtree 2.0 vs. Tree86 1.0 .. 22
3. NOTICES .................................................. 32
The Interrupt Stack ...................................... 32
Latest Software Versions ................................. 32
FidoNews 5-44 Page 1 31 Oct 1988
David, I feel it's time for you to step aside. You have served
FidoNet well, but I believe the time has come when you can serve
it best by resigning your position as International Coordinator.
I've tried to express this to you privately, and quietly shared
these concerns with a number of people in key positions in
FidoNet. I've hesitated from making a public statement to this
effect, as have others, because I'm sure my words will be twisted
and used by those who regard you as Satan Incarnate. However, I
see far too many cases where other people's silence is being
interpreted as support for your actions, much to their detriment
and the detriment of FidoNet as a whole.
For the record, I do not question your motives. I believe you
have, in all cases, acted in good faith and to the best of your
abilities, under extremely adverse circumstances. Further, I
believe the root problems are not of your creation - simply that
the situation has gone beyond your ability to deal with it.
Fundamental Problems
Poor Communications Skills
The fundamental problem it is paradoxical to have a
communications network headed by someone with limited
communications (and for that matter, technical) skills.
Simply stated, you do not effectively use the tools at your
disposal to communicate with the body of FidoNet. When you do
share your thinking directly with the network, very often the
chapter and verse don't reflect what you really think. More
importantly, you don't share your thinking often enough, even
with the upper echelons of the network.
Burnout
It is my personal observation that you are burned out. You've
talked about resignation with me and others. My feeling is that
if you've considered it as much as you have, you probably should.
Would you be happier not being IC? If the answer is yes, then by
definition, you can't be doing the best possible job.
I can tell you I'm happier not being an RC. I have more time to
code, which is what I do best in service to the net and myself.
Your experience with internet gateways and medical conferencing
will result, in the long run, in more good than your service as
IC. I hate to quote trite EST-isms, but there is logic in
FidoNews 5-44 Page 2 31 Oct 1988
"Putting your good where it will do the best". You are a doctor,
not a manager or politician or technician.
Erratic Management
The network is being managed in an extremely erratic manner. I
do not question your right to have made many of the decisions you
have, or even the logic. But I do have problems with the manner
in which nearly all the top level decisions have been made over
the past three to five months.
Decisions have been on-again, off-again, and are not evenly
applied across regions. It's difficult to say if this is a basic
problem, or a symptom of the communications problem - but it
hardly matters; as problems go, this one has taken on a life of
its own.
Making Decisions for the Wrong Reasons
You are making decisions for the wrong reasons. Even if the
decisions happen to be right, that doesn't mitigate anything. To
say it does approaches Machiavellian (The Ends Justify the
Means.)
An Irretreivable Situation
Essentially, I believe your "mandate" has been so badly eroded
that even if you started to communicate, and even if sound
decisions were evenly made and applied, little or no progress
would be made.
FidoNet is in stalemate. In FidoNet, perception is reality. I
don't believe you can overcome your perception in FidoNet, and
therefore, the reality is the best way to break the stalemate is
for you to step aside.
Ancillary Comments
You can't find a replacement if you don't look
The thing that convinced me to step aside from my position as RC
was an argument that destroyed my principal reason for staying -
I didn't see anyone willing and able to do the job. But one very
wise sysop kept telling me I'd never find one if I didn't let
people know the job was available.
You might not see a suitable replacement for yourself; I see
several (NOT ME!), and I'm sure there are others that've not
occurred to me.
Every "Major Player" I've talked to agrees with this
FidoNews 5-44 Page 3 31 Oct 1988
I've talked to a number of people in key positions in
FidoNet/IFNA, and many influential sysops. I've yet to talk to
anyone who feels differently. They all understand that your
resignation will be regarded as a victory for this faction or
that, and loudly cheered here and there. But that will ALWAYS be
true, and is therefore a moot point.
I'd like to see those sysops I've spoken to, and any others that
agree, to rationally, logically express their thoughts on the
matter, preferably in some public forum. If you disagree, do the
same.
But I'd like to ask the sysops who are screaming for David's head
to stop. Don't stop because I ask - be pragmatic and
self-serving. Look at it this way - do you respond logically to
ad-hominum attacks? Or do you become more stubborn, and dig in?
EVERY one of the sysops referred to a couple of paragraphs back
cites a common reason for not being more forthright in expressing
their thoughts - they don't want to be used as fodder by this
faction or that.
A Clean Sweep
I believe there are many people in the upper echelons of the
network who are similarly burned out. Given that the ZEC is
resigning, and I'm advocating the IC resign, I believe EVERY
regional level coordinator should submit their resignations, and
more than a couple should be accepted.
An Attempt to Personalize FidoNet
A New Column for FidoNews
FidoNet is not a collection of computers. It's a collection of
people, some of whom use computer bulletin boards and some of
whom run computer bulletin boards. Judging from echomail, we
sometimes get confused and forget that there is a person sitting
back there behind that net/node address. It's pretty easy to
treat people like they are computers (without feelings) when you
have never met them, and don't know anything about them.
I know that I can't introduce all 3500 sysops in FidoNet with a
column in FidoNews, but I'm going to try to provide a bit of
background on some of the more interesting players. Maybe this
will even lower the flame level in echomail by the slightest
amount. If it does, it's worth it. At any rate, it will give me
an outlet for an occasional editorial comment, as well as give
all of us insight into who these people are that we "talk with".
So each week you can look forward with baited breath for a few
juicy tidbits about someone whose name you probably know. This
week you'll meet Rick Moore, the new head of the FTSC. Next week
is Tom Hendricks, who is to head up the certification process for
FidoNet-compatible software. After that -- well, let me know who
you would like to know about. A brief netmail note to 115/777,
and I'll do what I can. In the absence of direction, I plan to
go after the IFNA board of directors and a number of other
colorful characters whose names keep popping up in echomail.
If you like the column, let me know. If you don't let me know
that, too. If you want to be kind, let me know how I might
improve it. And if you would like to be featured, send in your
bio!
During the entire Discovery mission, the Jet Propulsion
Laboratory in Pasadena offered the ham radio community a two
meter downlink of the air-ground voice communications link.
Through several repeater systems owned privately and
governmentally, the ham radio world and short wave receiver world
were able to monitor much of what was said through this link.
Because of the many satellite and repeater links used to bring
the signal into the Southern California area, and the many
problems we had with unauthorized transmitters attempting to jam
the NASA broadcast, many gaps and system failures occurred,
causing breaks in the link.
In addition, as the shuttle moved between ground station
communication facilities and, indeed, between radio black outs,
there are some gaps in the transcribed audio-tape-to-paper
article.
I am attempting to obtain a proper recording of the mission
commanders comments right before the press conference. It's a
fitting comment for our space efforts and I felt angry at the
person who was able to overpower the downlink causing me to miss
the recording session, (the jammer was caught within seconds;
Doppler direction finding equipment; is now cooling it in county
lock up for frigging with a utility).
Here, then, is a somewhat scratchy copy of the press conference.
I might add that I have transcribed the flight starting from two
hours to touch down and will be posting all of that as well.
Note: For the benefit of the MENSA members in our network, LOS is
short for Loss Of Signal and AOS is short for Acquisition Of
Signal. TV is short for television.
- - -
[] Gazing outside, we can understand why mankind has looked
towards the heavens with awe and wonder since the dawn of human
existence.
We can comprehend why our countrymen have been driven to explore
the vast expanse of space.
We are convinced that this is the road, the road that Americans
must travel to maintain the dream of our constitution. To secure
the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our prosperity.
As we, the crew of Discovery, witness this Earthly splendor from
Americas spacecraft less than 200 miles separate us from the
remainder of mankind. In a fraction of a second, our words reach
your ears. But less we ever forget that these few miles
represent a great gulf. That to ascend through this seemingly
FidoNews 5-44 Page 6 31 Oct 1988
tranquil sea will always be fraught with danger let us remember
the Challenger crew who's voyage was so tragically short. With
that we shared a common purpose; with that we shared a common
goal.
At this moment, our places in the heavens makes us feel closer to
them than ever before. Those on the Challenger who have flown
before have seen these sights; they would know the meaning of our
these thoughts.
Those who had gone to view them for the first time; they would
know why we set forth. They were our fellow soul journeys. They
were our friends.
Today, up here where the blue sky turns to black, we can say at
long last, to Dick, Mike, Judy, [], "Dear friends, we have
resumed the journey that we promised to continue for you. Dear
friends, your loss has ment that we could begin anew [] that your
spirit and your dreams, are still alive in our hearts".
- - -
They would have thought their deaths to have been in vain had we
stumbled completely, only to fall back silently, forever. They
would have though their sacrifice meaningless were we never again
to venture upwards.
It is hoped that for those they left behind, some small measure
of comfort can be gained by witnessing the strength of those
Brave who have followed them: The crew of Discovery; Who made it
all right again.
- - -
H: Discovery, over to you.
D: Ok, go ahead.
H: Discovery? On behalf of the Challenger families, and all of us
down here, it sure does feel good to see the Challenger
mission continue and America back in space.
And now Discovery, we have a good downlink from the middeck,
if you're ready to start with the press conference, we'll
start with the voice check and then ...
D: Roger, we're ready.
H: GSCPAO, this is Houston, please go ahead with your call.
G: Discovery, this is GSCPAO, were ready to proceed with this
news conference if you are. Ok, the first question is from
Laura Collie of the Associated Press.
Associated Press: Commander [] you said before the flight that
you expected to see some surprises? Can you tell us what
FidoNews 5-44 Page 7 31 Oct 1988
surprises you've seen in this flight?
D: Well I guess the first surprise right after lift off; we had a
caution and warning tone; actually an alert tone which got our
attention real quick. And gave us a few moments to concern
ourselves about it and we also has a problem with one of our
flash evaporators; those are technical problems, I guess I was
rather pleased that I wasn't surprised at how much I enjoyed
it up here though, we clearly enjoy being up here in this
tremendous machine and seeing the beautiful sites we've seen.
ABC: Gentlemen, you are all veterans of space flight, [], all of
you, is there any difference in being back in space? What have
you observed and do you feel different or does it feel the
same?
D: [] to say that I think its surprising to see how little it has
changed, I think all of us; we've got to space really quickly,
and communications with mission control, seem like it really
hasn't been two and a half years. I think that everyone was
adapt in their jobs that we had to do and i think we got back
in business very well.
CNN: Gentlemen your wives said the other day that watching the
launch they were filled with excitement but also fear that it
was wonderful and awful at the same time. I'm interested in
your feelings as you took off.
D: [] I think I speak for the crew when I say I think it was
really wonderful when we lifted off, it certainly was a lot
more anxiety producing than we anticipated, at least I had
throughout the entire assent, I had forgotten what it was like
to accelerate to at two gees for a sustained period of time
and how helpless you really feel during that time period.
[]: You have flown before but after this flight is over, what
special moment do you want to tell your family about?
D: I think there are going to be an awfully lot of moments that
I'm going to be telling my family about, so many things that
we've shared up here; I think some of the Earth views that
we've seen and some of the night time scenes and the stars,
those are just so indescribable that I [] pictures back to
them but I'll try my best to describe them.
[] very busy up there at times. Was your flight plan too
conservative and would your time have been better spent with a
busier flight plan?
D: I think we've been very busy. Here in the middeck we've done
twelve different scientific experiments of one sort or another
and the days have seen very full. In the future we hope to get
back into the business off putting on space suits and building
space stations and repairing satellites but theirs a lot of
good science that can be done in this facility that you see us
in right now.
FidoNews 5-44 Page 8 31 Oct 1988
Aviation Week: To follow on your opening, and Daves comments
there a moment ago, can you tell us specifically of some of
the more spectacular sites you've seen around the world? And
let's go to Pinky.
D: [] well I guess I'll delay it into three different parts... In
the daytime we've had some spectacular ... [los]
Ground: We'll pick that up when we get back
D: ... for us and big cities down their and the sky at night is a
completely different view; we spend some time just looking
with our eyes and some time looking with our low eye level
cameras, they've given us some views that I've always enjoyed
seeing in the Southern Hemisphere and have been dragging
people to the windows showing them the imaginary clouds and
the southern cross.
[]: I have a question for Rick, or Dick: Can you give us some
idea of your flight plan for tomorrow; your landing patterns
and what land marks you'll be looking for as you come in.
D: Well we'll be coming in just about between Los Angeles and
Santa Barbara over coast about a hundred [] the weather
permits and the winds permit to land on Edwards runway 17.
We'll pass overhead the field at about 40,000 feet becoming
subsonic you all can hear as; we all become supersonic you'll
hear a double sonic boom. When you hear that you'll know we're
about five minutes from landing. Then we'll make our standard
approach; three hundred miles an hour coming down to a touch
down coming to about two hundred miles an hour on that lake
bed.
Orlando Sentinel: This is for Mike: there are two men running for
president. What would you say to them from the shuttle to
convince them to fully support the space program and its long
term future even if it means putting up budget increases for
NASA at a time of considerable deficits?
D: That's a tough one. I think we have to take the long view;
this is a very important flight simply because it's the first
step and I would hope that all of the enthusiasm that we've
seen across the country for this flight [] the dozens and
dozens of flights that we have before us if we are to make the
space program grow to the point that it needs to grow to get
us on the path to the future.
[]: Discovery gentlemen, the Challenger crew set out to teach
some very important lessons they felt to the children of the
world, I would like to know what you would hope what lessons
would be taken from your flight and the effort it took to get
to where you are today.
D: I've got a couple of young daughters and I know that [] what
I've done that there's always a reward for hard work, both
individually and as a group. Much like the effort that was put
FidoNews 5-44 Page 9 31 Oct 1988
forth by NASA and [] to get the space shuttle flying again.
And [] space is one of them and hopefully all the young
children out their that want to come to space someday will at
least have the opportunity to try.
Channel 13 Houston: For commander [] [] truly told us yesterday
that quote NASA really threaded the needle on your launch with
the extra emphasis on safety and with a lot of flexibility
apparently in the long schedule do you think that the launch
came a little too close to violating safety criteria.
D: [] I understand your question; do you think the launch came to
close to violating safety criteria. Not from my perspective.
That is, we were very comfortable with the lift off as it
executed; we though the launch team as a matter of fact after
low engine cut off we were complimentary within ourselves to
the launch team with they way they handled a few minor
anomalies, I'll call them, down close to the launch; the
question of our cabin pressure and so forth. From our
perspective we couldn't have been happier with the way that
launch went off with []
San Francisco Chronicle: I have a question for Pinky as a trained
research scientist, can you tell us how well the several
experiments that you have managed could have been executed by
automated equipment on a spacecraft with no people on board.
D: Well to be honest with you, a number of these could have been.
The advantage of running them in the mode we have... [los] ...
have built prototypes and test out new types of experiments.
New York Times: Do you feel []
D: [] and that is that all the [] that have been brought on board
at this time have exceeded my expectations in the way they've
run; its been an outstanding assortment.
New York Times: Do you feel you have fulfilled all the objectives
of the mission [] recommendations you have for changes in the
orbiter? [los]
Ground: I had to lock off the S band antenna; they'll let me know
when it's ready.
D: Houston, Discovery, how do you read us?
Ground: We read you loud and clear at GSC News center, Discovery,
New York Times: fulfilled all the objectives of your mission and
what recommendations do you have for changes in the orbiter?
D: Well, Tom, The machine itself has worked superbly, I'm not
sure we have had a mission that has been this trouble free
with an orbiter before. I've had to [] I guess we have a []
with our [] entry suits for the first time since the first
four missions; we do find these to be a bit of an encumbrance
FidoNews 5-44 Page 10 31 Oct 1988
we'll need to talk very seriously about what is a, I'll call
it a bit of a compromise, [] the suit gives us should we have
a problem and the fact that it does not allow is quite the
flexibility that we've had before. I guess that's the major
one, and I can't think of any others.
[] Spanish Network to the United States: What's the hispanic
contribution to the space program so far?
[pause]
D: Repeat the question please...
[pause]
D: What did he say?
Ground: He said what is the hispanic contribution to space so
far.
D: I'd say theirs no doubt about it. We've got tens of thousands
of people throughout the United States that have worked on
the space program and I think that every race, every minority
group is represented; maybe not be represented to the degree
that that group would like to be [] the country [] to the
various [] and the contractors we have spoken with a number of
hispanics and [] we worked closely with at the Johnson space
center and I think it's really a contribution of the American
People. That really were very proud of.
USA Today: Rick, we have heard a lot of these past few days about
the cabin getting warm. Can you tell us how comfortable are
you and the rest of the crew as far as the cabin temperature
and what []
D: It was a little warmer than it is now the first couple of days
of the flight because of the flash evaporator problem. Today
we seem to have gotten that working well, we have been boiling
water all day long to cool the vehicle and I put on a long
sleeve shirt and we've all got long pants on for the first
time; It's not been bad at all, really.
KS[] St. Paul: Pinky's home state; Pinky: Good wishes from
everyone in Minnesota especially your home town in Wilma.
Before you left, you said that you were going to monitor your
own physical and mental responses to the lift off phase of the
mission because you had no specific task. What did you learn?
D: We're going to have a good tolerance for heat, I guess, It's
pretty warm in the suit and [] this is where I launched and []
was sitting and I didn't have much of a view so I paid a lot
of attention to my body. It was a little difficult to breath
during the three gee part of the flight mainly because of the
weight of the suit and the harness. Felt... You can feel a
little bit of the inside of your body shifting around with the
weight and and shifting back again as the engine cut off. I've
FidoNews 5-44 Page 11 31 Oct 1988
got some more on the [] tapes; I'll have to tell you about it
later.
Los Angeles Times: This is a question for Rick: We thought they
were going to keep you on the ground; it was blowing at high
speeds in the wrong direction. During your assent, could you
tell at all; did it have any affect whatsoever on the vehicle
when you reached thirty to forty thousand foot?
D: [] there are forces that are masked and would be masked by the
vibrations that we feel just from the acoustical resonance of
the solid rocket motors. We would not have expected to feel it
and we did not.
Dallas: For Mike: In the opening comments you talked about dreams
of the Challenger; Dream being alive in your heart []. and to
the satellite deployment on thursday I was wondering if you
might be able to share with us some of the [] heart [] to
heart talks that you all might have felt yourselves during the
flight.
D: No possibly not, those are not the things you share. We've
done a lot of think about the friends that we lost two and a
half years ago and I've done a lot of contemplating on that.
Personally, as I've drifted off to sleep at night, and it's
good to be back where they wanted to be so badly.
French TV: For Rick or for Pinky: When it comes to safety and
rescue, do you think United States should go together with
Russia and Europe and Canada and other countries [] some
standards?
D: Let me ask you about [] questions having to do with safety and
how well we can manage with dealing with international
partners? Is that correct?
French TV: That's right; should we go gather with standards
procedures and even equipment.
[pause]
D: If the question is how we are going to handle international []
within our own program, I think you do that through planning
ahead of time through standards that you set and through the
procedures that you use so that by the time you get around to
flying with an international group or an international crew,
you're all working with the procedures you all have the same
knowledge and capabilities of caring those out so that []
really going to be no difference among the crew weather its
all American or has international's on board.
Houston Chronicle: For Commander []: Could you have praised the
mission management team process before lift off and weather
you can tell your colleges who will follow whether it works
well?
FidoNews 5-44 Page 12 31 Oct 1988
D: [] Bob Criffin for the outstanding job that he did. From our
prospective and pulling that out of the gutter and its been
our understanding of course in our last few days before the
launch that was a many month effort and I though that
management team; all that I saw in close at the FIR for the
main engine firing, the F [] for the orbiter check, I was just
very happy and I think that spoke very well for the way we do
business in the future.
Voice of America: You've been taking photos of phenomena on Earth
such as volcanoes in Africa and hurricane damage in Mexico.
What have you observed their that might be of value to the
people in those areas?
D: I think that the biggest things that we've seen are the things
like deforestations. We seen erosions. We've seen some land
usage that kind of disturbed us. I think that it' s a good
lesson that we take back those photos to men on Earth and
their respected countries. To make sure that they take care of
what nature has given us and to make sure it's used wisely.
Our environment is a very fragile thing and it' s something
that were very impressed by when we take photos and we look
out the windows.
USA Radio News: Have you caught yourself being so excited at
times, or other crew members around you, that you've had to
try to subdue yourselves?
D: Yes, [laughter from the middeck], yes we do as a matter of
fact, I think that if we were a crew of one, that the
possibility of getting distracted by the beautiful sites and
the fun of being up here could perhaps cause you to not pay
attention to what you' re doing. The crew concept is a
wonderful thing and it keeps us on our toes.
[] radio one []: [] and United States [] Freedom, the space
station, you have and comments on that?
D: I think that's great. That just means that we can pull
together and [] even more [] working on the same problems and
the same solutions and there's a team of science up here that
can get a lot more than five people can do individually,
there's no questions that [] each of the international []
bring to this effort will synergistic and make the whole
bigger than the sum of the parts.
German Radio: A question for Pinky Neilson: What do you think now
thinking about the future of the shuttle as a scientific
platform?
D: I think the future is [] scientific use of the space shuttle.
As I mentioned before the middeck that we're in is really a
national resource that many scientist will be glad to have a
room this size with zero gravity inside it that has
electricity and water available for them to do their
experiments and I think it will be used extensively in the
FidoNews 5-44 Page 13 31 Oct 1988
future probably primarily as a development lab; as a test bed
for experiments such as the ones we have onboard that were
prototypes to be tested and where new concepts can be proven
that can later be developed in and expanded and put into
either free-flying satellites or put on aboard the space
station in the production facility.
Dallas Morning News: As you get ready for landing, do the
problems with the flash evaporator system and one of the ohms
rockets concern you? If not, why not?
D: Well, they're... Of course something that you're concerned if
you have the next failure... My understanding right now is
that the flash evaporator though, we expect it to work almost
[] and still be in good shape; that's also the case with the
[] maneuvering engines, it's true that we do have one cross
vector control system down on the left engine but we have a
back up and we also have the capability of locking that
control system in its current position and still deorbit and
plus we could shut down one engine and come back on the other
engine and if that fails we could come back on our reaction
control system. So we have quite a back up capability here.
That concludes this press conference. Thank you Discovery.
- - -
It's interesting to note the posture that NASA and friends have
taken with the general public and the worlds press. In this
mission, safety and technological problems were the main issues
instigated from the press and to a certain extent, from NASA. It
seems that the lift/no-lift question as regards humanware safety
was stressed through out the mission; primarily with the shuttles
cooling system problem.
- - -
The next flight is scheduled for the 17'th of November. Is it the
"Atlanta", "Atlantia", or is it "Atlantis"? Well, something like
that...
In the October 17th issue of the "News", Dan Tobias was so kind
to point out the fact that I had used the term DOS in a manner
that was unbecoming. I concede. I can't believe that I used
the term in the manner that I did, but I did.
I violated one of my own pet peeves, I stated that I had at one
time upgraded to a DOS machine. What I meant to say was that I
had finally given up a real DOS in order to become one of the
status quo. Yes folks, we're talking CP/M here. You know, the
best DOS developed by man or beast. Such a shame that it was
colorized like an old movie and repackaged as something new. I
understand that Digital Research is working on a new DOS as we
speak, I can't wait to try it out.
So Dan, and the rest of you, go ahead and give me the wet noodle
treatment. I deserve it. Maybe it's just an after effect of
too many hours behind this MS DOS compatible machine, maybe I
have been exposed to too many messages from the UFO echo, maybe
it's just that I am going completely stark raving mad.....naaaa,
it's just my way of showing how well my brain sleeps.
Have you ever wished to toss your files from the Upload
directory to their assigned directories quickly and
painlessly? It would be nice to have a program that reads
in a selected FILES.BBS and allow you, the SysOp, to page
through the entries, putting a hash mark next to the file
and description to be tossed. Then with the push of one
key, this program would copy the files one at a time, remove
the entry from the Upload directory's FILES.BBS, append the
entry to the Target directory's FILES.BBS, and then kill the
original file.
This is just what NAFT does.
When one enters NAFT at the DOS prompt (and assuming
that NAFT resides somewhere within the DOS Path), NAFT will
first ask for the Source Path (presumably your Upload
Directory). The file FILES.BBS will be loaded into memory
if it's found, or an error will be displayed if it is not
found.
The first 19 entries will be displayed on the screen
(up to 19, really, in case you don't have 19 or more
entries). One may use the arrow keys to place a hash mark
next to the file name and description. The hash mark may be
any key. To remove a "hash mark," one would just mark it
again.
To get the next 19 entries, the PgDn key is hit. For
the previous 19, the PgUp key is used. This way one may
mark as many files for tossing as one wishes, going back
through the list as many times as one requires.
One may abort the process at any time by hitting the F2
key. One may shell to DOS with the F10 key.
Once files have been selected for tossing, the F1 key
is hit. Now NAFT requests the Target Path. This path may
be on a different disk, over the LAN, a virtual disk, or a
floppy disk drive. If the Target directory does not have
FILES.BBS, it will be created.
The files will then be tossed, with a display of which
file is being tossed at the moment.
The Source directory's FILES.BBS file will be cleaned
up neat and pretty, with all of the entries that were tossed
now missing, and all leading and trailing spaces in the File
Description removed -- no extra charge.
FidoNews 5-44 Page 16 31 Oct 1988
The Target directory will now hold the tossed files,
and it's FILES.BBS file will now hold the file names and
descriptions.
NAFT.EXE is 15,119 bytes large. The archive NAFT.ARC,
which holds the executible file and the scant documentation
is 12,262 bytes. Since NAFT Requires BRUN30.EXE to run, the
archive NAFTBR.ARC holds the NAFT file, the documentation,
and BRUN30.EXE. The files NAFT.ARC and NAFTBR.ARC are File
Requestable here on The Astro-Net 1:103/503.0 24 hours. The
file NAFTBR.ARC is 74,817 bytes large.
Sysops are a rare breed! In some ways, one needs to be
slightly demented to even want to run a board. It is often a
pain, certainly challenging, and has been known to be
rewarding. The compliments are far and few between. One
thing is unquestionable, the money for hardware, software, and
the telephone company remains constant.
Almost every sysop I talk to is always looking for
something new for the board. Either a new & bigger hard disk
drive, a faster modem, or something. The BBS is a
reflection of the sysops personality. (Hmmmmmmmmmmm! !!) Each
board is different, carries different Echo's, has contrasting
files, and offers unique services. This is one of the key
factors involved in the fine art of "sysoping".
CD-ROM enters the picture of bulletin boards now. The
introduction of large databases with public domain programs,
is very exciting to sysops. Now, the sysop can add an
enormous amount of public domain software to the system for the
users. CD-ROM drive prices are dropping, but they are not
within the reach of the general populace. Any board with a
CD-ROM filled with public domain software is a very busy board.
Now, we enter with the $14 billion dollars. Our firm,
Ellis Enterprises, Inc., produces The Bible Library (tm) on
CD-ROM. At the present, we have several sysops acting as
consultants ( aren't we all? ), and they are selling The Bible
Library (tm) to the church - religious market. Some said they
weren't into religion, but they would pass around the brochures
and give away some of the floppy demonstrations.
We have a consultant or dealer kit available, which
includes brochures and floppy demonstrations. All one really
needs to do is get it in the hands of a pastor, youth director,
or even the person in charge of data processing for the church.
(180,000 churches have computer systems!)
Here is it's true potential for you as a dealer:
Churches: 370,598
Members: 159,453,086
Contributions: 14,242,824,577.00 per year.
Seminaries: 380
Seminary Students: 56,335
Clergy: 530,000+
Donations per capita: 601.82
Church Colleges & Univ: 782
Religious Periodicals: 373
This information does not include the television & radio
ministries. The above statistics are not current, they are a
year old, and certainly have increased.
The CD-ROM industry is growing! Consider these few
statistics for the market:
FidoNews 5-44 Page 18 31 Oct 1988
180,000 CD-ROM units sold.
800 CD-ROM databases presently on the market.
1.1 million CD-ROM discs already shipped.
Here is the reason for this article: you as a sysop or
consultant, can make up to $600 per sale for a drive and The
Bible Library (tm). Just a few of these types of sales, and
you will have the funds for your BBS.
Ellis Enterprises, Inc. is making this offer to the
many sysops out there, and if you want more information,
please send it to 147/23 or write:
Ellis Enterprises, Inc. 1-405-235-7660 voice
225 NW 13th
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma - 73103
Attention: Bob Hall
All you need to do is get the information in the hands
of the pastor, and the rest is simply taking the order, and
installing the unit. A sysop in Florida is working with a
church for a full CD-ROM networking system. ( $30,000 sale! )
Thanks. ......
Bob Hall, sysop 147/23 & host of the CD-ROM Echo.
The Heath/Zenith BBS, Milwaukie, Or (1:105/226) 503-654-7161 is
now the control center for the National MegaList files.
YOUR system can be listed here automatically if you use the
program, ML-UPD.
The following files are available for downloading or F/R'ing.
ML-COL.ARC - Current release of MegaList collection software.
ML-INQ.ARC - Current release of MegaList inquiry service for
D'Bridge.
ML-UPD.ARC - Current release of MegaList update software.
ML-FIND.ARC - Current release of MegaList Inquiry, an Outside
utility for OPUS (requires the ML-INDEX.ARC file)
NOTE: The current release (ver 1.6) is written using 105/5 as
the control center. To send your updates to 105/226 use
the "ML-UPD SEND TO 105/226" command line.
Chris Irwin (136/68) will be updating these files for
105/226. I will post a message when they are available.
The MegaList is updated each Sunday at 08:00 (PDT). The
following files are the compiled updates and are also F/R'ble:
MEGALIST.TXT - This week's MegaList text file
MEGALIST.ARC - ARChive of above
ML-INDEX.ARC - Current MegaList index files (for use with the
ML-FIND program)
Milwaukie, Or is in the Portland, Or metropolitan area and is PC
Pursuit'able.
FidoNet is a remarkable thing. There are thousands of systems
which belong to the network, and any two can connect and transfer
mail. The sysops need not know each other, or even know what
software is running on the other system. The BBS line rings, the
modems connect, and the mail is transferred -- all routine. The
thing that makes this possible is the FidoNet protocol, described
by the FidoNet Technical Standards Committee (FTSC). The process
started when we were all running one program -- Fido -- and the
more complex things get, the more important it is to carefully
document our standards.
Rick Moore is the new head of the FidoNet Technical Standards
Committee, and I want to provide a little introduction of Rick.
It's only fair that my first efforts in this column should be to
introduce my FidoNet boss, since as RC/11 Rick does serve as my
boss in my efforts as NC/115.
Rick brings a wealth of mainframe-based computer experience to
this job. He started in the mainframe game in 1969, and is
presently employed by StatTab, a large service bureau in Chicago.
Rick is the capacity planner for StatTab, and his responsibili-
ties also include insuring that the disk and network subsystems
run smoothly. The discipline and organization inherent in main-
frame systems is an impornant trait for the FTSC.
Rick's computer experience is not limited to the mainframe world.
He bought his first microcomputer, a Heath H-11, in 1977. Rick
has been in FidoNet since August 26, 1986.
His contributions to FidoNet have been significant. Rick has
served as network coordinator of net 115 (ChicagoLand) where he
introduced the Hub structure and guided the network through the
introduction of echomail. Rick has served as region coordinator
for region 11 since March. (He has resigned that position to
devote full time to duties with FTSC.)
It is in the FOSSIL area that Rick is perhaps best known. He is
the author of the FOSSIL for the Radio Shack T2K machine, and
he produced the FOSSIL documentation which was distributed with
version 5. Rick and Vince Perriello had the idea for the video
FOSSIL which was used in the latest version of BinkleyTerm, and
Rick produced the documentation for that standard.
As for the future of FTSC, Rick has some interesting plans which
we should see unfold in the next months. One of them is work on
FidoNews 5-44 Page 21 31 Oct 1988
standards in the echomail arena. If previous committment and
accomplishment are any prediction of the future, I'd say we have
a lot to look forward to.
Rogel Corner: Xtree 2.0 versus Tree86 1.0
=============================================================
Copyright (C) 1988, by Todd S. Rogel. [Permission is granted
to copy this article for noncommercial purposes only. Any
other reproduction or use is strictly prohibited without the
express written permission of the author, Todd S. Rogel]
----------------------------------
| Introduction to Rogel's Corner |
----------------------------------
Welcome to Rogel's Corner. I have been writing this column
for Triangle IBM User' Group's monthly newsletter, PC/2. In
April, 1988 TIBMUG's newsletter, PC/2, and Rogel's Corner
went electronic, thanks to Mike Stroud, a local SysOp who
volunteered an area for TIBMUG on his popular multi-line
board, Micro Message Service [MMS 151/102]. And now . . .
FidoNews.
Several of the tables, illustrations, and figures from the
original Rogel's Corner were too wide for FidoNews, which
requires narrow margins (0, 60). Consequently these items
were left out of the version of Rogel's Corner submitted to
FidoNews. Actually, one Rogel's Corner column -- addressing
telecomputing and its means, methods, and hardware -- was
omitted in its entirety due to the number of necessarily wide
charts and figures.
For those interested in viewing these omitted items, take a
look at the TIBMUG's SIG on MMS, (919) 779-6674. After you
log on, type "S" for Spcial Interest Groups, then "4" for
local users' groups, and "1" for TIBMUG. Current and back
issues of our newsletter may then be accessed by entering "P"
for PC/2.
I do not profess to be a computer guru. What I lack in
technical knowledge, I hope to make up with my enthusiasm and
perseverance. In addition, feedback will be appreciated.
Have you had a different experience than mine with a product
reviewed in Rogel's Corner? What subjects would you like to
see covered in future Rogel's Corner columns? Let me know.
------------------------------------------------
| The Trees have it: Xtree 2.0 vs. Tree86 1.0 |
------------------------------------------------
It seems like we are always looking for a better mousetrap.
This is certainly evident with DOS shells and hard disk
management software. There are dozens of programs that offer
you that miracle handle on DOS usage and navigating through
your file-laden hard disk.
Some of these programs substitute their own command structure
FidoNews 5-44 Page 23 31 Oct 1988
for DOS commands and, in the process, often provide a less
effective and equally or, perhaps, more difficult method of
computing. Others, such as 1Dir, offer powerful yet, to many
people, complex and complicated features.
This article provides a quick and dirty review of two
programs, Xtree 2.0 and Tree86. Both allow efficient and
effective disk navigation and management, provide graphically
attractive and easy to understand interfaces, and are
reasonably priced.
I. Basic information about the two programs
---------------------------------------------
Xtree 2.0
---------
Xtree2 by Executive Systems has been around for several
years. Its popularity is due in large part to the graphic
display it offers of the hard disk directory and subdirectory
[see Figures 1-3]. Unlike DOS's "dir" command, Xtree
visually distinguishes the directory, subdirectories,
subdirectories, sub-subdirectories, etc. so that the user can
gain a better perspective of the hundreds of files on his or
her disk. The mail-order price of Xtree2 is generally in the
$40-$50 range [PC-Connection, 1-800-243-8088; $45 per 2/16/88
edition of PC Magazine, pg. 228] but I have seen it offered
for as low as $25 [Telemart, 1-800-426-6659].
Tree86 1.0
----------
Tree86, from The Aldridge Company, 2500 CityWest Blvd., Suite
575, Houston, Texas 77042 713-953-1940, uses a similar
graphics scheme [see Figures 4-14]. It obviously is aiming
at the Xtree2 market as a "new and improved" Xtree. The
Aldridge Company claims that their product is faster, more
attractive graphically, easier to use, and offers mouse
support. Its advertisements claim that it will retail for
$49.95, it is now being offered for a limited time for
$29.95.
II. Program Commands
---------------------
Xtree 2.0
---------
Xtree2 uses 1-key or a control+key combination to perform
DOS-like commands. For example, if you look at the bottom of
Figure 2, which shows the files in the root directory, there
appears a series of commands, such as "Attributes", "Copy",
"Delete", "Filespec", "Log disk", "Move", and "Print". To
copy a single file, you would position the cursor at that
file and press the highlighted letter of the command
(underlined in the example above), which in this case would
be "C". If you wanted to copy more than one file you would
FidoNews 5-44 Page 24 31 Oct 1988
tag the files you wanted copied--by either striking the
letter "T" when your cursor was on that particular file or
striking the control key and "T" to tag all of the files in
the directory (or subdirectory)--and then striking a
combination of the control key and "T".
Three snapshops of various Xtree2 windows are briefly
explained below:
Figure 1 shows the Main Window, with the cursor in the
directory screen [A]. The top left portion [A] displays the
directory structure, graphically showing where the Root
directory, which is where the cursor is located, fits in with
respect to the rest of the directory. The bottom left
portion [B] shows a portion of the files in the Root
directory. The right-hand part of the screen [C] provides
disk data. The very bottom of the screen [D] reveals the
list of "Dir Commands" available.
Figure 2 again shows the Main Window but this time the cursor
is in the File Window portion [B]. Note that the "File
Commands" available [D] are somewhat different than in Figure
1.
Figure 3 displays an expanded File Window. The "File
Commands" are the same as those in Figure 2.
Tree 86 1.0
-----------
Tree86 operates in much the same fashion except it uses a
menu system and, as noted above, also claims that it
supports the use of a mouse. To illustrate, to copy a file
you would go into the Utility menu, which is accessed by
striking the "U" key and then strike the "C" key, as can be
seen in Figures 7 and 13 below.
The remainder of the illustrations below show various Tree86
windows and the various menus available.
Figures 4 through 8 display the Tree86 Main Window. The menu
command structure can be seen at the top of the screen [A].
Below that and on the left is a display of the directory
structure [B]. Disk data is show the menu and to the right
[C]. Figures 5 through 8 show individual menus.
Figures 9 through 14 reveal the files in a particular
subdirectory are displayed instead of the directory structure
[B]. Note that the menu command structure for the File
Windows [A] is different from those for the Main Window and
that there is no disk data display (instead, information
concerning each file is shown). Figures 10 through 14 show
individual menus.
III. Comparison
FidoNews 5-44 Page 25 31 Oct 1988
---------------
Xtree 2.0
---------
+ you can view both a particular subdirectory in
relation to the (almost) entire directory /
subdirectory structure and, at the same time, that
particular subdirectory's files [see Figure 1
below];
+ the ability to use simple 1 or 2 keystrokes to
execute a command is easier and faster than having
to work through a menu system;
- slow; you can begin an application program from
within Xtree2, but this requires that you strike
several keys in order to do so;
- slow; to reenter Xtree2 after you conclude an
application Xtree2 must first reread the disk,
which can be time-consuming. My frustration at
having to go through this slowdown each time I wish
to return to Xtree2 has led me to limit my use of
Xtree2 to those few times when I must dedicate
myself to perform serious "housekeeping" chores on
my disk. During my day-to-day use of my
applications programs, I avoid Xtree2 like the
plague; and
- inconsistent; I sometimes have been unable to
return to Xtree2 without recalling it from DOS.
Tree86 1.0
----------
+ it is easy to move between Tree86 and applications
programs. To run a program, you simply strike the
"R" key from within Tree86 and you are up and
running in your applications program [see Figure 9
below]. When you conclude the applications
program, you strike any key and you are instantly
back in Tree86. Tree86 does not automatically read
the disk each time you access it and this can be a
real time saver (of course, you have the choice of
having Tree86 read the disk whenever you want an
updated view of your disk--see Figures 6 and 12
below );
+ Tree86 permits you to quickly bring any file into
your wordprocessor by striking the "E" key (you
must create a simple batch file to do this: i.e.,
"Editor.bat" with the command "wp %1") (see Figures
4 and 9 below);
+ Tree86 also allows you to quickly enter a DOS-like
environment and then return to Tree86;
FidoNews 5-44 Page 26 31 Oct 1988
+ Tree86 has a useful file-finding feature. You can
conduct a quick search for a particular file or
group of files (i.e., all *.doc files) [see
Figures 6 and 8 below]. In addition, you can
easily find all duplicate files on your hard disk
[see Figure 8 below];
- The mandatory menu system is personally cumbersome
and annoying; and
- I prefer the "larger" picture of both subdirectory
structure together with the files in a subdirectory
that Xtree2 offers but Tree86 does not.
IV. Conclusion
---------------
Both Xtree2 or Tree86 are useful programs. Whether you
should use one or the other or, for that matter, any disk
management/navigation program is a matter of personal
preference. Unquestionably one can profitably use his or her
computer without such assistance.
Yet I enjoy the convenience these programs offer me as well
as the ability to keep constant tabs on the status of my disk
and thereby keep my electronic office clean and under
control. While I find that Xtree2 has a slight certain
advantage in terms of disk navigation, this is far outweighed
by the full-service features of Tree86.
Of course, the rumor mill has it that a new and improved
Xtree is on its way. This may be Xtree Pro 1.0. I asked the
folks at PC-Connection [they are selling Xtree Pro 1.0 for
$69] who told me that it is a more powerful version of Xtree2
and includes the ability to use DOS commands but they are
unable to tell me whether it has increased speed. Alas, I
also have been unsuccessful in finding anyone else who is
knowledgeable about this version.
Sincerely,
Todd S. Rogel
Raleigh, North Carolina
January 16, 1988
Home (919) 851-2103
MMS (919) 779-6674 [151/102]
NCC (919) 851-8460 [151/100]
--------------------
| TABLE OF FIGURES |
--------------------
Xtree2
Figure 1: Xtree2 Main Screen
Figure 2: Main Screen with cursor in the
FidoNews 5-44 Page 27 31 Oct 1988
"File"
window [root directory]
Figure 3: expanded "File" window [root
directory]
Tree86
Figure 4: Tree86 Main Window
Figure 5: Tree86 Main Window -- "Directory"
Menu
Figure 6: Tree86 Main Window -- "Change" Menu
Figure 7: Tree86 Main Window -- "Utilities"
Menu
Figure 8: Tree86 Main Window -- "Find files"
Menu
Figure 9: Tree86 "File" Window [root
directory]
Figure 10: Tree86 "File" Window -- "List" Menu
Figure 11: Tree86 "File" Window -- "Tag" Menu
Figure 12: Tree86 "File" Window -- "Change"
Menu
Figure 13: Tree86 "File" Window -- "Utilities"
Menu
Figure 14: Tree86 "File" Window -- "Sort" Menu
Utility authors: Please help keep this list up to date by
reporting new versions to 1:1/1. It is not our intent to list
all utilities here, only those which verge on necessity.
Hal DuPrie 1:101/106 Chairman of the Board
Bob Rudolph 1:261/628 President
Matt Whelan 3:3/1 Vice President
Ray Gwinn 1:109/639 Vice President - Technical Coordinator
David Garrett 1:103/501 Secretary
Steve Bonine 1:115/777 Treasurer
IFNA BOARD OF DIRECTORS
DIVISION AT-LARGE
10 Courtney Harris 1:102/732? Don Daniels 1:107/210
11 Bill Allbritten 1:11/301 Hal DuPrie 1:101/106
12 Bill Bolton 3:54/61 Mark Grennan 1:147/1
13 Rick Siegel 1:107/27 Steve Bonine 1:115/777
14 Ken Kaplan 1:100/22 Ted Polczyinski 1:154/5
15 Larry Kayser 1:104/739? Matt Whelan 3:3/1
16 Vince Perriello 1:141/491 Robert Rudolph 1:261/628
17 Rob Barker 1:138/34 Steve Jordan 1:102/2871
18 Christopher Baker 1:135/14 Bob Swift 1:140/24
19 David Drexler 1:19/1 Larry Wall 1:15/18
2 Henk Wevers 2:500/1 David Melnik 1:107/233
Membership for the International FidoNet Association
Membership in IFNA is open to any individual or organization that
pays a specified annual membership fee. IFNA serves the
international FidoNet-compatible electronic mail community to
increase worldwide communications.
Member Name _______________________________ Date _______________
Address _________________________________________________________
City ____________________________________________________________
State ________________________________ Zip _____________________
Country _________________________________________________________
Home Phone (Voice) ______________________________________________
Work Phone (Voice) ______________________________________________
Zone:Net/Node Number ____________________________________________
BBS Name ________________________________________________________
BBS Phone Number ________________________________________________
Baud Rates Supported ____________________________________________
Board Restrictions ______________________________________________
Your Special Interests __________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
In what areas would you be willing to help in FidoNet? __________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
Send this membership form and a check or money order for $25 in
US Funds to:
International FidoNet Association
PO Box 41143
St Louis, Missouri 63141
USA
Thank you for your membership! Your participation will help to
insure the future of FidoNet.
Please NOTE that IFNA is a general not-for-profit organization
and Articles of Association and By-Laws were adopted by the
membership in January 1987. The second elected Board of Directors
was filled in August 1988. The IFNA Echomail Conference has been
established on FidoNet to assist the Board. We welcome your
input to this Conference.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FidoNews 5-44 Page 35 31 Oct 1988
INTERNATIONAL FIDONET ASSOCIATION
ORDER FORM
Publications
The IFNA publications can be obtained by downloading from Fido
1:1/10 or other FidoNet compatible systems, or by purchasing
them directly from IFNA. We ask that all our IFNA Committee
Chairmen provide us with the latest versions of each
publication, but we can make no written guarantees.
